This year, S.E.A. Aquarium celebrates World Oceans Day in a 10-day conservation-themed festival from 17 to 26 June 2016, with freediving demonstrations being featured for the first time.
Freediving record holders from Singapore and Malaysia will be participating in freediving demonstrations on weekends.
Freediving is a form of underwater diving which relies solely on the diver’s ability to hold his breath. This is man versus the deep blue in its rawest form.
Beyond being an extreme sport, freediving offers an intimate and liberating way to be one with the marine world. Without cumbersome diving gear and noisy air bubbles, freedivers are able to get much closer to marine animals and to swim more freely in the water.
Freedivers have been known to dive to 300 feet and more
Marine mammals like dolphins and whales have special reflexes that allow them to dive to incredible depths for extended periods. Dolphins are known to stay underwater for about 5 to 10 minutes with one breath while whales can stay down longer for about an hour or more. In comparison, the average human being can only hold his breath underwater for approximately 30 seconds.
Like marine mammals, freedivers need to resurface periodically for air. This drives home the message that plastic pollution in the oceans can cause these marine mammals to suffer from breathing difficulty, as well as getting entangled in items like plastic bags and fishing nets. But unlike freedivers who can return to land, marine animals can’t escape from their aquatic home which faces severe pollution.
Freedivers “clearing the seabed” of plastic waste to highlight the severity of plastic pollution and the importance of ocean conservation.
To learn more about ocean conservation and plastic pollution, join us for World Oceans Day celebration (17 – 26 June) at S.E.A. Aquarium:
Freediving demonstration by Apnea Association of Singapore
Watch record holding freedivers perform mesmerizing feats as they dive without any breathing apparatus.
Date: 18-19 June, 25- 26 June
Time: 12pm, 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 2pm
Venue: Open Ocean Habitat
Aquarist sharing sessions
Listen to authentic stories of how our aquarists are connected to the ocean, and what inspires them to protect it.
Date: daily
Time: 11am, 1pm, 4pm
Venue: Open Ocean Habitat.
Ocean Story Telling
Enjoy a story telling session from our new book release.
Date: daily
Time: 1pm, 3pm, 5pm
Venue: Maritime Experiential Museum B1
Deep Sea Oracle
Summon the Deep Sea Oracle and learn more about the mysteries of marine life.
Date: daily
Time: 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 4.30pm
Venue: Maritime Experiential Museum B1
Mai the manta ray
Snap some pictures with our adorable mascot.
Date: daily
Time: 2.45pm, 3.45pm
Venue: Around the aquarium
All-day activities
Asia’s first World Oceans Day photo gallery
Be awed by winning images from a worldwide photo competition supported by the United Nations. At Maritime Experiential Museum B1.
Photo pledge wall
Pledge your commitment to conservation by taking a photo at our World Oceans Day photo booth located near the exit of the aquarium.
Plastic bottle cap mural
Contribute to one of Singapore’s largest murals made up of tens of thousands of plastic bottle caps!
Ocean Fun Zone
Join in the fun and become an Ocean Protector! Complete the 5 missions and be rewarded with prizes. At Maritime Experiential Museum B1.
Digital Art Display by Punggol Secondary School
Witness the artistic creations of these talented students which can be found all around the aquarium.