Manta at Sea World

If you have wondered what it is like to glide and skim like a stingray, then take a spin on the Manta at Sea World in Orlando, Florida. The flying coaster made its public debut in May 2009 and has been hailing crowds ever since.

The Manta glides you horizontally through the track.

What was dubbed as "the next generation Sea World attraction," the Manta is a steel roller coaster that glides, dives and swoops through four inversions at 60 miles an hour. Manta lifts riders 140 feet in the air and take them through 3,359 feet of track, making this the second-tallest, fastest and longest flying coaster in the world.

Riders are suspended under the track with their feet supported by a harness. As the ride begins, the seats are transitioned into a horizontal position so guests will feel the full effects of flying like a stingray. The two-and-a-half minute thrill ride takes guests through pretzel loops, U-turns, in-line twists and corkscrews. This ride is definitely not for the faint at heart.

The second part of the Manta rushes riders toward a lagoon where the 12-foot seat wings seem to skim the water causing an up-splash. After a short rise, it dives again toward a waterfall where guests barely miss being soaked by the downpour. After that, the ride goes through its last inversion, another corkscrew and U-turn before returning to the station. The ride stands tall above many other Sea World attractions with its dark purple, ultramarine blue and cobalt hues.

The Manta at Sea World is not your ordinary roller coaster. Even before you board the ride, you are treated to an underground sea life adventure. While waiting in the queue, which resembles a seaside village, guests are surrounded by mosiacs and murals inspired by stingrays. The attraction's four-acre site is complete with 10 aquariums containing 184,000 gallons of water.

More than 3,000 animals representing 60 species can be viewed in the floor-to-ceiling, Plexiglass aquariums, including:

• Sea horses
• About 300 different kinds of stingrays
• Sea dragons
• Various tropical fish

There is even a pop-up area in the tank that allows guests to get a real feel for life underwater by "popping" their heads into the tank. Even if you do not ride the Manta, you can still view portions of this underwater attraction. However, for the full effect, you must ride the Manta.

It took more than two years to build the Manta, and another few years before that to plan and design it. It is created by Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M), a Swiss coaster company, which also designed Raptor at Cedar Point, Silver Bullet at Knott's Berry Farm and Diamondback at Kings Island. B&M is responsible for more than 70 unique roller coasters worldwide.

Manta is not for small children as riders must be 54 inches tall to fit securely in the seat restraint. Assistance animals not permitted, and those in wheelchairs must be able to transfer to the ride. Guests with cervical collars, neck braces, broken collar bones or any type of arm or leg casts are not allowed on the ride.

Individuals with high blood pressure, back or neck trouble or heart conditions are also not permitted to ride. Also, those who are afraid of heights and are sensitive to strobe effects should not ride either. Those whose chest dimension is greater than 52 inches may not fit into the seat's restraint system.

There is no extra charge to ride the Manta at Sea World in Orlando. However, since it is a new attraction, expect wait times to be longer than other rides at the park.

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