There is something mysterious about the ocean.
Ever experience a peculiar feeling when you stand before the sea? Knowing that the waters hide a thousand secrets and more, with lives unbeknownst to all.
Now imagine that feeling amplified. Not at the shore where the waves are loud and the horizon is bright, but to be inside of it. In the dim, blue half-light where sound softens and time seems to suspend. Where creatures drift past us like living dreams, and for a moment, the world above the surface feels very far away.
Welcome to the Singapore Oceanarium.
A New Beginning for a Familiar Place
If you have visited Resorts World Sentosa in the past, you might remember the old S.E.A. Aquarium; those vast glass walls, the Open Ocean tank that made your breath catch, the sense of wonder that followed you home.
The Singapore Oceanarium, which reopened in July 2025, is its evolution.
Now three times larger, split across 22 thematic zones that take us on a journey from the very origins of life, primordial oceans, ancient waters, the first pulse of existence, all the way down into the crushing dark of the deep sea and up to the scenery intimate to us today.
Singapore Oceanarium Highlights: The Zones to Slow Down for
Walking through the Oceanarium feels like entering a fantasy book.
Ocean Wonders is where the dreaminess begins. The world’s largest Kreisel tank holds over 5,000 moon jellies, and they drift slowly through the waters, rhythmically, leaving a magical glow. It was almost like a fever dream. One of my favourite zones, we stood there longer than we intended to, hypnotised by the ethereal moving image.
Next, the Ancient Waters beckoned us with life-sized animatronics of prehistoric predators, including the terrifying, armoured Dunkleosteus. Looming above us in the dim light alongside living fossils like the Australian lungfish, there was something mythical about being with these creatures.
Singapore’s Coast recreates our local ecosystem. Mangrove forests and seagrass beds, the coastal ecosystems that exist right at the edge of this city we call home. It is a reminder that the ocean is not something distant; it has always been part of us.
Shark Seas delivers the classic jaw-dropping moment, reminiscent of the old Underwater World Singapore, with the long underwater tunnel where sharks and rays glide around us, unhurried and majestic.
One of Asia’s largest, the 36-metre wide viewing panel with the 18-million-litre habitat in the Open Ocean is filled with manta rays, zebra sharks, and schools of fish swimming right in front of us. A panorama so vast it almost feels like we were right inside. If you remember this tank from the old S.E.A. Aquarium, it is still here, still breathtaking, and now with even more to surround it. And still my favourite!
The Abyss (Into the Deep) is a zone that lingered with me. A recreation of a whale fall, a whale carcass becoming an entire ecosystem on the ocean floor, with ghost sharks, Japanese isopods, and deep-sea creatures that look like they were invented by someone with a very vivid imagination. The sound design is immersive, the lighting is theatrical, and the whole experience has an eerie, almost otherworldly quality to it.
More Than Pretty Tanks: Conservation at the Singapore Oceanarium
What sets the Singapore Oceanarium apart from what came before is its meaning, the advocation of sustainability and the protection of our world.
The conservation zones hit differently. There is a section on coral restoration that is thoughtful and urgent. And somewhere in those galleries, it crystallised quietly: if we do not protect our environment, we lose everything.
Not just the sea jellies and the ghost sharks. All of it. The whole miraculous, interconnected world beneath the surface and above the surface.
Is Singapore Oceanarium Worth It? My Honest Take
Yes, but with one caveat.
Singapore Oceanarium tickets are not cheap, starting from approx. S$40 on weekdays to almost S$60 on weekends. But if you pace yourself, linger in the areas that intrigue you, and catch one of the scheduled talks or interactive sessions, you can easily spend half a day here.
It is particularly wonderful for families with children, marine-life enthusiasts, and anyone who loves a beautifully designed, story-driven space. If photography is your thing, bring your wide angle, the sea jelly tanks and Open Ocean viewing deck alone are worth the trip. Furthermore, the conservation and deep-sea zones give us, the adults, plenty to ruminate upon.
And if you loved the old S.E.A. Aquarium and the nostalgic Underwater World Singapore? Think of this as everything you remember, but with more narrative, more technology, and so much more variety. Do note that some sections are still under renovation at the time of writing, so there may be more to look forward to yet.
Singapore Oceanarium: Quick Guide
Location: 24 Sentosa Gateway, Sentosa Island, 098137
Getting There:
- Sentosa Express monorail from VivoCity → alight at Resorts World station
- Buses and shuttle services within Sentosa, or a short walk from VivoCity
Tickets:
- Book via the official Singapore Oceanarium website
- Check Klook, Pelago, and Traveloka for bundle deals with Sentosa passes
Tips for Your Visit:
- Arrive early to beat school holiday and weekend crowds
- Factor in at least 3–4 hours for an immersive trip
- Check the talk and feeding schedules beforehand
- Comfortable shoes recommended; the space is vast
Special thanks to AkerTEF for the wonderful trip.
Not a sponsored post.
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