Texas marine park SeaWorld San Antiono has announced it will create a new habitat for the 2019 season called Turtle Reef, which will also include two family rides. In addition, there are plans for a new slide at the neighbouring Aquatica waterpark.

Turtle Reef will enable guests to get an up-close look at threatened and endangered sea turtles, plus learn about the threats the species face in the wild. The focal point will be a 126,000-gallon coral reef-themed environment, with a unique and natural bio filtration, featuring rescued and non-releasable green sea turtles, along with hundreds of multicoloured Caribbean fish.

Located between Shamu Stadium and Rio Loco river rapids ride, Turtle Reef also will feature SeaWorld’s second underwater viewing area where guests can watch from a floor-to-ceiling, panoramic portal as turtles swim just inches away. In conjunction with the opening of the new habitat, two family rides will debut. Riptide Rescue is a classic spinner ride where passengers can board a boat and set out on their own sea turtle rescue mission aboard. Meanwhile Sea Swinger will be a thrill ride that swings riders 180-degrees in both directions.

Premiering at Aquatica in 2019 will be Ihu’s Breakaway Falls, a new, steep, one-of-a-kind, multi-drop tower slide. It is named after Ihu, Aquatica’s colourful gecko, who searches for the biggest thrills, steepest hills and coolest spills in the waterpark.