At The Tennessee Aquarium: Sharks And “Shark Kingdom 3D”

By Ray Bassett

Published November 19, 2025 at 4:56 PM EST

A shark in the Secret Reef exhibit in the Ocean Journey building of The Tennessee Aquarium.

Twenty years ago, when the Tennessee Aquarium opened its Ocean Journey expansion in downtown Chattanooga, sharks were part of the collection from the beginning.

This season, as the Aquarium screens “Shark Kingdom 3D” in its IMAX theater, what are the real sharks like at Ocean Journey?

Kyle McPheeters is the Aquarium’s Lead Life Support Systems Aquarist.

This fall, I spoke with him - and the Aquarium’s Alison Pryor.

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