Phuket Aquarium

Tropical fishes

An island vacation wouldn’t be complete without fish, and not just seafood. For an afternoon of fun – learning about what you eat and what might eat you (not really) – the Phuket Aquarium is required viewing.

Over 30 tanks of freshwater and saltwater creatures give children lots to reasons to point and say, “Mom, look!” The fascinating weirdness of the undersea world cannot be overstated: cuttlefish hover like spaceships, razorfish look like sinking sticks, and the so-ugly-you-can’t-help-staring stonefish could go by no other name. The diverse selection includes eel, crab, shrimp, sharks, and fish that range from brilliantly coloured to cleverly disguised.

The tunnel

The star attraction is a large tank with a tunnel through its centre. Inside, you’re surrounded by a kaleidoscopic swarm of rays, snapper, grouper, wrasse, sharks, and others. (Show up at lunchtime, say 11:00, on weekends for the added bonus of watching the fish devour a meal.) Stepping out the end of the tunnel, you’re greeted by eight massive man-sized cod in the aquarium’s 110-ton tank.

All exhibits are labelled in Thai and English, with interesting facts about the creatures included. Floor-to-ceiling wall-displays go into greater detail about marine life, habitats, and conservation issues. Outside the main gallery, a nature trail leads to turtles; lots of them. Large pools contain baby hawksbills and green sea turtles honing their swimming technique, and injured adults enjoy an early retirement in the rehabilitation area.

Outside view of the aquarium

The aquarium is part of the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) – eight hectares (20 acres) of prime waterfront on Phuket’s southeast coast devoted to marine education, research, and protection. Management is planning to harness the PMBC’s considerable resources – including a research vessel, hatchery, and endangered species museum – and develop a hands-on, educational day program for children in the near future.

Open from 08:30 until 16:00, seven days a week. Adults 100 baht, children 50 baht. Gift shop and snack bar onsite. Tel: +66 (0)76 391 126. http://phuketaquarium.org/

Phuket Monkey School

Fun for the kids

A monkey show is a sure-fire way to get your kids to squeal with delight, if only for an hour. During the 30-minute presentation, the little furry primates perform human tasks like riding a tricycle, exercising, hawking trinkets, playing catch, and swimming. They also show off their original trick: picking coconuts. Plenty of monkey-on-your-shoulder audience participation and mild scatological humour that kids (and, admit it, adults) love. After the show, feed the performers bananas – of course – and make the most of the final photo ops. Refreshments are available for purchase.