http://www.atlantis.com/default.aspx�

2 | P a g e

THE MARINE HABITAT AT ATLANTIS, PARADISE ISLAND OFFERS AN EDUCATIONAL ENCOUNTER WITH THE WONDERS OF THE WORLD’S SEA LIFE

WORLD’S LARGEST OPEN-AIR MARINE HABITAT BRINGS GUESTS INTO INTIMATE CONTACT WITH SHARKS, RAYS, PIRANHA AND 50,000 OTHER MARINE ANIMALS From its opening day in 1994, the Atlantis, Paradise Island Resort in the Bahamas has taken very

seriously its duty to care for the marine animals that inhabit the resort’s expansive waterscape. The

Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) publicly recognized this high standard of care on March 27, 2007,

when Atlantis was granted the prestigious accreditation by AZA’s independent Accreditation Commission.

Before landing in Nassau and getting their first look at the Paradise Island resort and casino, vacationers

may not realize they’ll have the opportunity to explore an extraordinary collection of exhibit lagoons,

pools, coral formations—as well as underwater ruins designed to showcasing exotic marine life ranging

from sharks, rays and barracuda, to piranha, eels and multitudes of tropical fish. The Caribbean resort

offers vacationers access to 14 lagoons with eight million gallons of salt water – home to more than

50,000 aquatic animals and over 250 marine species.

The heart and soul of Atlantis Paradise Island’s oceanic exhibit is the Marine Animal Specialist team who

tend to the daily needs of the aquatic animals. Atlantis Paradise Island’s Marine Animal team has over 63

full-time professionals on staff including Aquarists, Divers, Lab Managers, Food Technicians, Curators, and

Mechanics. Several Marine Animal team members have cross trained at other facilities like the Shedd

Aquarium (Chicago, IL), Monterey Bay Aquarium (California), Sea World (Orlando) and Epcot Living Seas.

Paradise Island’s Marine Animal team has welcomed countless births into the Atlantis’ Aquatic Habitat,

including, in 1997, the first-ever births in a manmade environment of Black-Nose and Caribbean Reef

Sharks. Atlantis Paradise Island’s Habitat has been hailed by shark experts and other marine scientists

for its overwhelming success in creating a healthy, thriving natural environment for an astonishing

variety of the aquatic life—while at the same time, providing valuable interaction for the resort’s guests.

Vacationers enjoying Atlantis, Paradise Island are invited to explore the marine habitat on their own or

on a guided tour with a Navigator, who can share interesting facts on the mythical elements of Atlantis,

3 | P a g e

as well as its marine inhabitants. Daily feedings are open for viewing in the lagoons and aquatic

sanctuaries; where Atlantis SeaKeepers provide opportunities for resort guests to interact with the sea life.

Atlantis Paradise Island’s SeaKeepers present fascinating information about the different marine

species, as well as their diet and dining habits. Each day, five children three years of age or older

(and under 48 inches tall) join Atlantis SeaKeepers at the resort’s Estuary Lagoon to feed baby fish

and other sea life, as part of the Aqua Tots program. The ability to bring vacationing guests at

Atlantis in contact with the marine life has added an incredible dimension to the resort experience

by raising awareness of our ocean’s ecosystems and prompting support of ocean conservation.

The iconic Bahamian luxury resort and casino continues to awe new and returning visitors to Dolphin

Cay (pronounced “key”), Paradise Island’s dolphin interaction and education center, which was created

with the goal of enlightening vacationers about the wonders of the ocean’s most remarkable inhabitants.

Atlantis guests have the opportunity to meet and interact with one of the world’s most charismatic

animals in an unparalleled encounter that is enriching for both the guests and the dolphins. Guests with

Dolphin Cay reservations will experience an informative introduction to dolphin behavior, physiology

and the importance of marine-life conservation before entering the water for their intimate experience.

In addition to the interactive coves, the facility serves as the best marine mammal rescue and

rehabilitation center in The Bahamas. The dolphins live in seven interconnected resident pools

containing nearly seven million gallons of crystal-clear seawater. The pools provide ample space for

quarantined or stranded dolphins and other marine mammals, medical procedures and care for

pregnant and nursing mothers.

The Atlantis Paradise Island Resort and Casino’s marine operation is an impressive technical feat. Eight

million gallons of sea water are circulated into its lagoons and sanctuaries four times a day. The water is

drawn from the ocean into an open-flow system through a lagoon, then sand filtered and infused with

ozone before flowing into the marine habitat. The resulting habitat, mimics what the marine life would

experience in the wild, with a constant change in surroundings and seasonal changes in temperature.

4 | P a g e

Some of the behind-the-scenes features that make Atlantis Paradise Islands’s marine facility one of the

most exciting in the world include two fish hospitals with an ingenious elevator system to transport the

marine animals from ocean level to the exhibit lagoons, and two dedicated food preparation areas

serving restaurant quality seafood to its sea creatures. The daily menu, approximately 1,000 lbs of food,

includes a combination of shrimp, squid, sardines and minnows. In addition, cases of romaine lettuce

are served to the herbivorous animals; special food blocks made of dental plaster, pellets and

powdered algae are prepared for the parrotfish; and live shrimp are cultured and fed to the jellyfish.

