Sea Life Malaysia opens in Legoland here!

It was August 2014 when my family and I had our first Sea Life experience at Sea Life London, the aquarium which is housed in an early 12^th century building – the County Hall – that was once the seat of the London Greater Council until it was abandoned in 1986.

Facade of Sea Life Malaysia next to the Legoland Hotel,
 Legoland Malaysia Resort and Water Park in Johor

The ancient building, situated on the South Bank of the River Thames near the London Eye and Westminster Bridge, was refurbished and opened in March 1997 as Sea Life London.

I remember walking into the dark, cool chambers on the ground floor of this old building with my niece and nephew, filled with awe and wonder as we came face to face with an underwater world, especially the elegant seahorses and the fascinating jellies!

Fast-forward to 2018 when I was thrilled to be among those who witnessed the Ground-Breaking Ceremony to start the construction of Sea Life Malaysia, adjacent to Legoland Malaysia Resort.

I'm here!

Then in March 2019, I was privileged to join the Sea Life Junior Rangers to welcome the first residents into Sea Life Malaysia.

In this event, I watched as the Junior Rangers took their turns to release 23 species of fish including Bala Sharks, Rasboras and Tinfoil Barbs, into the Malaysian Rainforest habitat zone.

A great deal of work has gone into preparing the aquarium to welcome larger fish into the tanks and now I’m at Sea Life Malaysia again, to celebrate its official opening.

One of the first people I happen to meet is Legoland Malaysia Resort, Director of Sales & Marketing, Thila Munusamy, who welcomes me with a comment that I’m so early!

Thila is aware that I’m more than familiar with Legoland Malaysia Resort because I was here for the ground-breaking before its construction started in 2009 and on the first day when the park was opened to welcome media and guests in 2012, I was also here.

Another view of the building facade for Sea Life Malaysia

With this in mind, she’s not at all surprised that I’m here again – bright and early – for the official launch of Sea Life Malaysia!

While the event proper will begin later, the organisers tell me that I’m welcome to take a tour of Sea Life Malaysia to enjoy a better experience, before the crowd comes in.

I’m all set and already heading off to the Sea Life entrance when she calls me back.

I guess she thinks I deserve a special memento of the event because she presents me with a badge made of Lego bricks, designed in the shape of a fish!

Check out my Sea Life Malaysia, fish designed badge
made with Lego bricks

Pleasantly surprised, I gladly accept it and quickly put this badge on, which comes with a magnet fastener, to commemorate such a happy occasion.

When I walk into the cool chambers in Sea Life Malaysia, dotted by aquariums with live fish darting about, I cannot help feeling a sense of déjà vu as I fondly remember my Sea Life experience in London.

But there is a distinct difference in Sea Life Malaysia because every Sea Life attraction has its own special features.

In fact, Sea Life Malaysia is the first and only Sea Life in the world that features Lego elements within the aquarium.

A staff member [Right] introducing the exhibit to visitors

Sea Life Malaysia embraces the local identity and has a key habitat zone under the Malaysian Rainforest and even features some of the popular creatures in an exhibit dedicated to the Johor River.

I remember meeting the Bala Sharks – no relation to the man-eaters – when they were released into the tanks in March and look closer to identify them.

These fish are so-named because of its torpedo body shape and large fins that resemble those that belong to sharks.

It takes a bit of time to locate the fish within the well-decorated tank but I’m glad to finally spot the Bala Sharks, this time having grown a bit bigger since they were among the first residents on Sea Life Malaysia!

Snap a photo memento of the kids
"Under the Sea" within the Ocean Cave

Just as in other Sea Life attractions, I like how the displays include interactive elements in every habitat zone for a more impactful and memorable learning experience.

At key habitat zones, a staff member is on hand to introduce the exhibits to visitors and to answer any questions.

Look out for the Ocean Cave where visitors can take a dive “Under the Sea” and watch marine life, up close through a concave glass!

In the Coral Reef, there is a small glass tunnel – just the right height for kids – to walk through for a closer experience with marine life.

