How many of us travel abroad for our holidays and if it's by the sea, venture out on a glass bottomed boat to view the wonders and mysteries of the sea, its fish species and wonderful coral in the waters below?
Instead of going many hundreds of miles, why not simply visit the Birmingham National Sea Life Centre, spelt by some as center, with its aquariums and fish tanks, to experience such wonders? The sealife centre can only be described as a tropical and delightful attraction with some 60 spectacular, magnificent and exciting displays on offer, housing some 1,000 plus of living specimens which include octopus, otters, sharks, turtles, rays, barracuda, sea horses and shrimps to name but a few. There are also two massive sea turtles in the shape of Molokai and Gulliver.
For information purposes other Sea Life centres are also available at Weymouth, Hastings, Hunstanton and Loch Lomond.
The centre is just one of the many Birmingham visitor attractions and stands within walking distance of the city's three main railway stations, Moor Street, Snow Hill and New Street and can be found at The Waters Edge, Brindley Place, Birmingham B1 2HL, which is just off Broad Street.
Car drivers using Sat Navs can use postcode B16 8ET to locate the near at hand National Indoor Arena car park. For drivers without such facilities simply follow the signs to the NIA.
For those travelling by bus to the city centre, disembark in Broad Street and follow the walking signs to the ICC and NIA. The sealife centre is fully accessible to the users of wheelchairs.
Opening Times are Monday-Friday, 10am until 5pm and Saturday and Sunday 10am until 6pm with the last admission 60 minutes before closing time. Tickets can be booked online at a cheaper rate and there are also family ticket offers available at a saving of some £18.11 for two adults and two children. It is important to note that discounted promotional vouchers cannot be used when booking on-line. Depending on party numbers a discount voucher of 20% is also available; please see the Sea Life web site for further information regarding this.
If you do intend to stay in the city for a few days you will find hotels and other forms of accommodation readily available near the NEC and Cadbury World Birmingham which are other places to see and visit.
The displays at the Birmingham National Sealife Centre, includes species from Egypt/Red Sea, one of the more favourite seas for the snorkeler's and diver's, the Caribbean, North Americas Pacific coast, plus other interesting locations in an amazing and spectacular transformation from the Birmingham outside to such exotic locations, as they appear to be, just a few metres away.
The centre is also the only one in the United Kingdom where Hammer Head Sharks can be seen in captivity.
There are stunning displays from the one million litre tank, with the walkthrough underwater tunnel and touch pools which virtually put visitors swimming in there with the various species of fresh water, marine and tropical fish, many with such beautiful colouring, plus sea creatures, vegetation and of course the breathtaking varieties of the magnificently shaped coral.
View the mystical Lost City of Atlantis with its lost treasures and lairs of mysterious and secretive fish and creatures.
The centre is also home to a "Sensorama 4D Cinema" so called because viewers are subjected to various sensations such as the smell of seaweed, wind and salt spray plus other sensations dependant on the nature film being screened.
The centre also provides regular feeding demonstrations and talks, to present an even greater insight to visitors of the mysteries of the worlds numerous seas and oceans.
Seahorses - learn more about these creatures, see them gathering their dinner in the form of shrimps and hugging the sea bed to prevent them being swept away by the currents.
Sharks - Try the Ocean tank tunnel walk and get very close to black tip reef and hammerhead sharks, have a look at the giant sea turtles. Have a close look at Shark Lagoon and come up very close to all sizes and the various shapes of these marvellous creatures.
Otters - Meet with the otter family and see their tricks and the speeds at which they chase each other about and watch their keeper hand feed them.
Rays - Learn all about rays, the different types, what they eat and see them feed on their tanks surface.
Interactive Rock Pool - There are interactive demonstration during the day. If you are brave why not hold a crab, but do watch its claws, or even touch a starfish.
Those of us at Activ Birmingham hope that you will have found the aforementioned information of benefit and, hopefully, will have encouraged you to pay a visit to Birmingham and this famous Sealife Wonder.
For other Birmingham attractions, have a look at our article associated with Attractions in and Around Birmingham.
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