Hamptons.com has launched a new live stream camera at the Long Island Aquarium and there is nothing fishy about this exciting collaboration! Bringing the total to seven live stream cameras, Hamptons.com is the place to check for what’s happening in our area. From Cooper’s Beach, Main Beach, corner of Route 39A, Montauk Highway in Southampton, South Ferry on Shelter Island, the American Hotel in Sag Harbor, and now the Long Island Aquarium, locals and visitors can view, enjoy and plan.
The former Atlantis Marine World, opened in 2000 in Riverhead, and renamed the Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center in 2011 following a massive expansion exceeding $20 million, draws approximately 100,000 visitors a year according to Darlene Puntillo, the Director of Marketing and Advertising for the Aquarium.
 |
|
The exhibition features African black-footed penguins. (Photo: Courtesy of Long Island Aquarium) |
“We are excited to have the camera mounted outside at the Aquarium and feel it will give visitors an opportunity to view our African black-footed penguins at any time of day,” Punttillo revealed. “We have 13 penguins, and they are a very big attraction for visitors.”
That expansion included a “brand-new Exhibition Center, a 28,000-square-foot Sea Star Grand Ballroom (which joined its successful catering component, Atlantis Banquets & Events),” as well as a 100-room waterfront Hyatt Place Hotel. Additionally, the Aquarium also owns and operates a 120-slip marina called Treasure Cove Resort Marina. “With the addition of the hotel, we have found we get more and more international visitors as well,” according to Puntillo.
According to the Aquarium’s website, “With both indoor and outdoor exhibitions, one of the biggest attractions is a 20,000-US-gallon (76,000) coral reef display tank, which is one of the largest all-living coral displays in the Western Hemisphere.” Puntillo further explained, “This coral is 30 years old, and has been at the Aquarium for 20 years, as it was privately owned for 10 years before being installed here.”
For those who crave a bit more adventure, the very popular Shark Dive “puts you inside a cage inside the 120,000-gallon Lost City of Atlantis Shark Exhibit right in the middle of circling sharks and an array of fish that cannot be found together anywhere on Earth. No diving certification is necessary, and a trained Shark Dive Instructor accompanies all qualifying participants.”
 |
|
Now you can watch the African black-footed penguins all day. (Photo: Courtesy of Long Island Aquarium) |
Those “Shark Dive participants are provided with everything necessary for their dive, including wetsuit, scuba gear, and an underwater mask that allows normal breathing and underwater communications, and each Shark Dive adventure consists of an educational program about sharks, a lesson and safety briefing, and the dive itself.”
However, if you are reluctant to ‘swim with the fishes’ as they say, then just enjoy viewing them over your head and all around you from the outside of the tank, or just pet and feed some stingrays, which Puntillo said, “feel just like jelly and kids love that.”
A tremendously popular destination for school trips, Puntillo advised, “We have had school groups visit even from New York City,” perhaps it is time to exercise your “Happy Feet” and get to your chosen device to check out the Hamptons.com live stream camera at the Long Island Aquarium so you too can break into your own heart song!
You can also view the LI Aquarium cam on our YouTube page here: www.youtube.com.
The Long Island Aquarium is located at 431 East Main Street in Riverhead. For more information call 631-208-9200, or go to www.longislandaquarium.com.
