Inside LI Aquariums massive shark tank where visitors dive with Jaws-like monsters on spots 25th anniversary

They’ve been making a splash since 2000.The Long Island Aquarium is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year with many of its original marine life still flipping and swimming in Riverhead.“The sharks are 26, and I’ve got some fish in the reef tank that I’ve had for 26 years, among many others,” co-founder Joe Yaiullo told The Post.“That’s a credit to our staff, really maintaining the quality of life that the animals need.”Yaiullo remembers acquiring the aquarium’s four sand tiger sharks just before opening in 1999, when they were a mere 30 inches long.Now, the apex predators — their teeth are as sharp as they look — come in at around 400 pounds and 10-feet long.And the exceptionally brave can hop in the water with them.For nearly 20 years, the aquarium has offered guests the death-defying opportunity to take a cage dive into its 120,000-gallon tank.

Participants are accompanied by a dive pro and must wear a wetsuit, facemask and weights to keep them from floating up.Two females, Bertha and Bumps, are the largest of the four, bur Drummer and Shredfin are only smaller by comparison.The “Jaws”-like monsters were curious as The Post took part in a recent dive in the balmy 68 degrees salt water.One shark collided with the cage’s metal bars, causing them to sway noticeably back and forth.The tank also features several exotic fish, including a plump Queensland grouper, a green moray eel, and several striped bass, along with other unique marine life, such as the colorful Garibaldi Damselfish.They’re all safe from the sand tigers simply because they are “lazy” predators who don’t feel the chase is worth the effort, Yaiullo explained.Outside the shark tank, there’s plenty to see at the marine center, which has broadened its footprint since opening 25 years ago and now features reptiles, insects and large mammals.They proudly display Grey Beauty, a blind seal rescued from an East Hampton beach in 1997, on the front of the property for ...