Busch Gardens Tampa Bay reinforced its reputation as Florida's premier thrill-packed adventure park on May 21, 2005 by unveiling SheiKra, the nation's first dive coaster. Set among the jungle ruins of a once-mighty African civilization, SheiKra carries riders up 200 feet at 45 degrees, and then hurtles them 70 mph back toward the ground at a 90-degree angle. It is the first coaster of its kind in the Americas and only the third in the world. Similar diving coasters in England and Taiwan can't match the height, speed and intensity SheiKra offers. It is also the first dive coaster to incorporate an Immelmann loop, a water feature, and a second 90-degree, 138-foot drop through an underground tunnel. The ride also includes a 360-degree climbing carousel. SheiKra's 3,188 feet of steel track offers a total ride time of just over three minutes.
See related: SheiKra Pictures
| Year | Track | Type | Designer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Steel | Dive Coaster, Multielement | Bolliger & Mabillard |
Elements: 145-foot Immelman Inversion, Two 90-degree Vertical Drops, Underground Tunnel
May 28, 2007 – Last day of operation with the original floored trains.
June 16, 2007 – SheiKra reopens with brand-new floorless trains.
Opening date: May 21, 2005
Estimated cost: $13.5 million
Train has three cars with one row each, seating eight abreast per row.
Height requirement: Riders must be at least 48 inches tall
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