Under the Sea: A Guide to the S.E.A. Aquarium in Singapore
The S.E.A. Aquarium in Sentosa is a love letter to the world under the sea. It’s home to a thousand species of marine animals, and you can see them in their fullest glory and even interact with them!
Whether you’re a marine life enthusiast or you just want to visit a cool attraction, the S.E.A. Aquarium is worth checking out. Here’s an article to help you prepare for your visit.
Things to Know
Address: 8 Sentosa Gateway, Sentosa Island, Singapore 098269
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—10 am to 5 pm
Website
Background
The S.E.A. Aquarium was opened to the public in November 2012. It holds a total of 45,000,000 liters of water, making it the world’s largest aquarium by total water volume at the time; it was eventually overthrown by the Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in China.
The aquarium has a conservation group called Guardians of the S.E.A.A., and they support education, research, and public engagement efforts to help preserve the marine ecosystem.
Currently, there are plans to expand the aquarium, and by 2024, it’s expected to rebrand as the Singapore Oceanarium.
How to Get There
Cable Car: Board the cable car from the HarbourFront station and alight at the Imbiah Station. Then, take the Sentosa Express and alight at Resorts World Sentosa, where the aquarium is located.
MRT/Sentosa Express: If you prefer public transportation, your best option is the MRT and Sentosa Express combo. Ride the train to HabrourFront Station, then head to Level 3 of VivoCity and board the Sentosa Express. Alight at Resorts World Sentosa.
Car: If you’re choosing to drive, the aquarium does have a parking lot (B1 East). Parking rates are S$6 per entry on Monday to Thursday and S$9 per entry on Friday to Sunday and public holidays.
Best Time to Go
Since the S.E.A. Aquarium is an animal-based attraction, the best time to visit is when animals are at their most active. For the aquarium, this moment is during feeding time, which is usually around 10 am or 2 pm.
Additionally, I recommend coming to the aquarium as soon as it opens, preferably on the weekdays. This is because you won’t have to contend with the crowds at this time, giving you more time and freedom to roam around.
Admission Fee
- For Tourists: S$43 (ages 13 and above), S$32 (child ages 4 to 12 years old)
- For Locals: S$40 (adult), S$30 (child)
The aquarium also sells packages that come with extra perks. Currently, these are the packages available:
Do take note that the S.E.A. Aquarium tickets sell out fast, so to ensure your spot, be sure to book yours online in advance. I highly recommend purchasing directly from the official website of Resorts World Sentosa, but other trusted platforms are also okay.
What to Expect
Home to 1,000 Species of Marine Animals
The first thing you’ll notice when you visit the S.E.A. Aquarium is its sheer size. In fact, the aquarium is so big that it can hold more than 100,000 marine animals representing 1,000 species across 49 habitats!
Because of this, the aquarium is divided into 10 zones, each hosting certain kinds of wildlife. You can see popular and beloved animals like the blacktip reef shark, blue tang, clownfish, and fried egg sea jelly.
Additionally, this aquarium is home to some species that are only native to Singapore. A few examples include the endangered shark ray, decorator crabs, fluted giant clams, and banded bamboo sharks.
Shipwreck Habitat
If I have to pick a favorite attraction within the aquarium, I have to say that it’s the Shipwreck Habitat. Boasting over 4 million liters of water, this exhibit is nothing short of magnificent!
The exhibit features an immersive tunnel that leads you to a viewing panel where you can enjoy the sight of a “shipwreck.” Here, you’ll really feel like you’re at the bottom of the ocean, seeing a broken ship and all the animals that have made it their home.
Keep your eye out for zebra sharks, black-blotched fantail rays, and bowmouth guitarfish!
VibranSEA
VibranSEA is another exhibit within the aquarium, and this one is themed around the convergence of art and science. It aims to provide an immersive and artistic exploration of the aquatic world.
The first zone you’ll come across is The Great Descent, and exploring it feels like going through the layers of the ocean. Colors will change depending on the layer, and by the time you reach the bottom, you’ll see bioluminescent marine life!
The second zone is Inside the Marine World, and as the name suggests, it lets you get a close look at marine life. The exhibit makes use of X-ray and ultrasound technologies, so you’ll really get an intimate perspective of these animals!
The last two areas are Secret Seascapes and Time and Tide. Both of these sections feature colorful coral reefs, lush kelp forests, and marine-themed art installations that are made by local artists.
The Aquarist Lab
The Aquarist Lab aims to give visitors a look into the world of marine care.
Here, you can see marine nursery habitats and plankton culture setups, so you’ll get an insight into how aquarists breed and nurture marine animals. You can enjoy the lab from the outside, but I prefer going for an in-depth experience.
You can observe aquarists as they go about their business and ask them questions about the process and the different animals that need special care. Just take note that the in-depth experience will cost you an additional S$25 fee.
Coral Garden
Funnily enough, Coral Garden actually doesn’t have any live corals in it. That said, it’s still a very beautiful attraction, so you won’t want to miss out on this one.
