The iconic Oceanarium at SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium will reopen to the public in just three months, after a $9 million renovation. This massive space will contain 2.2 million litres of water, and be the home of sharks, rays and hundreds of new fish. While an official opening date hasn’t been announced just yet, there is a live countdown which sets the reopening date as Monday December 18.
Oceanarium at SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium
The Oceanarium is the largest exhibit at the aquarium. When it closed for renovations earlier this year, a lot of the marine creatures were transported to sister attractions in Sydney and the Sunshine Coast. In a few months, they will make the journey back down the east coast to check out their new and improved home.
“We’re elated to announce that the countdown is officially underway!” said General Manager Claire Burrell. “Gusts will have an unparalleled opportunity to embark on a journey of discovery, delving into the roles these magnificent creatures play within our global ecosystem, through a world-class, immersive experience.”
The reopening of the exhibit will be followed by the return of popular experiences, like Shark Dive Xtreme, the Glass Bottom Boat tour and more behind-the-scenes tours. In the adrenaline-pumping shark experience, you’ll take the plunge and get up close with multiple species of sharks, giant stingrays and more. Meanwhile, on the Glass Bottom Boat, you’ll get to glide smoothly above the Oceanarium, and gaze at the creatures below from the comfort of a boat.
The return of Oceanarium also means that its the final months of the digital exhibition Submerged. This immersive experience, that takes you down into bioluminescent worlds, was created as a temporary exhibition. Once the Oceanarium renovations are complete, this experience will be gone. But, don’t worry. There’s still plenty of incredible creatures to discover at the aquarium, no matter the time of year, like penguins, jellyfish and more. See what’s on here.