Manta Coaster Coming Soon to SeaWorld San Diego

After months of rumors and buzz regarding SeaWorld San Diego adding a new coaster in the park, on February 9^th SeaWorld officially announced that they are in fact en route to beginning construction on Manta. Much like the Manta Coaster in SeaWorld Orlando, this ride promises to emulate the feeling that its riders are manta rays, flying, gliding and diving through sea and sky.

This new addition will be located just North of the Rocky Point Preserve and construction is due to start within the month. SeaWorld is quite excited about this project since they have hired German ride design company MACK, which is the same company that built Journey To Atlantis in the Orlando Park, which far exceeded all expectations.

Like most SeaWorld attractions, this coaster will innovatively deliver a fusion of thrills, education and visual scenes induced with color and wonderment. The coaster itself will be shaped as a manta ray with tracks flying and diving through more than a dozen twists and turns. Manta will also feature a state of the art launch station, which will begin in an enclosed tunnel with images of rays projected on a 270-degree enveloping screen. The introduction to the world of manta rays will visually enhance the launch sequence itself as it launches its riders down the track. This state of the art projection system will be the first of its kind in the US.

If your not much of a coaster fan you will still be able to experience the world of manta rays and fishes in the Forbidden Reef queue which will be incorporated into the ride itself for those waiting to board the coaster as well as those just interested in the exhibit itself. Riders and non riders can visit the below water area which will feature 8 acrylic windows looking into a simulated reef housing 65 bat rays and hundred of fishes. There will also be an above water exhibit where you can interact, touch and feed the rays.

This new ride will be a combination of coaster and water ride as the coasters car is designed in shape of a manta where at times the wings skim through waves and falls.

Manta is due to open to the public in 2012 at SeaWorld San Diego. 

For more information regarding this and other SeaWorld attractions, visit  www.seaworldparksandentertainment.com

**IMAGES AND VIDEO COURTESY OF SEA WORLD SAN DIEGO**

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