Are you getting ready to head to Deep Sea World in Edinburgh? There is a lot to explore.

Starting from the bizarre movement of a feather star to the unbelievable self-healing capabilities of a shark – Deep Sea World in North Queensferry has something new to offer.

Heading to Deep Sea World in Edinburgh

North Queensferry is a village located in Fife, Scotland, situated on the Firth of Forth, about 10 miles (16 km) from the center of Edinburgh.

Here, you can find Deep Sea World, Scotland’s National Aquarium, which takes visitors on an adventurous interaction with a wide range of marine creatures. It brings forth many fishes, sharks, reptiles, and invertebrates for every marine enthusiast.

1. What to See in this Aquarium of Edinburgh?

Visitors can observe Alligator Gar, Big-bellied Seahorses, Brittle Stars, Clownfish, Thornback Rays, and numerous other spectacular fishes here.

You can spot the amphibians here: Borneo Eared Tree Frogs, Golden Mantella, and White’s Tree Frog, among others. The Royal Python is an unmissable observation among reptiles.

Don’t miss out on meeting the seals here. If visitors walk outside Deep Sea World, they will meet their lively and welcoming Harbour Seal. All the seals have unique personalities and a distinct relationship with their Aquarists.

Along with the seals, the visitors will grab a fantastic view of the beautiful Forth Rail Bridge. Their indoor and outdoor enclosures give their resident seals, Laura, Cody, and Benji, plenty of room to swim about and flex their muscles.

Sharks have always fascinated everyone. This aquarium in Edinburgh showcases Bamboo Sharks and Sand Tiger Sharks, amongst others. Visiting this place can be an excellent opportunity to observe the impressive sea anemone, African land snail, and European lobster.

2. The Underwater Tunnel

At 112m long, the Underwater Tunnel at this aquarium in Edinburgh has the longest underwater moving walkway in Europe.

As visitors journey through the fascinating underwater safari, they will experience a splendid view of the stars of this aquarium -the Sand Tiger Sharks and the rare Angel Shark.

Each time around the tunnel, the visitors will notice something different. It can be the wreckfish lurking in the abyss or the mermaid’s purses and shark teeth often found in the tank bed.

Tinkerbell is the enormous Sand Tiger Shark recognized not only by its marvelous size but also by her upturned dorsal fins that look like wings. The Underwater Tunnel is also where visitors will likely spot the divers feeding various fish.

3. Other Things to Do Here

A visit to this place, home to the United Kingdom’s largest Virtual Aquarium, discovering Aquasketch is a must.

Visitors can enjoy lunch under the UNESCO Heritage Site Forth Rail Bridge. They have various tasty food options, including burgers, pizza, fish and chips, baguettes, and more. Food is available at the Bridge Café. Moreover, selected meals for children are also available here.

The Reef Gift Shop brings forth some of the finest sea life products in Scotland. This shop is filled with a wide range of keepsakes to twin any underwater friends one has made on your visit.

Their selection of mementos allows the visitors to take a piece of Deep Sea World home. The plushies made from recycled plastic are a favorite. For jewelry lovers, Reef exclusive bracelets, Slap Watches, key chains, and necklaces are available here that you can take for the lovely ladies at home.

Also, if you are an adventure lover who wants to experience a close encounter with a shark, the Shark Dives is an unmissable opportunity.

4. Conservation

To promote conservation, Deep Sea World supports the Big Fish Campaign and Shark Trust. Captive breeding and Grab That Gap are also essential aspects of protection in this aquarium in Edinburgh.

In addition to their success in breeding the critically endangered Angel Shark in 2011, they regularly collect Shark and Ray eggs from the chief Deep Sea World tank with the aim of hatching and rearing young.

They have positively reared the following species:

• Bull Huss

• Lesser Spotted Catshark

• Thornback Ray

• Golden Mantella

All of their Eagle Rays and Common Stingrays are micro-chipped. These monitoring programs permit joint research of all member aquaria that possess these Shark Species amongst their collections. 

BIAZA’s Grab That Gap campaign encourages all members to grab a small (approximately 10-meter square) unused space within their grounds and plant it up in Spring with wildflower seeds supplied by Emorsgate Seeds. This is part of a broader effort to expand the management of the sites for native species.

Conclusion 

All the facilities, programs, and tours offered by this aquarium in Edinburgh are too fascinating to be experienced through words. The satisfaction of fruitful interaction with marine creatures can be gained only by visiting this place.

Climate change is eliminating a variety of marine creatures with every passing day. More and more are becoming endangered. At a time like this, visiting a splendid aquarium can prove to be the experience of a lifetime.

Last Updated on November 6, 2023 by Apeksha Soni