Whale of a ride

Press, 21 January 1982, Page 13

Whale of a ride

A new item, riding a killer whale, has been added to the range of attractions at Hong Kong’s Ocean Park. The world’s largest oceanarium, Ocean Park is a 180-acre marineland located between the fishing port of Aberdeen and scenic Deep Water Bay on Hong Kong Island. After many weeks of rehearsal, the chief trainer, Terry Martin, has succeeded in mastering an act where he clings to the back of the park’s 3.6 metre killer whale and the pair dive to the bottom of the pool, surface, and jump right out of the water. The feat is not without risk. As Terry Martin says: “There are considerable problems hanging on to a fast-moving whale, including coping with the underwater pressure and holding my breath while diving more than 30 metres.”

Performed for the first time anywhere in Asia, the whale-riding act is now featured as the climax of each performance at the park’s Ocean Theatre. Consisting of a headland and lowland site which are connected by a spectacular cable car ride, the Ocean Park features, in the lowand area, aquatic and cultural shows, a children’s zoo, water gardens, and international plant displays.