Deep Sea World - Images
Underwater Tunnel
At 112 metres long and holding a million gallons of water, the underwater tunnel at Deep Sea World is one of the longest underwater tunnels in the world.
When you are standing in the underwater tunnel, the curvature of the 6.5cm thick acrylic makes everything appear about 30% smaller than it actually is. So when you see our large sharks, just imagine how big they actually are! The arched shape of the acrylic gives the tunnel the strength to hold back the enormous weight of millions of litres of water. In fact, the acrylic is the same material used by NASA in space shuttles and each panel of acrylic can withstand the weight of two African elephants!
The Sand Tiger shark is the largest shark to be displayed at Deep Sea World and can grow up to three and a half metres in length. Sand Tiger sharks are also known as grey nurse or ragged tooth sharks and are normally found around Australia, Africa and America.
Seal Sanctuary
Deep Sea World has two seal pools. Pool one houses our resident seals and pool two houses any injured and rescued seal pups brought to us by the SSPCA.
There are two species of seals breeding around the shore of the UK; the grey seal and the common or harbour seal.
Our seal enclosure opened in Spring 2005 and is home to our resident common seals. Facilities are able to house up to ten seal pups for the one to two month duration that the pups require to gain weight prior to being released back into their natural habitat.
Common seals are found in the more sheltered waters of sea lochs and sandy estuaries. They give birth to a dark coated pup between July and September. The pup is dark coloured as the white coat is shed before it is born. The pups are fed on milk for about three weeks then, once weaned, they too must fend for themselves. There are thought to be around 40,000 45,000 common seals around the British coast.
Deep Sea World and the Scottish SPCA are working together to ensure rescued and injured seals receive treatment and rehabilitation before being released back into the wild. After receiving specialist care at Middlebank Wildlife Centre, the seals are then transferred to Deep Sea World, where they are kept in large salt water pools. This allows the seals to get used to salt water and build up their muscles before being released into the wild, giving them the best possible chance of survival.
Amazon
Let us take you to an Amazon rainforest where life is at its most exciting. The rainforest exhibit simulates the Amazon River teeming with life. You can experience a spectacular day in the Amazon with buzzing insects, a frog chorus, bird calls, monkeys and rumbling thunder creating a unique forest symphony.
The Lungs of our Planet
The Amazon Rainforest in South America is one of the most precious habitats on earth. It is often described as the lungs of our planet producing about 20% of the worlds oxygen supply and removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The Amazon Rainforest is also important for its resources: food, timber and medicines, as well as the important role it plays in the worlds climate.
Full of Life
The life force of the Amazon Rainforest is the mighty Amazon River. It starts as a trickle high in the snow-capped Andes mountains and flows over 4000 miles across South America through to the Atlantic Ocean. At approximately 6500 miles in length, it is the second largest river in the world. The Amazon, however, carries more water than any other river on the planet, containing nearly 20% of the worlds freshwater!
The Amazon river is home to more than 2500 species of fish. This is more species than the entire Atlantic Ocean! Amazon species include many types of fish such as catfish, electric eels and the arapaima, which can grow to four metres long and is said to be the largest freshwater fish in the world.
Piranhas
Piranhas (fresh water fish found in South America) have a reputation for being ferocious. The name, inspired by the piranhas razor-sharp triangular teeth, comes from the Portuguese piro for fish and sainha for tooth.
Piranhas are deadly and a school of them can reduce a wounded crocodile to a skeleton in seconds, however, some are vegetarian or omnivorous. Those on display at Deep Sea World are red-bellied piranhas. Attacking in a frenzied manner, these piranhas dart in and out taking grape sized mouthfuls at each bite. Watch out for weekly piranha feeds.
Krakatoa
Mount Krakatoa erupted to a devastating effect on August 27th 1883.
The sound of it erupting was heard in Bangkok, 3000 miles away and the tsunami (or giant waves) it created were 45 metres high and travelled at 700mph. At Deep Sea World you will see a recreation of the remnants of these villages devastated by Krakatoa and the exotic but deadly creatures that now live among their ruins.
Within the Krakatoa tank at Deep Sea World you will find Yellow Saffin Tang, Blue Damsel, Blue Spotted Humbug, French Angel Fish, Green Chromis, Domino Damsel, Zebra Lyretail Angel and White tailed Humbug to name a few. The long snout of the Yellow Tang allows it to graze effortlessly on algae. It is unusual to find a marine fish of a single colour. The Blue Damsel is one of the most attractive fish, which is often seen darting around the corals in large numbers in a superb metallic blue mass.
Lake Malawi
Visit our window on the beautiful Lake Malawi the ninth largest lake in the world.
Lake Malawi stretches to 700 metres deep and 412 miles long and is home to 600 species of Cichlid. These fish are not found anywhere else in the world and evolved from one or two species trapped in the lake many thousands of years ago when the lake formed.
All Malawi Cichlids are maternal mouth brooders. i.e. once the eggs are fertilised by the male there is no further bond with the female who broods the eggs and young in her mouth.
The majority of Cichlids in Lake Malawi are known only by their latin names. To simplify things, they are split into two large groups. The Mbunas and the Non-Mbunas live in the rocky littoral at a depth of around 5metres and tend to be very sedentary. The Non Mbunas prefer to live in the river mouths and reed covered shoreline.
Rocky Shores
Deep Sea World provides an insight into the many varieties of sea creatures that live in the waters around the British coastline. A rocky shore is one of the harshest environments for marine life. The wealth of creatures living there must be hardy to withstand the battering waves, the sun and the rain. They must also be well camouflaged to escape from predators.
The biggest animal you will see in our rock pools is one of our experienced presenters who will be able to bring you much closer to the crabs, small sharks and star fish that inhabit our rock pools. Three separate rock pools give you an opportunity to experience the many different varieties of sealife that live around the British coastline.
Amphibians
Amphibians derive their name from the Greek word amphibious which mean double life. This is due to the fact that juveniles live in water and breath using gills, whereas adults develop lungs and live both in and out of water. The tadpole undergoes what is called metamorphosis to change into an adult frog.
Frog Colours
Frogs come in many different colours. Some use this as a warning mechanism to show that they are poisonous, whereas some use this as camouflage to hide from their predators. Some species are even able to change colour depending on their surroundings.
Conservation
Very little is known about the breeding habits of some species of frog. Here at Deep Sea World, we study our amphibians life cycles to try and find out the trigger mechanisms for breeding. When successful, eggs, tadpoles and froglets are exchanged with other zoos and aquariums for further study. This process ensures a good mix of genes and helps to conserve the species.
Our collection of amphibians includes the green poison frog, red-eye tree frog, blue poison dart from, golden poison frog and mudskippers.
