Finding an aquarium or marine life exhibit in major cities around the globe is no longer as uncommon as it used to be. People from all walks of life flock to aquariums, where they can catch glimpses of some of the world’s most incredible marine life - most of which they would never otherwise have an opportunity to see. Thailand is no exception, and Siam Ocean World is quickly becoming one of the most popular tourist destinations in the area.

About Siam Ocean World

Siam Ocean World first opened for business in December of 2005. The aquarium boasts 10,000 square meters of space holding more than 4 million liters of water. Within these waters you’ll find over 30,000 different marine life species, ranging from fish and crabs to sting rays and penguins.

The aquarium is split into 7 distinct themed sections, each featuring marine species unique to the area. These include:

• Weird and Wonderful, which features Pharoah Cuttlefish, Horseshoe Crabs, and the Weedy Seadragon;
• Open Ocean, which features the Golden Trevally, the Cow Nosed Eagle Ray, and the Slender Suckerfish;
• Deep Reef, featuring the Three-Spot Angelfish, the Long-nosed Unicornfish, and the Humphead Maori Wrasse;
• Rainforest, including the Mekong Giant Catfish, the Oriental Small-clawed Otter, and the Arapaima;
• Rocky Shore, which houses the Spotted Seal, the Red Sea Star, and the Spotted Eagle Ray;
• Living Ocean, featuring the colorful Mantis Shrimp, the Stonefish, and the Sargassum Anglerfish; and
• Sea Jellies, which features the Lagoon Jelly, the Moon Jelly, and the Blue Blubber Jelly.

Special Activities at Siam Ocean World

If simply watching the divers and animal feedings isn’t enough you may enjoy taking an experience that is a little more up close and personal.

Visitors participating in the Shark Dive will be accompanied by qualified diving instructors. They’ll get to visit with the Sand Tiger Shark, Eagle Rays, and dozens of other marine life species in the shark tank.

The Ocean Walker experience is perfect for those who don’t swim and/or prefer not to don all of the necessary diving gear. You’ll be provided with a wet suit and helmet and will have the opportunity to walk along the bottom of one of Siam Ocean World’s incredible oceanariums. A diving instructor will be with you all the time, to ensure your safety with both your equipment and with the animals.

Prefer to keep your hair and feet dry at all times? The Glass Bottom Boat adventure might be exactly what you’re looking for. Step aboard the aquarium’s glass bottom boat and simply look down. You’ll have the opportunity to see the sharks, stingrays, and hundreds of other species without ever getting your feet wet.

Lastly, the Sanyo 4D X-Venture is perfect for those who have absolutely no desire to go anywhere near the water. This incredible theatre experience incorporates sound and visual sensations to give you an experience you’ll never forget. Whether you’re in the midst of a hurricane or struggling against an earthquake you’ll feel as though you’re really experiencing the wrath of Mother Nature - not sitting in a simple theater chair!

Visiting Siam Ocean World

Siam Ocean World is located in the Siam Paragon Shopping center in Bangkok. The aquarium is open daily from 10:00am until 8:00pm. The cost for entrance is 850 Baht per adult and 650 Baht per child. Special dives and activities cost extra.

Each day visitors are encouraged to attend one of the aquariums popular shows, many of which are included with admission. Visitors will enjoy watching shark feedings, Engle ray feedings, Water Rat and Otter feedings, Penguin feedings, and much more. Divers are in the aquarium tanks regularly and communicate with visitors about the waters and marine life every hour.

Siam Ocean World is one of four aquariums owned by the organization known as the Oceanis Australia Group. The aquarium takes great care in designing educational programs for all of its visitors, including both children and adults. Teachers wishing to bring their students to the aquarium are encouraged to visit the museum’s website for teacher resources and trip planning tools. They even have a professional development course specifically designed for educators.

Siam’s Ocean World is the fifth aquarium to open in Bangkok and is, without question, the largest in the country. A trip to the aquarium should be on the top of your itinerary when preparing for a trip to Bangkok. Don’t miss out on a once in a lifetime opportunity to witness the awesome beauty of a collection of marine life like no other. You may never see some of these incredible species anywhere else on the planet!

Image credits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Posted in Thailand

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 17th, 2008 at 7:57 am and is filed under Thailand. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.