Behind the learning is a very serious set of programs that have contributed greatly to the conservation

efforts in and around The Bahamas and are in support of research around the world. Atlantis Paradise

Island maintains a breed and release program that allows for the propagation of species at the resort

and subsequent release into the wild. Included in this program are both Southern Stingrays and

Bonnethead Sharks. Once the animals are born, they are quarantined to give them a “head start” and

are then released into the ocean.

The resort and casino is also an advocate for the health and well-being of all the animals in the marine

habitat. Once the habitat becomes too confining for ever-growing species, animals like the Manta Ray

are released back into the wild. The Dig features habitats for 100 venomous Indo-Pacific Ocean Lionfish,

500 piranhas, iridescent jellyfish and six-foot Moray Eels. There are also special environments for 750

lobsters and nine species of enormous groupers. In separate, smaller “Jewel Habitats,” live multitudes

of brilliantly colored tropical fish. An interactive touch tank filled with conch, starfish, sea urchins, sea

cucumbers, crabs and horseshoe crabs was designed to encourage supervised vacationer interaction.

The Paradise Island resort’s marine habitat features 154 sharks, including: 31 Nurse Sharks, 32 Black

Nose Sharks, 13 Caribbean Reef Sharks, 2 Atlantic Black Tip Sharks, 36 Pacific Black Tip Sharks, 33

Bonnethead Sharks, 2 Great Hammerhead Sharks, 2 Zebra Sharks and 3 White Spotted Bamboo Sharks.

The Mayan Lagoon is home to the Caribbean Reef Sharks. The Predator Lagoon is home to even more

giant sharks and four sawfish, visible from a 100-foot see-through underwater pedestrian walkway, as well

as from the suspension rope bridge above. Additionally, the Predator Tunnel features a Giant Pacific

Octopus.

5 | P a g e

Elsewhere at the luxury resort, visitors have the opportunity to interact with turtles, rays and other

interesting sea life. There are also two underground grottos with underwater views of the lagoons, and

a seven-acre snorkeling lagoon filled with tropical fish for those who prefer their wildlife up very close.

Included Among the Marine Residents at Atlantis, Paradise Island:

• Rays: White-Spotted Eagle Rays, Southern Stingrays, Cownose Rays, Yellow Stingrays • Smalltooth Sawfish • Piranhas • Lionfish • Spiny Lobsters • Jellyfish: Moon, Sea Nettels • Eels: Green Morays • Wrasses • Grammas • Pacific Octopus • Groupers: Queensland, Jewfish, Black, Yellow, Nassau, Coneys, Hinds, Graysby • Jacks, Grunts, Snappers, Bonefish, Porgies, Parrots, Angels, Triggerfish, Squirrels,

Tarpon, Bermuda Chub, Lookdowns and many others Always changing and evolving, the unique marine habitat at the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort and

Casino makes the vacation experience there special for guests from around the world.

ABOUT ATLANTIS, PARADISE ISLAND RESORT, THE BAHAMAS Atlantis, Paradise Island is the flagship resort of Kerzner International, a leading international developer

and operator of destination resorts, casinos and luxury hotels. This unique, ocean-themed destination is

located on Paradise Island, The Bahamas, and features a variety of accommodations, all built around a

141-acre waterscape comprised of over 20 million gallons of fresh and saltwater lagoons, pools and

habitats. Home to the largest open-air marine habitat in the world, there are over 50,000 marine

animals in lagoons and displays, including The Dig, a maze of underwater corridors and passageways

providing a journey through ancient Atlantis. Atlantis is home to Aquaventure, a non-stop water

experience consisting of thrilling water slides, a mile-long river ride with high intensity rapids and wave

surges, and never-before-seen special effects. Dolphin Cay, the resort’s interaction and education

center, was created with the goal of enlightening visitors about the wonders of these remarkable ocean

inhabitants.

6 | P a g e

The Cove Atlantis, a 600-room resort, features oversized rooms with a step down living space,

spectacular designs by acclaimed interior architects Jeffrey Beers and David Rockwell, unprecedented

services and amenities, private all-adult and family pools, lavish cabanas and breathtaking views of

the ocean. Atlantis is also known as THE culinary destination in The Caribbean with a collection of

restaurants from world-renowned chefs including Nobu Matsuhisa, Jean-Georges Vongerichten

and Bobby Flay. The resort boasts an impressive collection of luxury boutiques and shops,

and the largest casino, conference center, meeting and convention facilities in The Caribbean.

For further information about the Atlantis, Paradise Island Resort and Casino visit

Atlantis.com or call 954-809-2000. For reservations, call your travel agent or 800-ATLANTIS.

MEDIA INQUIRIES Megan.Marchesini@kerzner.com 212-659-5203