The Two Oceans Aquarium has been a firm favourite with Capetonians as well as with local and international tourists for the past 27 years. Not only does the Aquarium welcome visitors into its amazing underwater world of southern African marine life. The Aquarium also offers various experiences that are interactive, adventurous and perfect for creating memories that will last a lifetime.
Extended hours
From 26 December 2022 until 6 January 2023, the Aquarium will be open for longer. Welcoming visitors from 9am and closing only at 7pm, the Aquarium’s extended opening hours are perfect for those who would like to linger a little longer; would like to miss the festive traffic on the way out of town, or just want to enjoy a cool early evening admiring the underwater world of the Aquarium.
The Aquarium’s “After 3 Special” with discounted rates effective from 3pm onsite at the Aquarium’s Ticket Office, fits in perfectly with the extended hours and is even more reason to explore the Aquarium until later in the evening.
Click HERE for more information on the “After 3 Special” and other offers.
Behind-the-Scenes Tours
Ever wondered about the inner workings of the Two Oceans Aquarium? Perhaps you have questions about how the Aquarium’s life support system works, or how and what the animals are fed?
The Aquarium has good news for you! They offer daily Behind-the-Scenes Tours for visitors over the age of eight. One of the Aquarium’s Curatorial staff members will take you behind-the-scenes, winding your way through areas where very few members of the public ever have the opportunity to go.
These guided tours take visitors behind the “staff-only” access doors and into the areas where pumps are humming, food for the animals is being prepared, divers are kitting up and much more.
You will see the animals and exhibits from a brand-new point of view, while the Aquarium experts will share fascinating information about how they make the Aquarium magic happen.
Click HERE for Behind-the-Scenes Tours details.
Meet some feathered friends with a Penguin Experience
Get up close and personal with the adorable northern rockhopper penguins of the Two Oceans Aquarium, through an awesome, educational and interactive Penguin Experience!
A maximum of two people can join the penguin keeper for an informative, fun and exhilarating face-to-face experience with the Aquarium’s feathered friends.
- Penguin Experiences take place Tuesdays to Sundays at 10.30am.
- These experiences are suited to anyone over the age of eight.
Click HERE to book your slot.
Dive into the Aquarium’s underwater world
The Two Oceans Aquarium Dive School is a certified PADI five star Dive Centre and your one-stop-shop for all things scuba diving. The Aquarium is the perfect place to showcase southern Africa’s marine biodiversity through its diving experiences in all three of the Aquarium’s large-scale exhibits… and beyond!
Dive into the I&J Ocean Exhibit and spend time with large stingrays, turtles, musselcracker, and other fish found around the southern tip of Africa – even if you are not a qualified diver!
Perhaps diving with the large ragged-tooth sharks in the Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Exhibit is something on your bucket list? Or how about diving in the Kelp Forest Exhibit with the gentle swaying giant kelp plants, and a myriad of different fish?
Dive experiences and courses:
- Adventure Diving in one of the Aquarium’s three large-scale exhibits
- PADI Discover Scuba Diving in the I&J Ocean Exhibit
- PADI Scuba Diver course
- PADI Open Water Diver course
- PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course
- PADI Refresher
If you want to try scuba diving but are not quite ready to take the plunge into a full certification course, PADI Discover Scuba Diving at the Two Oceans Aquarium Dive School is for you. The PADI Discover Scuba Diving Course has been designed to provide scuba diving novices with an enjoyable and closely supervised experience.
Once you have completed this short course, you will be able to dive in the I&J Ocean Exhibit on the same day, while under the supervision of the dive master.
The Two Oceans Aquarium Dive Centre also offers free diving courses for those who would like to experience the underwater world without scuba gear.
The Aquarium’s scuba experiences are open to anyone older than ten years. Click HERE to see all the Aquarium’s dive offerings and to book.
Membership
Visit the fish as often as you wish with a Two Oceans Aquarium Membership – perfect for sea-loving families. Aquarium memberships gives you a year of unlimited access, plus boatloads of other benefits like exclusive events and bespoke discounts. With more than 8000 animals from South Africa’s oceans, there is a reason the Aquarium is loved by young and old alike.
Become a member today!
Feeding times:
Want to see how a shark eats, or a penguin snacks? The Aquarium is the perfect place to do just that. During feeding times, specific exhibits and animals are fed, accompanied by an informative talk about the exhibit and the special animals.
- Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Exhibit: The sharks are fed every Saturday at 12pm.
- I&J Ocean Exhibit: Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays at 12pm.
- Kelp Forest Exhibit: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 12pm.
- Penguins: Everyday at 11.30am and 2.30pm.
Explore our underwater world!
With various galleries and exhibits, the Two Oceans Aquarium is a fun and educational place to explore. Ragged-tooth sharks, African penguins, Knysna seahorses, jellies, stingrays, fishes, and the ever-elusive octopus are just some of the animals you will meet while exploring the myriad of exhibits at the Aquarium.
The iconic living Kelp Forest Exhibit, one of the Aquarium’s three large-scale exhibits, is the only one of its kind in Africa!
The Two Oceans Aquarium has something for every visitor to enjoy – Scuba dive in the exhibits, meet rockhopper penguins up close, take a guided tour, and watch the animals being fed in the presence of an Aquarium expert presenters.
Come and discover this amazing world!
- Website: aquarium.co.za
- Facebook: Two Oceans Aquarium
- Instagram: @2OceansAquarium
- Twitter: @2OceansAquarium
- TikTok: @2OceansAquarium
- Linkedin: Two Oceans Aquarium
- Youtube: @TwoOceansAquariumCPT
Also read:
WATCH: Ragged-tooth sharks grab a bite to eat at the Two Oceans Aquarium
Picture: Supplied