But I can see that some adults simply cannot resist the thrill and are folding themselves to squeeze into and crawl through that tight space…

Over at the Sunken Shipwreck, a tank is designed with a glass cylindrical column right smack in its middle where an adult can crawl under and stand up within the tank!

A hands-on experience at the Rockpools

I watch as a young man stands inside the glass column and mimes swimming movements, probably pretending to be Aqua-Man, while his friend videos it as a special memento!

At the Rockpools, visitors are invited to give their hands a wash – at nearby sinks – before they have a hands-on experience to learn more about the creatures that inhabit the rockpools.

After handling the creatures, visitors can conveniently wash their hands again.

Amazing Creations is another interactive experience for children of all ages where visitors are invited to create their own designs on outlines of sea creatures that appear on individual electronic screens.

Admire your own design of Amazing Creations
on this wide screen wall 

After colouring and adding your designs, follow the instructions to “Submit” your creation and after a few moments, your design will automatically be launched onto the big screen to join other amazing creations that are swimming around on that wall!

Finally, enjoy a fascinating experience with a 180-degree view of the underwater world in a walk-through of the Ocean Tunnel.

This tunnel cuts through the Ocean Tank for visitors to watch as sharks, rays and other sea creatures swim around in 385,000 litres of water.

As I end my tour, I’m more than proud that Johor is home to Sea Life Malaysia and joins the Number One aquarium brand in the world.

Its official opening marks one of the biggest milestones for Legoland Malaysia Resort to date.

It's Sharky, the mascot for Sea Life Malaysia!

Sea Life Global has a vision to become the world’s biggest and most successful aquarium brand by putting “Amazing Discoveries,” the Sea Life Trust and the Breed, Rescue and Protect (BRP) ethos, central in their operations.

With more than 300 marine biologists, aquarists and support staff working at Marine Animal Welfare Department in Weymouth, UK and many other aquaria around the world, Sea Life ensures that everything they do mirrors the ultimate vision of BRP.

Buoyed up by my Sea Life Malaysia experience, I go to the official opening event area where I meet with Sharky, the Sea Life mascot and other popular Legoland mascots, all of whom inevitably cheers everyone up while we wait for the event to start.

As the event gets underway, the MC welcomes the VIPs and team of Junior Rangers.

Legoland Malaysia Resort, general manager, Kurt Stocks,
presenting his speech at the event

The event kicks off with a video screening of various activities, beginning with scenes of the groundbreaking ceremony for Sea Life Malaysia, its building construction, some of the activities with the Junior Rangers, up to welcoming the first residents into the tanks.

“Now with a theme park, waterpark, hotel and a brand new 2,123 square metre indoor aquarium, Legoland Malaysia Resort is well positioned as Malaysia’s ultimate family-friendly resort destination,” said Legoland Malaysia Resort general manager, Kurt Stocks.

He continued, “As visitors journey through the aquarium, Sea Life Malaysia will also engage and inspire them to learn, love, protect and care for the ocean.”

YB Liow Cai Tung [Centre] admiring the exhibit in
her walk through of the Ocean Tunnel in Sea Life Malaysia

Johor Executive Committee Chairman for Tourism, Women, Family and Community Development, YB Liow Cai Tung, said that Sea Life Malaysia is another point of interest that will attract more visitors to the state of Johor.

“This unique attraction in Asia will indeed contribute to Visit Malaysia and Visit Johor Year 2020,” said YB Liow before she declared Sea Life Malaysia officially opened.

Escorted by Stocks and other VIP guests, YB Liow was taken for her tour of Sea Life Malaysia to see more than 13,000 marine life from 120 species, housed in 11 different habitat zones in the double-storey Lego-themed aquarium.

. . .

Purchase the Triple-Park annual pass at the same price of a day ticket or minimum top-up at Legoland’s official website to enjoy 12 months of unlimited entries to Legoland Malaysia theme park, Water Park and Sea Life Malaysia. Terms and conditions apply.

For the latest info on promotion and activities, visit Legoland Malaysia Resort’s official website on www.legoland.com.my and stay connected with the resort via social handles Facebook and Twitter to find out more on online activities and promotions.