Emperor (roller coaster)
| Company type | Roller coaster |
|---|---|
| Industry | Amusement rides |
| Founded | March 12, 2022 |
| Headquarters | San Diego, California , United States |
Area served | SeaWorld San Diego |
| Products | Dive Coaster roller coaster |
| Parent | SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment |
Emperor is a Bolliger & Mabillard Dive Coaster situated at SeaWorld San Diego in San Diego, California. Initially scheduled for a 2020 debut, its introduction was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ultimately launching on March 12, 2022.
History
SeaWorld San Diego revealed plans for a new B&M dive coaster on January 5, 2019, originally named “Mako.” The name was later changed to Emperor through the IAAPA, accompanied by a thematic shift from mako sharks to emperor penguins.
As California’s first floorless dive coaster and the state's second overall after HangTime at Knott's Berry Farm, Emperor is positioned in the eastern section of SeaWorld near the Penguin Encounter attraction. Visitors can reach it via walkways adjacent to Journey to Atlantis. There are no announced intentions to place live penguins in proximity to the coaster.
In August 2021, SeaWorld confirmed that Emperor’s opening would occur in March 2022, specifying March 12 as the official launch date.
Track layout
After leaving the station, riders ascend a lift hill and pause for roughly 3.5 to 4 seconds before plunging down a vertical 90-degree drop into the first inversion, an immelmann. The course continues with a second inversion featuring a sharply overbanked turn that briefly turns riders upside down, followed by an element that nearly inverts them again. The ride finishes with a corkscrew, a sweeping turn, and a final ramp returning to the station. The entire ride experience lasts about 1 minute and 10 seconds.