‘Civilization ends at the waterline’, wrote Hunter. S. Thompson, ‘beyond that, we all enter the food chain, and not always right at the top’.
As I began my descent into Sea Life’s ocean tank those famous words reverberated around my mind: ‘we all enter the food chain’, ‘we ALL enter the food chain’.
With sharks darting about below there was an impending sense of doom as each rung of the tank’s ladder took me deeper.
However, the terror that comes with total submersion into an aquatic world eventually subsided and, in its place, came a tranquil ambience and fascination with such a familiar yet alien space.
This visceral thrill of interacting with some of the ocean’s most stunning creatures all occurs in a complex that is more than 30 miles from the nearest coastline.
Anyone who has ever been to an aquarium before will know that it is ill-advised and against standard decorum to jump into the water tanks.
However, the intu Trafford Centre’s new Sea Life aquarium gives visitors the unique opportunity to break all the rules by donning a wetsuit and entering the 11.5 foot deep ocean tank.
ENTERING THE ABYSS: Beginning the descent into Sea Life’s biggest tank
The experience – known as ‘Sea Trek’ – is the first of its kind in Europe and allows guests the chance to get up-close and personal with over a thousand exotic sea creatures.
Among the vast array of marine life are a number of black tip reef sharks and the grand sea turtle Earnie – a 60kg rescue turtle that dominates the tank with graceful strokes of his huge flippers.
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS: Face to face with Ernie the sea turtle
Combined with the underwater adventure Sea Trekkers have the opportunity to sport some of the marine world’s most glamorous gear.
Kitted out in in special dive suits finished off with a simple pair of practical yet comfortable Crocs you can be sure that those who survive the ice caps melting will be swimming into Sea Life to pick up these sporty numbers.
A specially built weighted helmet is lowered onto trekkers to complete the look. Unfortunately if, like me, you have an abnormally large head then you will inevitably look slightly crazed as staff swim around snapping photos for you to purchase on your way out.
UNDER THE SEA: My large head fills the specially designed weighted helmets
After the descent into 480,000 litres of water expert divers lead groups around the tank and stop to point out exotic sea life.
There are certainly fleeting moments of psychological discomfort as the fish treat you to a free pedicure; nibbling at your heels as you saunter around the tank.
The whole experience lasts about an hour yet only ten minutes are spent in the tank, which was a little disappointing. However, without a doubt those ten minutes are fulfilling and highly enlightening.
Sea Trek is the perfect alternative for those unable to give the time and money into learning to dive and travelling to far-flung corners of the world for the privilege of seeing some of the world’s most enigmatic sea life.
While nothing may beat the true feeling of diving in open-waters Sea Trek opens up a world that many of us may not get the chance to explore.
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