February 12, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Manta Double-Launch Coast Thrills At Sea World San Diego:

Anyone who hasn’t been to SeaWorld San Diego in a few years will be in for a treat with the arrival of its new mega-attraction Manta, a double-launch coaster that opened in May 2012.

Swooping over sea and sky, Manta not only inspires riders with a 100,000-gallon aquarium, but also takes riders on an exhilarating ride on a coaster shaped like a giant manta ray, with dozens of twists and turns and a thrilling 54-foot drop.

SeaWorld Park President John Reilly said the ride delivered exactly what guests wanted: a fun, family coaster complemented by a hands-on animal experience.

“We want our guests to feel immersed in the world of rays, like they themselves are a giant manta ray, twisting, soaring, and diving through the ocean,” Reilly said. “Then, they’ll even get the opportunity to reach in the water and touch and feed real California bat rays.”

Manta sits on five acres just north of SeaWorld’s Dolphin Point. 

Guests are first introduced to the attraction as 20-seat trains zip around a 30-foot rock formation with bamboo, ferns, and a prominent Manta sign. 

Guests feel as if they’ve landed on an exotic Southeast Asian island, sprinkled with flowers and featuring a variety of palm trees, Japanese black pines, a palm, and cycad canyon and a succulent garden. 

Large trees line the perimeter of Manta, while small shrines, Japanese rockwork, potted bonsai trees, and a stone pagoda and bell tower (two structures dating back to 1964 when the park opened) blend into the landscape.

For those 48 inches and taller, the roller coaster at Manta is the highlight of the experience. 

Known as a linear synchronous motor (LSM) launch coaster, Manta features half a mile of track, with four trains (20 seats each) that take riders around banks and turns and a 54-foot drop where the cars skim a lake (without getting riders wet).  

The maximum height of the ride is 30 feet, but the drop is a total of 54 feet, achieved through a 24-foot excavation. 

Lasting one minute and 40 seconds, Manta features two separate launches and reaches maximum speed in just two seconds.

The first launch takes place in a tunnel with larger-than-life images of rays projected on a 270-degree enveloping screen. 

This stunning introduction to the world of the rays also visually enhances the physical acceleration as the ride launches down the track. This state-of-the-art projection system is the first of its kind in the United States.

In developing and constructing Manta, SeaWorld worked with German ride design company MACK, which also engineered SeaWorld San Diego’s popular ride, Journey to Atlantis. 

Manta’s 100,000-gallon aquarium is filled with three species of rays (California bat rays, diamond stingrays, and shovelnose guitarfish). The reef-themed aquarium includes eight acrylic viewing windows where guests can see marine life above and in front of them, and a shallow aboveground pool where guests can touch and feed California bat rays. 

This hands-on experience allows guests to make a connection with rays, which may inspire them to protect this amazing species by cherishing its ocean home, and the environment in general.

“Wish lanterns” with messages and imagery hand-drawn by SeaWorld employees can be seen in the lake area of the ride, where the coaster makes its 54-foot drop (and can be seen while in the queue for the ride).

To learn more about Manta, visit www.seaworld.com/manta.

SeaWorld San Diego is open year-round, including holidays. Park admission is $79 for ages 10 and older; $71 for ages 3–9. Hours vary by season. 

For more information, visit  www.seaworldsandiego.com or call 800.257.4268.

in News
<>Related Posts

 (Video) Beaten Dead Body Found on Santa Monica Shore

February 11, 2025

February 11, 2025

The Victim Was Pronounced Dead at the Scene The Victim Was Pronounced Dead at the Scene. pic.twitter.com/88huU3goOO — Santa Monica...

Worker Relief Fund Launched for Those Impacted by Palisades Fire

February 11, 2025

February 11, 2025

In addition to direct relief, the county is seeking donations for the fund Los Angeles County has launched the LA...

How Much Have Palisades Property Values Slipped After the Fire?

February 11, 2025

February 11, 2025

Property prices drop as sellers and buyers remain at odds in post-fire market Property values in Pacific Palisades have taken...

Retailers Impose Egg Purchase Restrictions as Supply Chain Disruptions Cause Concern

February 10, 2025

February 10, 2025

Egg Limits Are Back – What’s Causing the Shortage? Retailers across the United States, including Costco and Trader Joe’s, have...

Community Protest and Petition Against Controversial EPA Plan For Hazardous Waste Site

February 10, 2025

February 10, 2025

CD 11 City Councilmember Park to Hold Community Town Hall on Will Rogers Site Protesters marched against the Environmental Protection...

New Bill Targets Crime in Disaster Zones – Here’s What You Need to Know

February 10, 2025

February 10, 2025

Lawmakers Push for Tougher Penalties To Protect Vulnerable Communities California lawmakers have introduced a bipartisan bill aimed at cracking down...

Mysterious Death Near Santa Monica Shoreline, Police Investigating

February 10, 2025

February 10, 2025

SMPD Seeks Information About Victim With Facial Trauma  The Santa Monica Police Department is investigating the death of a woman...

Burned Palisades Lot Sells for Nearly $1M: REPORT

February 10, 2025

February 10, 2025

Aerial images show the property was among several homes in the neighborhood destroyed by the fire A vacant lot in...

Palisades Symphony to Host Benefit Concert to Support Displaced Musicians

February 10, 2025

February 10, 2025

Several members of the Palisades Symphony lost their homes in the fires, making this concert a deeply personal effort The...

What about are you protected from future wildfires?

February 9, 2025

February 9, 2025

Our hearts go out to all those impacted by the recent wildfires and Santa Ana windstorms in Southern California. We...

Shore Hotel Remains Sustainability Leader

February 9, 2025

February 9, 2025

By Susan Payne On track to open its new coastal-inspired restaurant, Shore Hotel has excited new offerings and initiatives this...

Rescheduled 2024 Homeless Count Needs More Volunteers on the Westside

February 9, 2025

February 9, 2025

Not Enough Volunteers to Successfully Count Unhoused Angelenos This Year With the rescheduled dates for the 2025 Greater Los Angeles...

Student Protest Over Immigration Policies Leads to Walkouts Across the Westside

February 7, 2025

February 7, 2025

Walkout Turns Tense as Counter-Protester Confronts Teen in Video From Venice Students from Santa Monica High School (SAMOHI), Culver City...

10-Year-Old Palisades Girl Wins Martial Arts Medals Weeks After Losing Home to Fire

February 6, 2025

February 6, 2025

Savoian, a green belt in Yoshukai karate, trained at Gerry Blanck’s Martial Arts Center in Pacific Palisades Just weeks after...

Open Arms Art Show Runs Through Mar. 22 in Burbank

February 6, 2025

February 6, 2025

Opening Exhibition Saturday Feb. 8 from 12 to 8p.m. More than an art show, the Open Arms Exhibition is an...