The Singapore Oceanarium is touting its 2025 update as “three times bigger in size” than its S.E.A. Aquarium predecessor, with “22 multi-sensory zones” to engage and immerse the visitor. The old S.E.A. Aquarium was already a major Sentosa attraction, so this set the stakes high for a new version.

I was both hopeful and wary as I approached the new Oceanarium entrance, wondering if there was any way that the revamp could live up to the hype. Did it? In some ways, yes — but in others, no.

Reasons to Visit

Jellyfish Splendor

When you enter, the first thing you see is a giant, dark room aglow with jellyfish tanks. The jellies used to be tucked away in a back room, but now they have the glory of being front and center. It’s hard not to be mesmerized by thousands of glowing moon jellies floating in one of the largest jellyfish tanks in the world.

The jellyfish hall is cavernous, however, which makes it incredibly loud (I could hear the repeated cries of “Jell-y-fish! Jelly-y-fish!” from one young enthusiast from halfway across the room). Two of the tanks also seem somewhat short on jellies, but I assume they’ll be adding more soon.

Sharks, Rays, & Coral Reefs

It’s not just jellyfish! All of your marine life friends are here: hammerheads and sandbar sharks, manta rays and eagle rays, dragon morays and clown triggerfish. These are the reasons that most people want to visit aquariums, and the Oceanarium does not disappoint. There’s also a nice focus on the marine animals of Singapore.

Beyond Blue Boxes: More Realistic Habitats

Some of the fish in the Oceanarium — though far from all — have had environment upgrades. You can now find habitats that more closely replicate certain species’ natural homes. The Australian sea dragons, for example, are now expertly camouflaged in a kelp forest, which is a far cry from the blue tank in which they used to float around.

Marine Work in Action: Behind the Scenes

Who cares for all of these animals? It takes thousands of people to run a place like this, and a new glass wall gives you a real-time glimpse into the work of marine biologists and caretakers. I was very excited about getting a peek into the back rooms — my first reaction to those tanks was an excited, “baby jellies!”

Oceans of the Dinosaurs

Beyond our current oceans, the Oceanarium invites you to look back at what the seas would have been like during the time of the dinosaurs. This is an interesting and unusual approach to understanding the marine world. They have a huge room lined with fossils and life-size models — including that animatronic Dunkleosteus, an extinct creature that was the largest fish in the sea during the Paleozoic Era.

My one criticism here was that half of the room was empty (you’ll start to see an oversized-room problem as we go along). It felt like a lot of wasted space.

Deep Sea Creatures and Exploration

For more marine life you may never see, imagine heading thousands of meters below the ocean’s surface. The Oceanarium covers deep sea creatures, trenches, and navigation in great detail. Multiple rooms cover investigations of the Challenger Deep, the technology involved in the Triton 36000/2 submersible, and animals like the predatory sea squirt and the dumbo octopus. It’s a great place to geek out over the world of the deep.

Of course, there are no real animals of the very deep here — in these rooms, you only get models and videos. If you’ve come for the live animals, these rooms may disappoint you.

Knowledge Everywhere

As the deep sea rooms demonstrate, you can learn an incredible amount at the Oceanarium. I’m not exaggerating when I say that it would take you an entire day to read every word on every sign. There’s a real commitment to education about everything from animal adaptations to marine conservation. If you want to learn about the marine world, this is the place for you.

Reasons to Stay Home

Too Much Empty Space

The revamped Oceanarium could take home the gold in a giant, dark, empty room competition. Children’s voices echo in squeaks as you walk through halls of nothingness. It’s a bit eerie. And where they have added new things, my first thought was often, “why?” “Why is there a giant whale skeleton that you can walk through — is it just for Instagram?” “Why is there an enormous fake ship?”

It doesn’t feel like they added new fish — it just feels like they added more space. Given that the “we’re three times bigger” advertisement gets top billing, it’s frustrating to come in and find that so much of the space is just a void.

