[3] The facility is 105,000 sq ft (9,800 m2), and displays numerous species of sharks, rays, fish, reptiles, and marine invertebrates.

[9] In 2020, Shark Reef announced plans for a 36-seat virtual reality theater showing aquatic short films.

[14][15] Features include a shark tunnel,[16] and a viewing area designed as the interior of a sunken ship.

[4] Other animals have included small stingrays, horseshoe crabs, moon jellyfish, and water monitors.

[19][20] By that time, the aquarium had also introduced a diving program, allowing guests to swim with the sharks.

[22][23] Two scalloped hammerheads were introduced in 2015, making Shark Reef one of three aquariums in the U.S. to feature the species.

The shark was flown into Mandalay Bay in August 2001 on a 16-hour flight in a transportation tank designed specifically for it.

It measured six feet long when it was finally introduced into the 1,300,000 US gal (4,900,000 L) tank on November 3, 2003, for public exhibition.

[27][28][29] Members of the Shark Reef staff participate in the "Adopt-a-Cove" program to aid in the clean up of Lake Mead.