The Marine Life Park is a part of Resorts World Sentosa, Sentosa, situated in southern Singapore. The 8-hectare (20-acre) park is home to two primary attractions—the S.E.A. (Southeast Asia) Aquarium and Adventure Cove Waterpark. Upon its opening in 2012, the S.E.A. Aquarium had the distinction of being the world’s largest oceanarium and public aquarium, a title it held through 2014,[2][3] until it was surpassed by Chimelong Ocean Kingdom.[4]
S.E.A. Aquarium
At the time of its opening, the S.E.A. Aquarium was the world's largest, by total water volume (until overtaken by Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in Hengqin, China),[4] containing nearly 45,000,000 litres (9,900,000 imp gal; 12,000,000 US gal) of water, and housing more than 100,000 individual marine, brackish, and freshwater animals belonging to over 800 species.[1] The aquarium is divided into ten zones with 49 habitat exhibits. The centrepiece of the aquarium is the Open Ocean exhibit, which features more than 18,000,000 L (4,000,000 imp gal; 4,800,000 US gal) and 50,000 schooling fish, as well as rays, sharks, and other marine creatures.[5] Until the aforementioned opening of Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, the S.E.A. Aquarium had the world's largest underwater viewing panel, at 36-metre (118 ft) wide and 8.3-metre (27 ft) tall, built to give visitors the feeling of being on the ocean floor.[2] There is also a conservation group called Guardians of the S.E.A.A.,[6] which supports research, education and public engagement efforts to protect the marine environment. S.E.A. Aquarium will be rebranded to Singapore Oceanarium in 2024 when expansions and construction have been completed.[7][8]
Features a model ‘shipwreck’ beneath a simulated Karimata Strait (on the lower-eastern side of Sumatra). Marine species include the black-blotched fantail ray, bowmouth guitarfish, snubnose pompano and the zebra shark. There is also a side-perspective tunnel in addition to the primary frontal viewing area. Outside of the tunnel is a floor tank which includes the brownbanded bamboo shark and fluted giant clam. Although the aquarium only keeps female zebra sharks, two pups (named ‘Vanda’ and ‘Hope’) nevertheless were born in 2016 and 2021, respectively, through parthenogenesis; this rare phenomenon, which sees female sharks reproduce on their own (without a male spawning) has only recently been observed in zebra sharks. Parthenogenesis is known more from certain reptiles and amphibians, such as the mourning gecko.[11]
School of Fish
The centrepiece of this area is the Coral Garden, a cylindrical tank with an artificial coral reef and a wide variety of coral reef fish like clownfish, Napoleon wrasse and many more. There are also a couple of seahorse tanks. Freshwater and brackish-water fish, like the suckermouth catfish and european sea sturgeon are also housed nearby.
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 pools like Bluwater Bay, a wave pool and the 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]
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.
Dolphin Island
Between 2008 and 2009, Marine Life Park purchased 27 dolphins from the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific to be part of its attraction.[13] Two dolphins died in Langkawi, Malaysia where they were temporarily housed[14] before being sent to the Philippines for training and housing while the marine park in Sentosa is being constructed.[13] While in the Philippines, local animal rights groups and Earth Island Institute filed a civil rights suit, and the Quezon City court issued a 72-hour temporary environment protection order to block the re-export of the dolphins to Marine Life Park on 14 October 2012.[15] RWS reiterated that the resort's acquisition of the 27 Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins adhered to regulations governed by the United Nations Environment Programme under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.[16] Following another appeal, the block on the re-exportation of the dolphins was temporarily extended. Upon expiry of the blocking order, the dolphins were subsequently exported while the court appeal was ongoing. One of the dolphins, Wen Wen, died on the flight to Singapore,[17] making it the third dolphin to die prior to the opening of the Dolphin Island within the park.[18]
