Monterey, CA…America’s Cup sailboats won’t be the only new vessels in the San Francisco Bay area this summer. The Monterey Bay Aquarium launches its “Fintastic Voyager” this weekend for a series of “undersea expeditions” that will carry passengers on simulated dives into the deep sea at venues from Sacramento to the South Bay.

The sea-blue Fintastic Voyager is a “submarine on wheels” created for the aquarium in collaboration with Engine Company 1 – the San Francisco advertising agency that developed two award-winning campaigns for the aquarium: a seahorse Tunnel of Love in the Powell Street BART station and “150 Feet of Awesome” interactive animated bus shelters in San Francisco that let people go on virtual scuba dives in coastal waters.

Visitors who encounter the Fintastic Voyager will be invited to board by the Voyager’s “crew” before meeting ocean animals as they descend from the surface to the deep ocean several thousand feet below the surface.

Along the way, they’ll encounter animals including sea otters, leopard sharks, jellyfish and unusual deep-sea animals like vampire squid in the narrated video expedition. When they resurface, they’ll be able to take a commemorative photo that they can share via social media and email.

The Fintastic Voyager will have ports of call everywhere from Giants and A’s games to the California State Fair. (See full schedule of appearances below.)

“We can’t bring the Monterey Bay Aquarium to the Bay Area and Sacramento,” said Mimi Hahn, vice president for marketing and communications at the aquarium. “But we can share the spirit of fun and adventure that people experience when they visit.”

The Fintastic Voyager was created by transforming an Airstream trailer into an underwater explorer, complete with periscope. The aquarium and Engine Company 1 worked with Cinnabar to create the Voyager, Atomic Productions for the narrated dive video, MacDonald Media on planning and management, and with GranDesign for staffing and event logistics. Hanlees Auto Group provided the ocean-themed truck that transports the Fintastic Voyager around the region.

Scheduled appearances will be featured on the aquarium’s Facebook page and via its Twitter feed, @MontereyAq.

The mission of the Monterey Bay Aquarium is to inspire conservation of the oceans.

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About Monterey Bay Aquarium:

Since its opening in 1984, the award-winning Monterey Bay Aquarium has established a reputation among peers and public alike as the No. 1 aquarium in the United States for its innovative exhibits and unsurpassed visitor experience. It has also grown to become one of the leading ocean conservation organizations in the world, with a mission to inspire conservation of the oceans. Exhibit innovations include displays of open ocean and deep sea animals, including great white sharks; pioneering jellyfish exhibits; and the first program of special exhibitions at a public aquarium. It is a marine research leader working with great white sharks, sea otters, tunas and other open ocean species, and created the respected Seafood Watch program, which is helping transform the market for seafood in ways that preserve the health of the oceans. For more information, visit www.montereybayaquarium.org.

About Engine Company 1:

Engine Company 1, created in 2009 following the merger of two highly awarded San Francisco advertising and marketing agencies, is housed in a three story, 19th century firehouse on San Francisco’s Barbary Coast. EC1 specializes in the creation of communications programs inspired by its Golden Rule of Marketing: “Sell unto others as you would have others sell unto you.” This approach to consumer and client engagement is born from the humility that comes from working in an environment that serves as a daily reminder of the best of what humanity has to offer. To learn more, visit www.enginecompanyone.com.

FINTASTIC VOYAGER SCHEDULE

June

Date Estimated Time City Event

June 29, Sat. 7 a.m. – 11 p.m. Sacramento Run 4 Independence Marathon, Elk Grove Regional Park

June 30, Sun. 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. San Francisco Union Square

July

Date Estimated Time City Event

July 3, Wed. 1:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. El Dorado Hills 3rd of July – KIID Disney

July 4, Thurs. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Richmond Hanlees Auto Group – Hilltop

July 5, Fri. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Fremont Hanlees Auto Group – Fremont

July 6, Sat. 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Walnut Creek Broadway Plaza

July 7, Sun. 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. San Francisco Sunday Streets, Great Highway – KYLD

July 11, Thurs. 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. San Francisco Justin Herman Plaza

July 13, Sat. 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. San Francisco Union Square

July 14, Sun. 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Oakland A’s vs. Red Sox – O.co Coliseum

July 20, Sat. 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Corte Madera Corte Madera Village Shopping Center

July 21, Sun. 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. San Francisco AT&T Park – Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Pablo Sandoval Kids’ Jersey Day – Giants vs. Dodgers

July 23, Sun. 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Sacramento California State Fair – Cal Expo, KIID Disney

July 24 or 25, Wed. or Thurs. 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. San Francisco Weezer Ticket Raid with Live105

July 27, Sat. 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. San Francisco Justin Herman Plaza

July 28, Sun. 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Oakland A’s vs. Angels – O.co Coliseum

August

Date Estimated Time City Event

August 1, Thurs. 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. San Francisco 311 Ticket Raid with KITS

August 2, Fri. 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Santa Clara KMVQ Summersplash – Great America

August 3, Sat. 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Oakland A’s vs. Rangers – O.co Coliseum

August 4, Sun. 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. Santa Clara Quakes vs. Chivas – Buck Shaw Stadium with K101

August 9, Fri. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Davis Hanlees Auto Group – Davis

August 10, Sat. 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. San Jose Santana Row

August 11, Sun. 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. San Francisco Giants vs. Orioles – AT&T Park

August 16, Fri. 5 p.m. – 11 p.m. South Bay (TBD) Moveable Feast Food Trucks with KITS

August 17, Sat. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Cupertino Happy Kids Day Festival – Memorial Park with KMKY

August 18, Sun. 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. San Francisco Sunday Streets – Civic Center

August 24, Sat. 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. San Jose San Jose Flea Market with KMKY

August 25, Sun. 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. San Jose San Jose Flea Market with KMKY

August 31, Sat. 5 p.m. – 11 p.m. South Bay (TBD) Moveable Feast Food Trucks with KITS

September

Date Estimated Time City Event

September 8, Sun. 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. San Francisco Sunday Streets – Western Addition with KYLD

TBD TBD TBD KMVQ Topless Summer Car Giveaway