Stephanie Greenman Stone (415) 379-5121
sstone@calacademy.org

Pat Kilduff (415) 321-8125

Watch a Biologist Dive into a Two-Story Coral Reef

"Coral Reef Caretaking" takes place every Wednesday at the California Academy of Sciences

For a high resolution version of this image or others, email Stephanie at sstone@calacademy.org.

SAN FRANCISCO (May 26, 2005) - Beginning June 1, 2005, fish aficionados are invited to dive into summer with a trip to the California Academy of Sciences, where visitors can watch a wetsuit-clad biologist plunge into the Academy's stunning Coral Reef tank every Wednesday at 2:30 pm. Measuring more than 18 feet deep and containing 20,000 gallons of water, this tank is the second largest live coral exhibit in the country and the deepest coral reef display ever created in this hemisphere. Spanning two exhibit floors at 875 Howard Street, the tank is filled with approximately 4,000 pounds of reef rock and hundreds of living coral colonies, all carefully transplanted from the old coral reef display in the park. It is also home to over 100 colorful reef fishes, including two breeding colonies of clownfish (a.k.a. Nemo), which live within the protective tentacles of their host sea anemones. Over the next few months, dozens of new fish will be added to the tank. During the scheduled dives each Wednesday, visitors can watch as a diver cleans the tank windows, cares for the corals, and hand-feeds the anemones. A second biologist will be available to answer questions.

CALENDAR EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:
Coral Reef Caretaking - Every Wednesday, New Ongoing Program
Watch as an Academy biologist suits up in SCUBA gear and dives into the Academy's two-story Coral Reef tank to care for the reef's inhabitants. During this 20-minute dive, the biologist will clean the tank windows and feed the animals. A second biologist will be on hand to answer questions. 2:30 pm; California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, 55 Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco, CA 94118. 94103. (415) 379-8000. Free with museum admission.

The California Academy of Sciences, including Steinhart Aquarium and the Natural History Museum, is open to the public at 875 Howard Street, Admission to the Academy at 875 Howard Street is: $7 for adults, $4.50 for youth ages 12 to 17, Seniors ages 65+ and students with valid ID, $2 for children ages four to 11 and children ages three and younger will be admitted free of charge. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. www.calacademy.org (415) 379-8000.

The California Academy of Sciences, the fourth largest natural history museum in the United States, is home to Steinhart Aquarium, Morrison Planetarium and the Natural History Museum. The Academy is beginning an extensive rebuilding project in Golden Gate Park. Pritzker prize-winning architect Renzo Piano is designing the new Academy, which is expected to open in 2008.

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