COSTA MESA : OCC’s Aquarium Wins 2nd Chance

It’s been a rocky couple of years for the county’s largest public aquarium.

But a blimp ride, a car tune-up and a dinner at Margaritaville, among other things, may have helped stave off its closure.

As part of an effort to keep the 1,000-gallon Orange Coast College aquarium open, the college recently held a raffle. First prize was a whale watching trip aboard the Goodyear blimp. Other prizes included a free rental car for the weekend, a guided tour of the Cabrillo Aquarium in San Diego and a car tune-up.

Students purchased more than 1,000 tickets, shelling out $2,200 in an effort to keep the home of such coral reef dwellers as the puffer fish and striped sharks open.

“I’d like to thank all the generous and caring individuals who purchased raffle tickets,” said Dennis Kelly, the marine biology professor who supervises the operation of the aquarium.

For more than 20 years, OCC students have managed and maintained the aquarium, which serves as specimen-holder for those enrolled in marine biology and oceanography classes.

A variety of marine life from local waters lives in the aquarium, including an exotic, foot-long mantis shrimp, a creature closely resembling a lobster, spiny lobsters and sea stars. Two swell sharks, named for the way in which they inhale water and dramatically expand when they are threatened, are also popular aquarium residents.

Last December, the aquarium was rescued from closure at the last minute when two anonymous donors gave gifts totaling $5,000. This came after the tank remained empty for almost a year from late 1989 through the spring of 1991 because of a lack of funds.

Kelly was approached by Goodyear officials several weeks ago, who offered the grand prize for the raffle. “They called out of the blue and offered the prize to help save the aquarium,” Kelly said. “We were overwhelmed.”

Huntington Beach resident Jennifer Bolles won the unusual whale-watching excursion. A criminal justice major, Bolles invited three family members and Kelly along for the ride.

“I’m really excited,” said Bolles, who is enrolled in coastal oceanography this semester. “It sounds like a lot of fun. I’ve enjoyed my marine science class this spring, and I think this trip will top off the semester for me.”

But even with the raffle, Kelly hasn’t stopped raising money. He hopes to collect a total of $10,000, which will fully endow the aquarium, allowing it to be maintained in perpetuity. Then the marine life will have a permanent home.

“We can’t allow it to close,” Kelly said. “It’s important that the 10,000 children who visit it every year not be deprived of this experience. It helps them to better understand and appreciate our local marine environment.”