It's more than public relations. We really are the kind of people who believe we can ultimately save the planet.
We've had over 300,000 people since it opened. We're very pleased with it. People have already come from all over the world - Japan, Europe, Mexico. It's not just the typical snowbirds from Michigan.
We respect the water, and use the water. We don't just let it go down the drain. We treat this water like gold. The only water loss is evaporation.
Most aquariums located on a coast don't use the water. It's usually too polluted. Most have to use [the product] 'Instant Ocean,' you have to make the water.
The people who live inside the country tend to know the least [about aquatic sea life]. They may never have seen dolphins or sunsets over the ocean. So it's exactly the reason why an aquarium needs to be the middle of the country, to educate the citizenry.
We tried to use music and drama -- theater as well as science -- to achieve that connection.
They're in a situation that's not really ideal for animals of this type.
The first day that our whale sharks arrived I was underwater photographing them. I watched them take their first lap [in the tank], it was incredible.
It's not a guessing game. Most aquariums are linear — you walk on one path, one way. We chose to be nonlinear. You come into a central area, and then you make the choice of where you want to go.
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