Grab a chance to widen your knowledge about the unexplored intriguing marine life at a marine-themed wonderland – Siam Ocean World, now known as SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World. With 30,000 fish and several marine plants and animals in pop-up tanks, crawl-through tanks, secret cave tanks, panoramic 8-metre-high gigantic aquarium, underwater tunnel, man-made ship wreck, ice adventure zone, and a lot more, SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World is one of the most popular modern attractions in Bangkok, Thailand. This marine paradise gives you a chance to see a wide variety of sea animals, from sharks to penguins, from black-spotted moray eel to eagle ray, from moon jellies to wolf fish, in artificially created natural habitats.
Attractions
SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World was conceptualized to bring the marine world closer to city dwellers. Located at two basement levels in a giant mall, SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World is created in such a way that it provides educational entertainment to visitors of all ages.
Rocky Hideout – It features animals that live on or in crevices, such as crabs and octopus.
Shark Walk – As the name suggests, you will be walking on glass-like acrylic while sharks of different variety swim below you.
Rockpool – It has tanks with rocky habitats displaying star fish and hermit crabs.
Tropical Ocean – The 26-feet tall aquarium showcases everything that an ocean has – from corals to eels to other fish species.
Ocean Tunnel – If Tropical Ocean gives a rather two-dimensional view of the ocean, then Ocean Tunnel has more to offer. Marine creatures swim from your sides and up and the experience is as if you are walking underwater.
Ice Adventure – You can see penguins, wolf fish, and other aquatic animals living in their habitats. It is like you are in Antarctic surrounded with snow and cold breezes.
5D Cinema Xtreme – It is a theater that gives you a five-dimensional experience of watching the underwater life closely and somewhat realistically. The show timings are 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and a single show costs 250 Baht.
Aquatic Quarantine and Nursery Centre – If you are curious about how the place and its sea-inhabitants are managed and cared for round the clock, then you can go to the nursery center. The entrance costs extra 250 Baht.
Kidzania – A mini town for kids, Kidzania is on the upper-most floor of Siam Paragon Mall. It features a wide variety of fun activities; for instance, a child can take up a profession and work for Kidzos, the Kidzania currency. After ‘working’ as a dentist, fire fighter, chef, doctor, pilot, engineer, etc., they get paid in Kidzos, which they can use to buy souvenirs and gifts from the Kidzania shop.
Madame Tussauds –Just a few minutes away from SEA LIFE, located at Siam Discovery Center is this renowned wax-museum franchise in Bangkok that features stunning figures of well-known international and national celebrities including Jackie Chan, Michael Jackson, Tiger Woods, Nicholas Cage, and Princess Diana.
Erawan Shrine – Dedicated to Hindu God Brahma, Erawan Shrine is a renowned religious site in Bangkok. It is situated at the junction of Ploenchit and Ratchadamri Road, 3.5 miles from SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World. The shrine is believed to be auspicious and people from all around the world come to pay their respects. During important festivals, you may witness dance performances and parades in the temple complex.
Jim Thompson House – This privately-owned residence that has been turned into a museum is a unique place to visit in Bangkok. The former resident, Jim Thompson was an American architect who settled in Thailand for the love of it. He decorated his house with tasteful antiques, artistic objects, and traditional things that were worth curating. The highlight of the house is the way Thompson preserves the Thai silk heritage.
Activities
SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World attempts to provide you a very intimate experience with the living beings of the ocean. There are a number of things that you can do, apart from walking around different aquatic zones, while in the premises:
Watch the animals being fed –Penguins, fish, otters, sharks, and others are fed at scheduled times. Visitors are allowed to watch and interact with the handlers who feed the animals.
Boat ride – After paying 180 Baht extra, you can take a boat ride. You can see fish closely and also feed them but under strict supervision.
Explore underwater – “Ocean Walker” and “Dive with the Sharks” give tourists a chance to explore the marine beings personally. Extra charges, inclusive of gears and swimsuit, will be levied for these tours.
Siam Ocean World Ticket Price
Ticket prices are different for Thai nationals and foreigners.
Single ticket to visit the aquarium:
Thai National – 490 Baht for adults, 350 Baht for children between 3 and 11 years, and free for children below the age of 3.
Foreigner – 990 Baht for adults, 790 Baht for children between 3 and 11 years, and free for children below the age of 3.
You need to pay extra for activities such as a boat tour or the 5D movie. Special packages, offers, and tickets in combination with Madame Tussauds are available. Thai nationals can also buy annual passes to visit SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World any number of times throughout the year.
Siam Ocean World Timings
From 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., 365 days a year.
Siam Ocean World Location
Address: Siam Paragon Shopping Centre, Level B1 and B2, 991 Rama 1 Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World is located at the heart of Bangkok in the basement of Siam Paragon Shopping Center.
Location Map
How to Reach?
Reach by air: Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok is the nearest international airport to SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World. It is just 17.3 miles away. It takes about 35 to 40 minutes to reach by car. One may take the route from Ploenchit through Rajprasong Intersection, straight along Rama 1 Road in the Pathumwan neighborhood.
Reach by bus: There are a number of air-conditioned and non air-conditioned buses that pass through Siam Paragon Shopping Center from around the city. The AC buses are numbered 16, 25, 73, 79, 204, 501, and 508. Among the non-AC buses, micro bus numbers 5, 6, 12, and 23 and normal buses 15, 16, 21, 25, 40, 48, 54, and 73 take passengers to Siam Paragon Shopping Center.
Reach by Sky train: The Bangkok Skytrain is another convenient way to reach the shopping center and SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World. Get out at Siam Station (Exit 5) and walk till the shopping center.
Hotels Near Siam Ocean World
SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World is situated in a shopping area of Bangkok, which is close to a number of hotels. It is, therefore, easy to find a place to stay within a mile of SEA LIFE. Rama 1 Road has several hotels, such as the luxurious Siam Kempinski Hotel (0.1 miles from Siam Paragon Mall) and Centara Grand (0.3 miles), and the budget Wendy House (0.6 miles) and A-ONE Inn (0.5 miles). Mid-range hotels are also available on the road – LiT Bangkok Hotel (0.6 miles) and Holiday Inn Express (0.6 miles). Nearby areas include Siam Square (luxury – Novotel and budget – Lub d) and Phayathai Road (luxury – Hua Chang Heritage Hotel and budget – Asia Hotel). Luxury hotels, of course, provide you with better rooms, amiable services and opulent amenities; while budget hotels charge less, are smaller, and offer basic amenities.
Best Time to Visit
Owing to its controlled environment, SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World can be visited any day of the year.
More Information
How much time does it take to see SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World?
In order to see the different zones at the two levels, at least two hours are required. Activities like diving, boat ride, and movie will take extra time.
Facts
- SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World, spread across 110,000 sq ft, is the largest aquarium in South East Asia.
- It was acquired in 2012 by Merlin Entertainments, a British company whose Sea Life runs about 35 marine-themed attractions all over the world. Merlin Entertainments Group also owns LEGOLAND and Madame Tussauds.
- The aquarium tanks have about 1,300,000 gallons of water.
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