By Charly SHELTON

SeaWorld is closer than you might think. It is in San Diego, but it took only 100 minutes to get from home to SeaWorld at 10 a.m. on a weekday. That’s less time than it takes to get to Disneyland after work. So, for the first time, CV Weekly ventured down to the world-famous aquatic park/zoo to “sea” what there is to see.

First and foremost, its newest coaster Electric Eel opened just a couple of weeks ago. It was pretty intense. Constructed vertically, this coaster shoots riders forward, back and forward again in a triple launch propulsion to reach more than 60 mph, then the car heads straight up to the top of the ride, dangling the coaster car nearly 150 feet in the air for the heartline roll – a very slow corkscrew that ensures guests have ample time to look straight down as they’re rolled over. Then the car plunges straight down into a dual-twist loop before heading back to the station.

I’m not going to lie; I was pretty shaken up after riding it. I’m into coasters and can hold my own on any ride, but surprisingly this one had me shaking. I don’t know whether it was the speed, the height, the inversions or some combination of all of it, but it got to me and, unfortunately, the surprise on-ride photo shows it.

I’d love to do it again – being shaken is a great thing. Not many coasters can surprise me like that anymore. This is a fun, quick coaster and, being the Electric Eel at SeaWorld, there is a really cool eel display tank at the exit of the ride.

The park overall was really amazing. I haven’t been since I was a kid and I was surprised to find so much I genuinely enjoyed about it. I know the 2013 documentary “Blackfish” did a number on the public opinion of the park, but fact-checking the film doesn’t hold up against most of its claims. And in a way I guess there’s a silver lining because the message of the park now is conservation. The SeaWorld Rescue program – a rescue team now over 50 years old, dedicated to saving imperiled animals, rehabilitating them and releasing them to the wild – is front-and-center.

Certain items purchased at the gift shop will benefit the Rescue program or any number of other designated ocean-related charities, many of which are animal specific; for example, if you buy a shark T-shirt, it helps save sharks. And the Orca Encounter show, formerly the Shamu show, is now an educational and uplifting show about the natural behaviors of killer whales and how SeaWorld facilitates these behaviors in captivity. Overall, it’s like any other zoo but with more of an eye on public engagement, education and rehabilitation, all while having fun.

Add to that the sustainably-caught seafood in the theme-park cafeterias, the farm fresh produce, the composting program, the lack of little plastics like utensil wrappers, and the strong push for reusable cups, and you have an environmentally friendly, educational park that not only entertains kids but makes adults proud.

I had a fantastic time at SeaWorld and I am looking forward to returning soon for their summer season with Electric Ocean – the nighttime light up celebration of light, music and sea life.

For more information on Electric Eel, Electric Ocean, SeaWorld Rescue and all SeaWorld has to offer, visit SeaWorld.com. And to see a sneak peek of the ride, click the video below. 

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  Charly Shelton