The Maritime Experiential Museum & S.E.A. Aquarium

I went over to Sentosa recently for what must be the first time in probably a year, specifically to go to the S.E.A. Aquarium.  We were originally going to go a few weeks ago but hadn't realised this coincided with school holidays and as a consequence the queues to get over to Sentosa (and I imagine to get in any of the attractions) were mental.  so we hastily changed our minds that time.  This time though we had more luck and made it over and in to the aquarium.

We actually began our visit at the adjoining Maritime Experiential Museum and got a ticket for entry to both attractions.  I assume though you can buy tickets for them individually if you would rather.  To be honest though I think it is well worth combining them and seeing both attractions at the same time.

The maritime museum is the only one in Singapore devoted purely to Asia's maritime history and Singapore's as an important trading post.  The museum takes you through the old silk trading routes and gives you the opportunity to learn about and discover the various items that were traded as well as see artefacts from shipwrecks.  Also on display are replicas of various historic ships used on the trading routes around Asia including a Chinese Fuchuan Junk; Indonesian Borobudur; Indian Dhow; South China Sea Vessel and a Javanese Jong.  A thoroughly interesting look at this part of history.

After exploring the museum we ventured into the aquarium.  When I came to visit Singapore for two weeks when my husband first moved here I went to the Underwater World on Sentosa and although I enjoyed it I remember not exactly being blown away by it either.  The S.E.A. Aquarium is on a completely different scale though and is amazing by comparison!

It is billed as the world's largest aquarium and it has a fabulous array of more than eight hundred species of marine life within it.  This includes jelly fish, sharks, rays, moray eels and many species of beautifully coloured tropical fish.

As you walk around the displays you are taken on a journey through many of the world's seas and oceans and the habitats the marine life live in.  This includes exploring the Straits of Malacca and the Andaman Sea, the Bay of Bengal, the Red Sea and many others.  Perhaps the most amazing part (for me at least) was the Open Ocean section.  You can see in the two photos below just how large this part is and here you can watch leopard sharks, goliath groupers, saw fish, mahi mahi and manta rays.  What helps to emphasise even more the gracefulness of these fish is the classical music gently playing in the background.  I could have happily watched the fish here for hours.  I admit to have fallen a little bit in love with this place.

It's a fantastic day out and I don't think you can fail to be awed by seeing up close the marine life that lives in our seas and oceans.  If you haven't yet managed to go and see it I'd recommend you do soon!