New conservation partner, Penguins International, will raise awareness
for penguin conservation
SeaWorld San Diego announces “Emperor” as the name of the park’s new dive coaster scheduled to open in summer 2020. This new roller coaster will be the tallest, fastest and longest dive coaster in California, as well as the only floorless dive coaster in the state! Named for the world’s largest penguin, the new coaster will mimic this species’ amazing underwater diving ability. Emperor penguins can dive to a depth of 1,800 feet. Climbing to 153 feet with feet dangling in the air, riders on Emperor will be suspended on a 45-degree angle at the crown of the ride before plunging down a 143-foot facedown vertical drop accelerating to more than 60 miles per hour!
Riders will also experience inversions, barrel roll, Immelmann loop, hammerhead turn and flat spin as they race along the nearly 2,500 feet of track. Each of the floorless ride cars will hold 18 riders in three, six-person rows. This is the first seating configuration of its kind in North America. “There will be no other coaster experience like this in California,” said Marilyn Hannes, SeaWorld San Diego’s park president. “Emperor will both thrill our coaster enthusiasts and also serve as an attraction that educates guests about the importance of animal and conservation issues.” This exciting attraction will highlight an important new animal-conservation partnership between SeaWorld and Penguins International that will focus on penguin awareness and the conservation needs of this special aquatic bird. A portion of the proceeds from sales of penguin merchandise at the Emperor retail store will be donated to Penguins International to support their important conservation, education and research efforts.
“We are excited to enter into this partnership with SeaWorld,” said David Schutt, president
of Penguins International. “It’s an amazing opportunity that will help advance our penguin
conservation programs at several high-priority sites and our public awareness campaigns that
highlight the threats penguins face in today’s world.”
The new Emperor coaster will be located adjacent to Journey to Atlantis in the southeast
corner of the park in an area that is currently a parking lot, and will be built by Bolliger & Mabillard,
based in Switzerland.
About SeaWorld:
SeaWorld San Diego is one of the most popular marine parks in the world and is a global leader in
marine animal care and welfare, education, conservation, research and rescue. Through exciting
and educational attractions, shows and exhibits, SeaWorld creates fun and meaningful
experiences—experiences that matter—where guests can explore, become inspired to care about
animals and wild wonders of the world and to act to help protect them.
SeaWorld San Diego, which opened in March of 1964, is one of 12 parks operated by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment.
SeaWorld has rescued more than 31,000 animals.
Every visit to a SeaWorld park helps support its
animal rescue program, inspiring guests to “see it here and save it there.”
