Inside of Sea Base Alpha, guests could see a "television" system that allowed them to follow various divers’ activities. One camera would be set on the sea floor, the second mounted on a robotic device which followed the diver, and a third would be on the diver’s helmet itself. In the research facility, guests would also be able to see a series of exhibits that showcased not only underwater life, but also the future of underwater science. Unlike its successor, the original plans for The Living Seas pavilion’s architecture called for a two story pavilion with a glass roof. As designs for the pavilion changed, and the entire Living Seas took on a more serious tone, the glass ceiling was replaced by a conventional one.
Due to this change in tone as well as logistical issues, construction on The Living Seas was pushed back. Before construction began, the layout of The Living Seas was altered. This was either due to a change in the pavilion's tone or the unwillingness of the pavilion's sponsor United Technologies to fund the elaborate design <ref name= "Martin"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7TGeBE_0cQ </ref>. Instead of the extensive dark ride that would have led guests to Sea Base Alpha, a preshow video and short trip through the aquarium were instead installed <ref name= "Martin"/>. The pavilion was now designed with essentially two parts: the large Coral Reef Aquarium, and Sea Base Alpha, where guests could look at the future of underwater research <ref name= "Martin"/>. After a series of setbacks, construction on The Living Seas began in March of 1984, and the pavilion opened to the public on January 15, 1986 <ref name= "Martin"/>.
===The Living Seas Presented By United Technologies (1986-1998)===