Singapore, brace yourself. The long-awaited reopening of the Singapore Oceanarium (formerly the S.E.A. Aquarium) is finally happening on 24 July 2025. Located within Resorts World Sentosa, this massive three-storey marine wonderland is one of the largest aquariums in the world, coming behind SeaWorld Abu Dhabi and Chimelong Ocean Kingdom. The Oceanarium is now home to over 40,000 marine creatures across 22 thematic zones, and comes with a side of a deep commitment to education and conservation. Oceanarium is the kind of place you’ll want to explore slowly, preferably with wide eyes and comfy shoes.
Image credit: Entrance to the new Oceanarium | Supplied
What’s Inside?
The highlight reel starts early: a suspended dome simulating a single drop of water (complete with digital plankton), and a forest of kinetic wave sculptures. From there, it’s a deep dive, literally, into scenes of prehistoric oceans (with a giant animatronic Dunkleosteus towering above visitors), mangrove wetlands, and Singapore’s native coastline.
Image credit: Oceanarium | Supplied
Highlights include thousands of moon jellies in one of the world’s largest Kreisel tanks. Dubbed the largest jellyfish exhibit in Southeast Asia, the Oceanarium’s Bloom zone brings together over 100 species in a trippy, hypnotic showcase.
Image credit: Oceanarium | Supplied
The massive 36-metre-wide Open Ocean panel with Reef Manta Rays and Zebra Sharks swirling by in an 18-million-litre habitat has been retained, as are tunnels with wraparound views of the inhabitants, which still inspire a sense of awe.
Image credit: Oceanarium | Stephanie Zheng
And if you’ve ever wanted to see a life-sized whale skeleton give birth to its own ecosystem, “Whale Fall and Sea Mount” has you covered (and may get you slightly teary).
Image credit: Whale Fall | Stephanie Zheng
Elsewhere, expect deep-sea glow-ups (hello, bioluminescence), hands-on zones for families, and a final emotional beat at the “Hallway of Hope”, spotlighting conservation wins and ways to get involved.
F&B And Retail In The Oceanarium
Image credit: Oceanarium | Supplied
It’s not all science and feels though. There’s Tide Deli for ocean-friendly bites, Explorer’s Nook for (super cute) themed pastries and lattes, and Ocean Bites for quick snacks to keep the little ones happy. Food here rotates seasonally with marine sustainability in mind.
And yes, there’s merch. The Singapore Oceanarium Store offers eco-conscious gifts, books, and artist collabs so you can leave with more than just your camera roll of jellyfish.
Beyond the tanks, the new Oceanarium leans hard into storytelling, sustainability, and tech. The immersive Deep Sea Zone features 3D projections, motion graphics, and life-size replicas of deep-sea creatures (think vampire squid and ghost sharks), while the Ocean Lab is all about education, research, and coral conservation.
Tickets start at $42 for adults and $35 for kids aged 4–12. Bookings go live on 17 July 2025 via the official website, with special preview tours and family passes available during opening month.
Your Oceanarium cheat sheet
Image credit: Oceanarium | Stephanie Zheng
The Oceanarium is sprawling, but thoughtfully divided into distinct zones to make exploring easier.
Ocean Wonders: One of the largest Kreisel tanks in the world, housing thousands of moon jellies that pulse hypnotically under dreamy lighting. Cosmic rave meets underwater zen.
Open Ocean: The showstopper. An 18-million-litre tank fronted by a jaw-dropping 36-metre-wide glass panel. Manta rays, zebra sharks, and schools of fish sweep past like you’re in your own Attenborough doc.
Ancient Waters: Think prehistoric marine life with life-sized animatronics (hello, Dunkleosteus) that bring ocean evolution to life Jurassic Park–style, minus the chaos.
Spirit of Exploration: A high seas adventure zone featuring the Jewel of Muscat: a full-sized replica of a ninth-century Arabian dhow, and an epic suspended rope bridge to test your inner explorer.
Singapore’s Coast: This mangrove-inspired space shows off local marine biodiversity (yes, there are seahorses) with interactive habitats perfect for kids and curious adults alike.
Life in the Deep: Meet bioluminescent creatures in a quiet, otherworldly glow. This low-light zone is an emotional masterclass in how wild, weird and magical the ocean really is.
Whale Fall & Sea Mount: A haunting, beautiful tribute to how one fallen whale becomes the foundation of an entire deep-sea ecosystem. Possibly the most moving stop on your journey.
Hallway of Hope: The final zone will hit you right in the feels, featuring real stories of ocean conservation and a digital pledge wall where you can commit to protecting the blue planet.
The Singapore Oceanarium opens 24 July 2025, daily from 10am to 7pm. Visit the website for more info and ticket bookings.
Main image credit: Whale Fall at Oceanarium | Stephanie Zheng