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Aquarium back in the swim

Six weeks of work have completely transformed the interior of the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

By Eileen Schulte, Times Staff Writer
Published February 24, 2008

Sure to be a popular feature of the renovated aquarium will be the underwater windows that allow viewing of the main dolphin tank. The aquarium had been closed since Jan. 7, and all of the marine mammals lived in holding tanks outside the facility except two Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. Photo gallery: CMA reopening
	[Jim Damaske | Times]

ADVERTISEMENT [Jim Damaske | Times] Sue Cimmino, a 13-year volunteer at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, reaches out to Indy the dolphin at the new underwater viewing area of the main dolphin tank. The aquarium was closed for six weeks while its entire interior was redesigned and refurbished. It reopened Tuesday. "Anyone who has been to CMA previously will not recognize the interior," said CEO David Yates. [Jim Damaske | Times] Brandon Saunders, 10, unveils a life-size statue of Winter the dolphin, donated to CMA by internationally renowned artist-sculptor Donjo. Both Brandon and Winter have prostheses.

CLEARWATER - For years, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium looked a little too much like the drab sewage treatment plant it once was.

But thanks to a $600,000 improvement project, the aquarium, unveiled Tuesday, is brighter and more exciting both for visitors and the rescued turtles, otters, sharks and dolphins that live there.

Upgrades include underwater viewing windows where guests can get face-to-face with Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, a renovated "stingray beach" touch tank, improved turtle and large fish exhibits, and a 125-seat theater with a screen 26 feet long and 7 feet high.

For the work, the aquarium had been closed since Jan. 7. All the marine mammals lived temporarily in holding tanks outside the facility except two Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, Winter and Panama, who stayed at the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota.

This project's first phase cost about $600,000, with the city of Clearwater chipping in $225,000. When a second phase is completed within three months, the total cost will be $750,000. The aquarium has raised the money for the improvements through donations, fundraisers and admission fees.

The aquarium became internationally known thanks to its star, Winter, a dolphin whose tail fell off after she got caught in a crab trap's rope as a baby.

Winter, now nearly 21/2 years old, is believed to one of the few dolphins in the world - if not the first anywhere - to survive such a severe injury, losing her tail and three vertebrae.

Veterinarians and volunteers at the aquarium saved her life, and specialists fitted her with a rare, custom-made prosthesis to allow her to swim like a normal dolphin.

The device is still being perfected, but Winter's story has received widespread attention and inspired many people, aquarium administrators say.

Donjo, an artist who lives in El Segundo, Calif., was so inspired that he created a solid bronze life-sized sculpture called Winter's Dream now on display in the aquarium's lobby.

Replicas of Winter's Dream will be sold on the Home Shopping Network to help raise more money for the aquarium.

What's new?

Here are some of the upgrades the Clearwater Marine Aquarium is doing in a two-part, $750,000 makeover:

- Underwater viewing windows where guests can see Atlantic bottlenose dolphins.

- Renovated "stingray beach" touch tank, and improved turtle and large fish exhibits.

- 125-seat theater with a screen 26 feet long and 7 feet high.

- 10-foot-tall solid bronze statue of Winter the dolphin.

To learn more visit www.cmaquarium.org.

[Last modified February 23, 2008, 21:08:44]