Dark Rooms and Displays

Think it feels empty? It’s also dark. The rooms are dark, many of the tanks are dark. You’re going to have to let your eyes adjust to a lot of blue and black. I know, it’s dark underwater, especially once you start to get down past the ten-meter mark. But still, I’ve been to plenty of aquariums with natural light (the fantastic Monterey Bay Aquarium is one great example), and this one has none.

Also, if you’re a photographer … grrrr. The low light makes for some very frustrating shots.

Same Old Exhibits

There’s a lot of new space, but not a lot of new marine life. If you knew the old S.E.A. Aquarium, much of the new Oceanarium is going to feel familiar. Same shark tubes, same coral reef tower, same fantastic open ocean viewing room.

It’s good stuff, but it’s not what I was hoping for — I was really looking forward to animal additions. But aside from some new critters in the Singapore room, it felt like I got giant posters instead.

Sticker Shock

If you’re visiting Singapore with a family of four, you’ll have to spend $178 — and that’s on non-peak days. A weekend ticket will cost your family $196. Phew! That’s a hefty price tag, especially since most visitors won’t stay for more than a couple of hours. And that’s just for entry tickets — you’ll pay even more if you want snacks, gifts, or animal experiences.

Still, you could spend a very long time here. If you love aquariums, you’ll find enough exhibits and information to engage you (and patient, fish-loving kids) all day. The value for money question ultimately comes down to how long you think you’ll want to explore. Just know that it’s going to be an investment.

The Dolphin Problem: Ethical Concerns

If I had to pick one reason to skip the Oceanarium, it would be this: they keep six dolphins in a very small space and — for a fee — allow visitors to pet them. In this day and age, it’s surprising that the Oceanarium is not more attuned to the various ethical concerns raised by this kind of dolphin treatment. I was hoping to find that they’d cut their dolphin immersion program, but no such luck.

Final Verdict: Is It Worth a Visit?

I left the Oceanarium with very mixed feelings. I love fish, I love reefs, I love that feeling of being immersed in a marine experience. But the Oceanarium fell flat. It was enjoyable, sure — I could sit in front of that giant open seas window for ages — and appreciate the learning opportunities. I did not, however, leave with the sparkling sense of excitement I’d hoped for.

So should you spend your time and money on a visit? It depends on what you want, of course, and what your alternatives might be. If you’re a first-time Singapore visitor who loves aquariums, I would probably go. If you’ve already been to the S.E.A. Aquarium, I don’t think the hype matches up enough with the upgrades for you to return.

Before You Dive In: Visitor Tips

• Opening Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. daily
• Tickets: Buy them in advance here to avoid extra lines.
• Getting There: Take the MRT to HarbourFront; then transfer to the Sentosa Express and get off at the ResortsWorld Sentosa stop. Other options include taking a cab or the Singapore Cable Car.
• Dining: Choose from a deli, a cafe, and a grab-and-go kiosk. There are also plenty of other dining opportunities outside if you want a sit-down lunch elsewhere.
• Timing: Weekdays around dinnertime are probably optimal. Weekends are busy with families, mornings are busy with school groups.
• Kid-Friendly Activities: Kids can feel shrimp wriggle around their fingers at the cleaner shrimp touch pool and climb on thick rope webbing at the free Pier Adventure. While those are pretty much the only activities specifically designed for children, it’s worth noting that many of the animal exhibits are now set at kid height.

Further Reading: Intertidal Walks, Singapore Parks, and Coral Reefs

• For a look at Singapore’s marine life outside of an aquarium, check out my walks along the intertidal zones at Changi Beach Park and Pulau Hantu — at low tide, you can see starfish, sea cucumbers, and more.
• To see more of Singapore’s natural beauty, explore these six parks — all of which can easily be reached by MRT.
• If coral reefs and tropical fish behind glass make you curious about the real thing, you might enjoy my post on snorkeling in Bunaken National Park in Indonesia.