Coral Garden is a cylindrical habitat with a vibrant reef that’s home to over 5,000 fish. Some of the fish are of the reef-eating kind, which is why there are no live corals here.
The habitat is around eight meters tall and six meters wide! If you’re like me, you might want to circle the habitat numerous times, trying to spot as much wildlife as you can.
Sea Jellies Gallery
I admit I’m not the biggest fan of jellyfish, but they are pretty to look at, which is why I love visiting the Sea Jellies Gallery.
As its name suggests, the Sea Jellies Gallery is an exhibit dedicated to these mysterious creatures. The gallery is enhanced with special lighting, so you’ll really get to see how fluid they move and how beautiful they look.
Another interesting tidbit about this gallery is that the aquarium has actually successfully bred six species of jellyfish (such as moon sea jelly and white-spotted sea jelly), and you can see them here.
Open Ocean Habitat
The Open Ocean Habitat is the heart of the S.E.A. Aquarium. If, for some reason, you can only visit one attraction here, let it be this.
This habitat is simply impressive: it holds more than 18 million liters of water (that’s equivalent to seven Olympic-sized pools!) and is home to over 120 species of animals!
This habitat is also certified as a full open-water dive site because of its size and volume! So, if you have some free time, you can get your dive certification right here (and come face to face with mighty sharks).
Discovery Touch Pool
For people with curious minds, the Discovery Touch Pool is sure to be a delight. Simply put, this pool allows you to reach out and touch the various marine animals like starfish and sea cucumbers.
It may seem intimidating; after all, you don’t know what they’re like, and you don’t want to accidentally hurt yourself or the animals. But luckily, the creatures don’t bite, so you’re safe.
When you’re by the pool, expect to hear constant squeals from your fellow curious daredevils. The hairiness of the sea cucumbers or the leathery and slightly prickly feel of the starfish can be unnerving to some people.
Shark Seas
Whether you like them or not, sharks are some of the most majestic creatures roaming in the ocean, so seeing them in the flesh will incite a feeling of awe. That’s why I love visiting Shark Seas so much; it’s so exciting to face the apex predators of the sea!
The Shark Seas exhibit is home to about 70 sharks from 12 species, and you can view them from the underwater tunnel or the viewing panel. This exhibit also educates you about these creatures, which is helpful because there’s so much stigma around them.
Feeding Sessions and Other Interactive Shows
While you’re not allowed to feed fish and other marine animals in the aquarium, you can still enjoy the sight of professionals feeding them. The Discovery Touch Pool, in particular, holds some feeding sessions, so be on the lookout for that.
Aside from feeding sessions, the S.E.A. Aquarium hosts a few shows every day that let you interact with the animals. Here are some of the shows you might want to check out:
Ocean Dreams
Price: S$158 (adult), S$138 (child)
Ocean Dreams has to be one of the coolest experiences that the aquarium has to offer. Essentially, this program allows you to pitch your tent at Open Ocean Gallery and fall asleep amidst all the marine life—the best staycation setup ever!
I came here once with my family, and it was such a fun time. We all marveled at the sight of sharks, sting rays, and other creatures until we fell asleep, and the next day, we got to witness a special feeding session by the aquarists.
Where to Shop
SEAA Treasures and SEAA Wonders
If you want to bring home some aquarium souvenirs, then head to SEAA Treasures and/or SEAA Wonders. These two are the official souvenir shops, and they’re loaded with all kinds of trinkets.
Marine-themed t-shirts are abundant, but I’m more of a fan of the stuffed animals. These plush toys are just so adorable; I can’t help but smile when I see them.
Aside from shirts and plushies, you can find coasters, magnets, and stationery items. There’s something for everyone!
Where to Eat
Ocean Restaurant
Operating Hours:
- Lunch—11:30 am to 3 pm
- Dinner—6 pm to 10:30 pm
Pricing: $$$
Contact Number: +65 6577 6869, +65 6577 6688
Ocean Restaurant is the dining experience you definitely don’t want to miss out on. As you can guess from the name, the restaurant is set in the heart of the aquarium, so you’ll get to enjoy the view of the marine animals while dining.
The menu here is curated by Chef Olivier Bellin, who is a two-star Michelin chef from Brittany!
Be sure to try the grilled scallops, lobster raviolo, and Josper Oven-baked wagyu beef. They’re so indulgent!
You might also want to pair your meal with a bottle of wine or champagne. There’s a great selection of reds and whites here.
Ocean Bites
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—10 am to 5 pm
Pricing: $
If you only want a light snack, then Ocean Bites is the place to go. This spot primarily serves pastries like muffins and cakes, but you can also find other savory snacks like corn dogs.
Of course, there are also drinks available here, such as soda or just simple water.
S.E.A.side Snacks
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—10 am to 5 pm
Pricing: $
Just like Ocean Bites, S.E.A.side Snacks is another spot where you can get light snacks, such as pastries and hot dogs. Several beverage options are also available if you’re thirsty.
The great thing about this snack spot is that you can munch on your treats while observing the dolphins frolicking in the water. It’s fun and relaxing!