A Deep-Dive Tour Of One Of The World’s Largest Aquariums | Singapore Hour

Key Concepts

• Singapore Oceanarium: A newly expanded marine education and conservation facility at Resorts World Sentosa.
• Immersive Ocean Experience: A large, multi-faceted exhibit designed to provide visitors with close-up encounters with marine life.
• Manta Rays: Highly intelligent fish, stars of the Oceanarium's main habitat, identifiable by belly patterns.
• Leopard Shark: An endangered and misunderstood shark species, observed to be gentle and curious.
• Bowmouth Guitarfish: A species overhunted in the wild but thriving in the Oceanarium's care.
• Deep-Sea Animals: Organisms from extreme depths, housed in specialized exhibits due to their inability to survive in shallower environments.
• Tripod Fish: A deep-sea fish capable of "walking" and lacking vibrant coloration due to its lightless habitat.
• Whale Skeleton: A life-sized exhibit demonstrating the long-term contribution of whale carcasses to deep-sea ecosystems.
• Kreisel Tank: A circular tank designed to create a rotating current, essential for the survival of weak-swimming sea jellies.
• Sea Jellies (Moon Sea Jellies): Delicate marine invertebrates with simple light-sensing abilities, housed in a 6.8-meter Kreisel tank.
• Polyps: The larval stage of sea jellies, resembling "baby sea jellies," nurtured in the aquarist lab.
• Artemia (Sea Monkeys): Brine shrimp used as food for sea jelly polyps.
• Aquarist Lab: A facility for breeding and caring for delicate marine species like sea jellies.
• Food Preparation: A critical aspect of animal care, involving breaking down food into "macro" (e.g., squid, crabs) and "micro" (e.g., krill, artemia) components based on animal size and dietary needs.
• Citizen Science: Programs that involve the public in scientific data collection, such as coastal surveys.
• Nassarius Snail: A type of snail identified during coastal surveys.
• Shaun the Sheep (Sea Slug): A small, notable sea slug species observed during citizen science activities.
• Environmental Monitoring: The process of tracking environmental conditions and trends, aided by citizen science data.

Singapore Oceanarium: A Transformed Marine Wonderland

The Singapore Oceanarium, located within Resorts World Sentosa, has undergone a significant three-month transformation, emerging three times larger and featuring 22 dedicated zones for marine education and conservation. It now houses an impressive 40,000 sea animals. The centerpiece is a massive exhibit, measuring 36 meters wide and 8.3 meters tall, offering one of Singapore's most immersive ocean experiences.

Diving with Majestic Marine Life

The main habitat is home to three manta rays, noted for their intelligence due to the largest brain-to-body ratio among fish. Individual manta rays can be identified by their unique belly patterns: Mako is entirely black, Mika has a two-finger-like pattern, and Manja sports a heart shape. Visitors have the opportunity to dive alongside these creatures, with guides like Ferdy ensuring safety for both humans and animals. The experience allows for close observation of reef fish, pelagics, and the dynamic interplay of predators and prey. The currents within the habitat are crucial for the health of animals like sharks, promoting their well-being through constant movement.

The Oceanarium also showcases endangered species like the leopard shark, highlighting their gentle and curious nature when observed up close. This close proximity aims to foster greater appreciation for marine animals. The bowmouth guitarfish, a species heavily overhunted in the wild, is presented as thriving under the care of the Oceanarium, demonstrating the success of conservation efforts. The opportunity to revisit and observe these animals grow over time is a recurring positive aspect for divers.

Exploring the Deep-Sea Abyss

Beyond the main habitat, visitors can step into an exhibit simulating depths exceeding 3000 meters. This section is crucial for displaying deep-sea animals that cannot be housed outside their natural, extreme environments. Specimens like the tripod fish, which possesses the ability to "walk" and lacks color due to the absence of light, are featured. The exhibit also includes a life-sized skeleton of a whale, illustrating how even in death, whale carcasses can sustain deep-sea life for decades by providing a food source for scavengers. This exhibit aims to provide an unparalleled, up-close perspective on the immense size of whales.

The Mesmerizing World of Sea Jellies

A striking feature is one of the world's largest Kreisel tanks, a 6.8-meter circular habitat designed to house thousands of moon sea jellies. The tank's unique shape creates a rotating current, preventing these weak swimmers from sinking to the bottom. Sea jellies possess simple light-sensing abilities, allowing them to detect light and dark. Close observation reveals intricate details, such as the "eye spots" located on their bell.

The Magic of Jellyfish Breeding

Within the aquarist lab, visitors can witness the delicate process of breeding sea jellies. The lab showcases sea jelly polyps, described as "baby sea jellies," which are fed artemia, also known as "sea monkeys." The polyps are the larval stage of species like the black sea nettle. Newly born sea jellies are colorless and develop their coloration as they mature.

The Oceanarium's Kitchen: Feeding the Residents

The Oceanarium's food preparation area offers a rare glimpse into the daily operations. Over 1,600 kilograms of seafood are required weekly to feed all the animals. The food is categorized into "macro" (larger items like squid and crabs) and "micro" (smaller items like krill, artemia, mysid shrimp, and plankton). The size of the food is meticulously matched to the size of the animal's mouth to ensure consumption. Aquarists prepare each piece of food with care, and feeding also serves as a vital opportunity to assess the health of the marine animals, with appetite and response to food being key indicators.

Citizen Science: Protecting Singapore's Shores

The Oceanarium also engages in frontline conservation efforts through citizen science programs along Singapore's shores. Biologists and volunteers participate in identifying, counting, and tracking marine life in carefully selected coastal quadrants. This data collection, which includes identifying species like the Nassarius snail and the notable "Shaun the Sheep" sea slug, contributes to environmental monitoring and helps track trends in the health of coastal ecosystems.

Conclusion: A Vivid Reminder to Protect Our Oceans

From the dynamic environment of the Oceanarium to the natural shores of Singapore, the ocean is presented as a vibrant and precious resource. The experiences offered by the Oceanarium serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of protecting marine life, both within its walls and in the natural world.