Fascinating Aquariums For Kids To See and Explore

This post is updated whenever we visit a new aquarium.

There is no denying how much humans depend on the ocean. For one, the tiny, overlooked Phytoplankton helps us in a very essential way. They don’t only remove (consume) excess carbon dioxide, they release half of the earth’s oxygen in the atmosphere. Now, imagine what happens if they all die. Of course, it follows that everything else will die. The ozone layer, or layers of oxygen  [three oxygen atoms (O3)] will be depleted, causing high levels of ultraviolet light and heat from the burning sun to reach Earth and eventually destroy it.

That’s why we believe that teaching kids to be green is an important step to help better our practices to lower carbon footprint and to help save our oceans.

How do we make kids see that they are able to help save the oceans? Watching documentaries and educational materials for one will make them aware of the issues. Bringing them to the sea or any body of water for a dive will make them appreciate creation and make them curious. Participating in cleanup drives on the beach will also make them see that even little actions reap big results.

If the beach is too far off, going to aquariums (public aquariums, oceanariums, marine mammal parks, and dolphinariums) to observe sea life and listen to lectures is one way for them to see the impact of ocean conservation. Also, having an aquarium at home will make them see that not cleaning it up is detrimental to its inhabitants.

Benefits of  Aquariums in Children

Educational

Upclose Safely

Berlin Aquadom and Sea Life

The Aquadom opened in December 2, 2003. It is located inside the Radisson Blu (edit: rebranded to Radisson Collection Hotel) in the middle of Berlin, surrounding a transparent elevator where you can view, more or less, 1,500 saltwater fish. The 82ft-tall cylindrical aquarium is said to be the biggest in the world, and the only one with an elevator. It holds the Guinness World record for being the tallest aquarium to contain an elevator in the middle.

This is of course just one of the attractions of  the Berlin Sea Life Centre. The Aquadom leads to the entrance of the Sea Life Centre which holds another 5000 species of marine creatures in pools and domes replicating their own homes.

 

The center showcases fish from tropical coral reef – clownfish, surgeonfish, and those from depths of the atlantic ocean – atlantic wreckfish, stingrays, houndsharks among other deepwater creatures.

Other inhabitants in the center that we are most familiar with include octopus, seahorses, jellyfish, sea robins/gurnard, and sharks.

There is a touchpool where kids can touch starfish, corals and other safe creatures.

There are talks/lectures the kids can listen in to. There are also feeding demonstrations throughout the day where kids can watch, not only those in the pool but those in the dome too.

Haus des Meeres, Vienna

Haus des Meeres translates to House of the Sea but when the kids hear this, they immediately know that it’s an ocean park in a tall building, 10 floors to be exact. The 11th floor, is a flat roof with some benches and functioning telescopes, so you can get a good view of Vienna’s skyline.

Each floor has a different environment replicated for its inhabitants. There are tanks for tropical fish and sea animals, for mediterranean fish, for local freshwater fish, for sharks, and for Puppi, the turtle that was saved from a market that brought about the expansion of the Haus des Meeres.

There’s also a crocodile park, which is visible from the glass ceiling once you enter the premises. Most interestingly is the open tank where you can touch large, friendly, colorful kois.

 

You need to allot at least 3 hours when visiting the Haus des Meeres,  but half a day or more is alright too.

Updates:

July 2019: The 360° Ocean Sky (rooftop café) has been opened to all. It used to be accessible only to those visiting the aquarium.
September 2013 : The renovation of the roof deck was finished. They’ve installed a 1.5 m high glass barrier with a total area of almost 260 m2 round the new viewing terrace that offers a fantastic all-round view of Vienna. In the center of the rooftop is a glass house of over 200 m2, which serves as a café and probably a function room.
June 2013: Tower Museum opened. A hall that used to be a 1.90 meter high storage room has been turned into a museum.

Vienna’s Schönbrunn Aquarium

Singapore Underwater World

The Singapore Underwater World opened in May 13, 1991 in Sentosa, Singapore. As hubby visits Singapore often during his childhood, this was one of his favorite places to see. On our brief visit to Singapore, he made sure that the kids get to see the place that’s also favorite childhood memory. The oceanarium was mostly underground and has a travelator/moving walkway that made it easy for visitors to move around and see marine creatures from the windowed-tunnel.

 

 

Dolphin Lagoon, Sentosa

Update: Singapore Underwater World and Dolphin Lagoon closed on June 26, 2016 – it operated for  (+1 month shy of) 25 years. We’re glad the kids were able to experience the Singapore Underwater World before it closed down.

Dolphin Lagoon, Nuremberg Zoo