Marine Life Park

Coordinates: 1°15′31″N 103°49′07″E / 1.2587°N 103.8186°E / 1.2587; 103.8186

Marine Life Park

S.E.A. Aquarium
Date opened 22 November 2012 (2012-11-22)
Location Resorts World Sentosa, Sentosa Island, Singapore
Land area 8 ha (20 acres)
Number of animals More than 100,000[1]
Number of species More than 800[1]
Total volume of tanks 45,000,000 l (9,900,000 imp gal; 12,000,000 US gal)[1]
Website Marine Life Park

The Marine Life Park is a part of Resorts World Sentosa, Sentosa, situated in southern Singapore. The 8-hectare (20-acre) park houses two attractions, the S.E.A. Aquarium and the Adventure Cove Waterpark, and features the largest oceanarium in the world.[2][3]

S.E.A. Aquarium

Walking in the SEA Aquarium
White-spotted jellyfish exhibited at the aquarium

The S.E.A. Aquarium (South East Asia Aquarium) was the world's largest aquarium by total water volume until overtaken by Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in Hengqin, China.[4] It contains a total of 45,000,000 litres (9,900,000 imp gal; 12,000,000 US gal) of water for more than 100,000 marine animals of over 800 species.[1] The aquarium comprises 10 zones with 49 habitats. The centerpiece of the Aquarium is the Open Ocean tank with more than 18,000,000 l (4,000,000 imp gal; 4,800,000 US gal) and 50,000 animals.[5] Until 2014 when eclipsed by China's Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, it had the world's largest viewing panel, 36-metre (118 ft) wide and 8.3-metre (27 ft) tall, which is intended to give visitors the feeling of being on the ocean floor.[2]

Collection

The S.E.A. Aquarium houses the world's largest collection of manta rays, including the only giant oceanic manta ray in captivity. It also showcases 24 Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, scalloped hammerhead sharks, the Japanese spider crab, and relatively uncommonly-exhibited species such as the guitarfish and the chambered nautilus.[6]

Attractions

The main attractions include:[7]

Name Description
Strait of Karimata & Java Sea Comprises marine fishes such as pompano, threadfin trevally, batfish, Napoleon wrasse housed in a shipwreck that sinks beneath a simulated Strait of Karimata on the lower-eastern side of Sumatra.
Strait of Malacca & Andaman Sea Features sea creatures such as leopard wrasse and blue flasher wrasses.

The Discovery Touch Pool houses sea stars and sea cucumbers.

Bay of Bengal & Laccadive Sea Includes endangered plants and animals along the coast of the Bay of Bengal, as well as garden eels, clown fish and reef lobsters.
Ocean Journey Allows face-to-face interaction with the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins. It is also home to the giant spider crab and many different species of jellyfishes.
Open Ocean The open ocean is a big home catered to gentle giants such as the leopard sharks and manta rays.
Persian Gulf & Arabian Sea Consists of a variety of marine life belonging to the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea, including the bluespotted stingrays, eight-armed seastar and sally lightfoot crab. Includes the Soft Coral Garden inhabited by reef fish.
Red Sea Home to corals and many warm water fishes, like the fairy basslet, orange-lined triggerfish and longhorn cowfish.
East Africa Simulates two freshwater lake habitats of Africa, Lake Victoria and Lake Tanganyika, which feature sea creatures like the frontosa and African tigerfish.
South China Sea Comprises lionfish, an array of lobsters, squirrelfish and soldierfish. Specially featuring the moray eel habitat.
Shark Seas Consists of various shark species such as the silvertip shark and the sandbar shark - one of the largest coastal sharks in the world.

Dining

Dining is possible at the Ocean Restaurant by Cat Cora and S.E.A. Side Snacks.[7]

Shopping

The gift shop located at the exit of S.E.A. Aquarium sells a variety of souvenirs.[7]

Controversies

The resort originally planned to include whale sharks, but conceded that it might not be feasible to house them and has dropped the plan.[8] There is ongoing controversy over captures of wild dolphins from Solomon Islands and the facilities in which they are kept in Subic Bay, Philippines. On 14 October 2012, Quezon City court issued a 72-hour temporary environment protection order to block the re-export of the dolphins to Marine Life Park, following a civil rights suit filed by animal rights groups. RWS spokesperson reiterated that the resort's acquisition of the 25 Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins adhere to regulations governed by the United Nations Environment Programme under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.[9]

