In Thailand, many attractions appear to exist solely to attract tourists, and among them, even some interesting ones can be found despite their overall lack of substance. Phuket Aquarium is one such attraction.
General Information
Phuket Aquarium was opened in 1983 as a project of the Thai Ministry of Environment, and in 2005 the building was renovated, redesigned, and opened to the public (most likely, given the enormous interest from international tourists in the Kingdom of Thailand, it appeared as an excellent investment).
In essence, the aquarium ended up being yet another project that attracts vacationers largely due to the vivid descriptions provided by travel agents, who often emphasize the ‘unimaginable’ beauty of the place.
If you have already visited the local zoo, there is little point in spending even a small amount of money and time on Phuket Aquarium, as you won’t see anything new. However, if you haven’t yet been to either a zoo or an aquarium, you might drop in for about half an hour just to tick it off your list.
Description
Phuket Aquarium is a single-story, modest-sized building housing around 150 species of marine creatures.
It features several halls, including:
- A life-size coral reef exhibit (constructed to actual scale, with the fish seemingly indifferent to their confinement;
- A habitat for deep-sea fish;
- A tunnel aquarium spanning only five meters; however, there is no guarantee that fish will be visible throughout your walk, as they may not always be in view for reasons that remain unclear;
- A mini-cinema (where information about the marine depths is presented in Thai);
- A turtle pool (located outside the main building; upon exiting, you need to turn left at the glass door to find this pool).
By the way, before reaching the pool, visitors must pass through a park dedicated to environmental conservation and to demonstrating the impact of its degradation on wildlife, particularly turtles—a sight indeed. Nearby, in the parking area, an oceanographic vessel belonging to the aquarium is stationed, where research and fish sampling for further study take place.
In addition, special stands around the perimeter display figures of fish and other underwater creatures. Additionally, several animated characters are featured – including a mermaid whose narration is almost unintelligible.
Recently, Phuket Aquarium has introduced feeding sessions for large fish conducted by staff, and if you’re lucky, you might catch this event. For example, on weekends the feeding starts at 11:00 AM. At that time, there is a chance to observe how a shark feeds within an enclosed environment (arguably the most captivating event).
Inside the building, not only are species from the Andaman Sea housed, but there are also several fish from other regions, such as piranhas, arapaimas, and more.
Photography and videography are permitted within the aquarium; however, capturing a good shot is quite challenging — no matter how many attempts you make to photograph a turtle, the results tend to be too dark (perhaps it’s a matter of skill). The use of flash is prohibited as it startles the fish.
In conclusion, the aquarium is quite small, making it unlikely that visitors will spend more than 40 minutes exploring the exhibits (this includes the time needed to carefully study both the marine inhabitants and the English information panels).
A drawback is that information is available in only two languages — Thai and English — so children are unlikely to read or understand the foreign language content.
At the exit, there is traditionally a souvenir shop where you can purchase memorabilia associated with the aquarium.
Address
Phuket Aquarium is easy to locate on the map below, and the building’s address is as follows:
Address: 51 Sakdidet, Wichit, Mueang, Phuket
Coordinates: 7.804040, 98.407706
How to Get There
Visiting the aquarium independently may require several transfers, as there is no direct route available.
For instance, a bus from Phuket Town will take you to the main entrance, though you must first make your own way to Phuket Town.
The second option is to book a tour through any travel agency, as their prices are not significantly different.
Ticket Price: If purchased at the venue – 250 THB for adults and 200 THB for children. Children under 105 cm enter for free, and visitors over 60 can also enter free with a valid ID for age verification.
Opening Hours: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM (tickets are not sold after 4:00 PM as the facility begins its closing procedures).
At the entrance, there are several cafés where you can rest after touring the aquarium and enjoy the local scenery.
As for traveler reviews, they are quite mixed. For example, those who have visited the Bangkok Aquarium might find the aquarium near Rawai rather small. Indeed, it isn’t fair to compare the two attractions as they are not directly comparable.
Tourists who have never experienced such an attraction should consider visiting at least once.
All current information should be verified on the aquarium’s official website, as operating hours sometimes change—a fact routinely communicated to local residents via their webpage.
In summary, Phuket Aquarium is not an attraction you’d feel compelled to visit on every trip to Thailand, but it is adequate for a one-time visit.
Don’t forget to share your travel experiences in the comments, as they are helpful for those still undecided about their vacation destination.
