Gong Sea Fa Cai @ RWS S.E.A. Aquarium

Gong Sea Fa Cai! RWS’ S.E.A. Aquarium wishes everyone a prosperous year of the dog(-faced pufferfish) and welcomes the 2018 Lunar New Year in style as visitors get a chance to discover some of the most fascinating sea creatures this February!

Dragons may sound like one of the most mythical creatures around, but lo and behold, the S.E.A. Aquarium is actually home to a couple of actual dragons – Sea Dragons of course. Learn more about these fascinating creatures and other friends under the sea as you embark on the all new Trail of Fortune, playing interactive games and taking home little goodies such as lucky red packets and even a Chinese New Year themed hat. Along the way, you’ll find out about how you too can play your part to keep the ocean clean, and the various dangers many of these animals and environments face from our own actions.

Along the way, be sure to pay a visit to the S.E.A.’s recently revamped shark enclosure, as you pass through the tunnels and watch these magnificent kings of the ocean swim right past your face. The new enclosure has also relaunched with an exhibition jointly created by James Cook University, and visitors can learn about sharks in detail as they get up close to models of shark jaws, skeletons and eggs and get right under the skin of these sleek masters of the sea.

As you make your way to the end of the trail and reach the Ocean Dome, you’ll find Lin, a beautiful sea goddess waiting for you, as she rises out of the ocean this Chinese New Year to spread important ecosocial messages and showcase her mercy to visitors. Played by local artiste Valerie Choo, there’s no better time than now, at the peak of reunion dinners, as both kids and their parents can learn all about the dangers and harm that overfishing can cause, and even the potential for contracting mercury poisoning from eating too much fish! Valerie is so convincing in her portrayal as she floated around the dome, that we even saw kids kowtowing to her at their parents’ requests, and offering up little gifts as a sign of worship and respect to her! After her show, you’re more than welcome to pose for photos with her for a reminder of your fruitful meeting with a real life goddess.

Valerie isn’t the only performance you’ll get to catch this February though. As is tradition, a Chinese new Year wouldn’t be complete without a dragon dance. But the twist here of course, is that it takes place completely underwater! Watch divers descend into the depths of the Ocean Gallery dressed in gold suits and wielding a long golden dragon as it ebbs and flows through the water, while a goddess swims alongside them, blessing the crowd with good fortunes and prosperity for the year ahead.

From dragons to sharks, and a boatload of knowledge to be netted, this Chinese New Year, it’s time to make good on the saying ‘Nian Nian You Yu’ and fill it with all things fishy when you head down to the S.E.A. Aquarium this February as they wish you a Gong Sea Fa Cai!

The S.E.A. Aquarium’s Gong Sea Fa Cai runs till 28th February 2018. For full programme timings and more information, visit their website here