Another appeal was made and the exports to Singapore were temporarily held. When the hold had expired, RWS exported the dolphins while the court appeal was ongoing. On the flight to Singapore, one of the dolphins, Wen Wen, died.[10] This brings to three the number of dolphins that have died prior to the opening of the Dolphin Island section within the park.[11]

Adventure Cove Waterpark

The Adventure Cove Waterpark (simplified Chinese: 水上探险乐园; traditional Chinese: 水上探險樂園; pinyin: shuǐshàng tànxiǎn lèyuán) is situated in southern Singapore. The park features seven water slides, including the region’s first hydro-magnetic coaster, Riptide Rocket. It also features bay like Bluwater Bay, a wave pool and tubinthe Adventure River. The 620-metre (2,030 ft) river, one of the world’s longest lazy-rivers, have 13 themed scenes of tropical jungles, grottoes, a surround aquarium and more.[2]

Rides and attractions

Rides and attractions include:[12]

Type Name Description
Thrilling Water Slides Dueling Racer Consists of two vertical water slides which allow two riders to race down the slide at a time by lying on a mat.
Pipeline Plunge A slide that is shaped like a pipe which allows two riders to slide down together in a float.
Riptide Rocket Southeast Asia’s first hydro-magnetic roller coaster, which provides strong climbs and steep drops and shocking twists to two riders on a float.
Spiral Washout Funnel-like slide which caters to two riders on a float.
Splashworks Like a multiple obstacle course, Splashworks consists of balance beams, tight ropes, cargo nets, and platform cliff jumps.
Tidal Twister Slide with unpredictable twists and turns, catering to two riders on a float.
Whirlpool Washout On a float, riders slide down the ride in twists, turns and dips. At the end of the slide, people will be facing backwards.
Immersive Experience Ray Bay An up-close encounter with the rays. Additional charges apply.
Rainbow Reef Snorkel amongst reefs and 20,000 tropical fishes of four different species.
Fun For Kids Adventure River Float in a tube through 14 habitats around the waterpark. The habitats include a Grotto, dolphin lagoon and ray bay.
Big Bucket Treehouse A water playground with mini water slides and water-filled buckets tipping.
Bluwater Bay Ride the waves in a giant pool.
Seahorse Hideaway Shallow wading pool with fountains.

Dining

The Bay Restaurant serves local favourites, Asian and Western delights. Dining is al-fresco style and situated on a terrace overlooking the Waterpark.

Shopping

Reef ‘n Wave Wear is a one-stop destination for swim apparel, gifts and souvenirs.

Transport

The park is accessible by MRT (via the Sentosa Express), bus, car and by foot.[13]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "World's largest oceanarium opens". CNNGo Staff. CNN. 2012-11-22.
  2. 1 2 3 "World's Largest Oceanarium opens at Resorts World Sentosa 22nd November 2012" (PDF). Resorts World Sentosa.
  3. ↑ "Resorts World at Sentosa - World's leading family holiday destination". E Travel Blackboard. 29 October 2008. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  4. ↑ "CHINA'S HENGQIN OCEAN KINGDOM CONFIRMED AS WORLD'S LARGEST AQUARIUM AS ATTRACTION SETS FIVE WORLD RECORDS". Guinness World Records. 2014-03-31. Retrieved 2014-03-31.
  5. ↑ "World's Largest Oceanarium opens at Resorts World Sentosa 22nd November 2012" (PDF). Resorts World Sentosa. 2012-11-20.
  6. ↑ "Marine Life Park visitors get 1st glimpse of dolphins". asiaone. 2013-04-08. Retrieved 2013-06-07.
  7. 1 2 3 "Sea Aquarium". Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  8. ↑ "No whale sharks at Sentosa IR". 16 May 2009. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  9. ↑ "Philippine court lifts order preventing export of dolphins to S'pore". Channel News Asia. 17 October 2012.
  10. ↑ "Dolphin bound for Marine Life Park dies en route to Singapore". Channel NewsAsia. 22 November 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  11. ↑ "A peek at the Marine Life Park dolphins". Asia One. 31 December 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  12. ↑ "Adventure Cove Waterpark". Resorts World Sentosa. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  13. ↑ "Getting to Resorts World Sentosa". Resorts World Sentosa. Resorts World Sentosa. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
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