Gobsmacked at the S.E.A. Aquarium, Singapore

“Go and visit the S.E.A. Aquarium,” pestered my offspring over the phone. So, with an afternoon to spare before catching my flight back home I headed off to Resorts World Sentosa situated just across the street from the Bay Hotel Singapore.

Located in a 20-acre park which combines two attractions, the S.E.A. Aquarium and the Adventure Cove Waterpark, it was once considered to be the world’s largest aquarium by total water volume until overtaken by Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in Hengqin, China.

Despite it being a Friday evening, I was relieved that there were not many visitors. This, undoubtedly made my visit easier, faster and more enjoyable.

The aquarium is amazing. It really is.

It contains a total of 45,000,000 litres (9,900,000 imp gal; 12,000,000 US gal) of water for more than 100,000 marine animals of over 800 species.

The aquarium comprises 10 zones with 49 habitats. explaining and depicting sea beds, the continents, the different species of fish, tanks for coral, amphibians, the translucent and ethereal jellyfish and sea nettle, sharks and dolphins, and fish of every size, colour and shape imaginable.

The centerpiece of the aquarium is the Open Ocean tank with more than 18,000,000 l (4,000,000 imp gal; 4,800,000 US gal) and 50,000 animals.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t hang around for feeding time as I had a flight to catch.

Hidden in crevices, with only their small heads protruding, these snakelike fish are the largest of their kind. A slimy mucus covers their skin and protects them from being grazed on rough surfaces. Moray eels spend the majority of the day hiding in crevices with only their heads protruding, as well as catching unsuspecting prey whilst hidden amongst crevices, they can be seen leaving the safety of their lairs to actively hunt for prey.

Poisonous amphibians tend to sport bright colours and/or eye-catching patterns. Poison Arrow Frogs are good examples. Their bright colouration is a warning that they are inedible (due to toxic skin secretions) to potential predators. Measuring just 1.5cm to 6cm long, Poison Arrow Frogs derive their toxicity from their natural diet of small insects like poisonous ants, termites and even spiders.

Living in both tropical and subtropical water, these invertebrates are carnivorous and prey upon a mixture of creatures, such as young minnows, anchovy eggs, worms, and mosquito larvae as well as other sea jellies. Sea nettles trail long tentacles through the water as they drift with the ocean currents.

Seahorses, sea dragons and shrimp are truly unique, and not just because of their unusual equine shape. Unlike most other fish, seahorses are monogamous- they choose one mate until death do them part. Rarer still the male carries the unborn young in a pouch and ‘gives birth’ to fully formed, miniature seahorses. These tooth-less, stomach-less fish must eat constantly to stay alive. Seahorses have a prehensile tail, which has been adapted to grasp or hold objects to prevent them from being washed away by strong currents and waves.

Until 2014, this aquarium had the world’s largest viewing panel, 36-metre (118 ft) wide and 8.3-metre (27 ft) tall, which is intended to give visitors the feeling of being on the ocean floor.

Here are some interesting facts about this aquarium;

S.E.A. Aquarium (or South East Asia Aquarium) was the world’s largest aquarium by total water volume from April 2013 till February 2014. The aquarium holds more than 42.8 million litres of fresh and salt water – enough to fill more than 17 Olympic-size swimming pools!

The aquarium is made up of more than 50 habitats, including Shark Seas, Shipwreck and Open Ocean, with Open Ocean habitat being the largest.

The 700mm thick acrylic viewing panel at Open Ocean habitat measures a staggering 36m wide by 8.3m tall, and weighs more than 250,000kg.

Aquarists prepare some 450kg of food for our marine residents daily. With an average adult consuming about 1.5kg of food per day, that’s equivalent to preparing three meals for 300 persons at one go!

A conservation group called Guardians of the S.E.A.A supports conservation research, education and public engagement efforts by bringing together a community of like-minded people and organisations collaborating with S.E.A. Aquarium to protect the marine environment. Click here to find out more about Guardians of the S.E.A.A.

Opening Hours

10am – 7pm daily
Refer to official Resorts World Sentosa website for the latest information. 

 

General Admission (One-Day Ticket):
$40 / Adult (13 – 59 years old)

$29 / Child (4 – 12 years old)

$29 / Seniors ( 60 years and above)