One of the world's largest aquariums, the former SEA Aquarium, is now theSingapore Oceanarium(singaporeoceanarium.com; adult/child from S$50/39). Three times larger than before, it has 22 zones that feel like a blissful never-ending underwater world. Combining immersive habitats (the Ancient Waters hall has gigantic animatronic specimens) with interactive elements and multimedia storytelling, the sub-aquatic exploration becomes an engaging adventure for both kids and adults alike.
The showstopper comes almost immediately after with Ocean Wonders. Featuring one of the world's largest sea jelly habitats, your viral social media moment awaits before the staggering 6.8-meter-diameter kreisel tank filled with countless moon jellies drifting within. Equally dramatic was the Whale Fall room. Replicating a gigantic whale carcass on the sea bed complete with a walkable rib cage "tunnel", it includes rare glimpses of the secretive creatures that live there. Most haunting is the Trenches hall, mesmerizing visitors with ghostly deep sea specimens frozen in midair – courtesy of a clear preservative.
Filled with tunnels and dwarf-sized viewing rooms for kids, the oceanarium invites slow exploration, and there are multiple seated zones for you to rest your feet. Apart from the occasional snack kiosk, there's also a full-fledged Explorer's Nook cafe at the Spirit of Exploration room for when one feels peckish. Themed-attraction food tends to be gimmicky but we found the ones here to actually be good, especially when staring at the massive Omani ship on display.
It wasn't pure gawking either: there's a healthy sprinkle of education included in the experience. There are windows showcasing staff at work in their labs, and touchpools at Singapore's Coast feature a chatty crew who dispense instruction and trivia in good measure as guests handle sea critters. Deepen your experience by adding one of the special programs while booking – the Insider Experience includes exclusive back-of-house access and a chance to meet the playful dolphins, while visitors with scuba-diving certification can take a plunge and come face-to-face with the oceanarium's precious manta rays.
