THE AQUARIUM AT THE SILVERTON HOTEL

Let your cares melt away as you watch 4,000-plus exotic fish swimming in the colorful Silverton Aquarium. It’s easy to lose track of time just by watching these peaceful sea creatures. Fortunately, there are comfortable benches surrounding the aquarium for your lounging pleasure. 

If you grew up loving Ariel and Sebastian from Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” then you’re in for a real treat. There may not be a singing crab belting out Caribbean-sounding tunes, but there are “mermaids” swimming in 117,000-gallon reef aquarium. The mermaids swim among the fish and do everything from blowing bubbles to interacting with kids watching from the outside. 

But the mermaids are more than just pretty ladies donning colorful fins and bikini tops. These women have various backgrounds, from synchronized and competitive swimming to ballet. You’ll see them twirl, flip, dance and do other fun stunts — you would almost believe they really are part-fish! 

You may wonder how the mermaids breathe underwater, since they’re swimming in the tank 15 minutes at a time. Every mermaid is scuba-certified and gets air from hookah ports throughout the tank. 

In addition to the mermaids, you can also sometimes catch divers feeding stingrays. During the feedings, there’s a guide outside the tank who’ll take questions from the audience. The divers have a built-in speaker in their suit and can answer anything you want to know about the fish. 

Divers also share fascinating facts about the aquarium. For instance, the staff spends 32 hours a week cleaning the tank. And if you ever wondered if the bigger fish attack the smaller ones, it rarely happens. The fish are well fed.

It’s fun to watch the fish in their own little world. You’ll see fish sticking close together like high school cliques and sting rays brushing up against each other as they glide and flap their fins. Some fish, like the sting ray and leopard shark, like to hang out on the aquarium floor. This is a sight to see since we’re so used to seeing fish on the go. 

Speaking of sticking together, if you’re inspired to get married in Vegas and you happen to be scuba certified, the Silverton may have a wedding package for you. Say your “I Do’s” with a mermaid for a bridesmaid and a sting ray or shark as your best man.

While you’re in the area, make sure to check out the mermaid art gallery outside the Mermaid Cafe and Lounge. All art is available for sale and can even be shipped out of state. 

After visiting this aquarium, you may find yourself humming Ariel’s “Part of Your World” and Sebastian’s “Under the Sea.” And maybe – just maybe – you’ll be inspired to scuba dive.