Reef to light up the big screen

A 5D cinema is among the new additions to arrive at the Cairns Aquarium by the end of the year to entice more visitors to learn about and experience the Great Barrier Reef.

The tourist attraction’s staff and owners celebrated the first birthday on the weekend and are now preparing work on the second stage of the $50 million venue.

Aquarium managing director Andrew Preston said it would include new displays and attractions, such as a 5D cinema that would give visitors an opportunity to voyage underwater in a virtual setting.

A 5D cinema combines 3D physical and environmental effects for a more enhanced theatre experience.

“When you’re watching something, there’s movement and water sprays, and other cool things,” Mr Preston said.

“That should be ready by Christmas, if not January.”

The aquarium is also looking to allow visitors to pay to go diving in the oceanarium alongside sharks, rays and other large fish – an activity chief executive Daniel Leipnik said was highly anticipated.

“The dives, you want to wait a year at least, to make sure everything settles – the sharks are happy, are eating well, and we’re just still taking our time with it,” he said. “We’re not going to rush. “We are reviewing at the moment what types of dive equipment we could use, whether it be helmets or scuba.”

Mr Leipnik said under their current analysis it could be introduced in a matter of months. “It’s one of the things that gets asked for every single day – that experience.”

A new display bringing attention to invasive weeds threatening waterways in the tropics, with federal funding under the National Landcare Program, is also planned.

WHEN YOU’RE WATCHING SOMETHING, THERE’S MOVEMENT AND WATER SPRAYS, AND OTHER COOL THINGS.”

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