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Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium

Journey into the Deep Sea

Much of the deep sea remains veiled in secrecy. We invite you to travel deep into the mysterious sea awash with thrills and excitement.

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A silent world without sunlight

Deep Sea World

Picture of the Deep Sea Gallery Picture of the Deep Sea Gallery

In the deep sea, you can find marine life with the most unusual shapes. Collecting and feeding these deep sea creatures is difficult, which requires the making of a special living environment that is sensitive to water temperature, light and pressure. The deep sea life at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium are unique treasures, most of which are collected from depths of 200 meters below sea level off the shores of Okinawa. There a silent world exists which is quite different from the vibrant world of the coral reef.

Marine life found in this area

Deep Sea Experience Room

Entrance to the Deep Sea Experience

In the Deep Sea Experience Room you can listen to explanations of the deep sea environment and of seldom seen creatures that live there, using high definition images and visual panels. Also, there is an aquarium called the Pocket Tank where you can physically experience the water temperature at a depth of 600 m in Okinawa's deep sea.

Must-see Points

Picture of giant squid specimenSpecimen of a giant squid - Please listen carefully to the background sound.
This exhibition features a specimen of a giant squid that was captured alive off the coast of Ishikawa city, Okinawa. This particular one is 6.37 meters in length; however, we can assume that there exist even larger giant squids in the ocean based on the sucker marks they have left on the heads of sperm whale. Listening closely to the nearby specimen exhibit you can hear the sound of a sperm whale echolocating (the sound they use to measure the distance between the object and themselves by reflecting the sound they emit). Be sure to listen very closely to the sound of the deep sea.
Picture of the Deep Sea GalleryEyes that peer into the deep sea
The deep sea is a world that remains untouched by light. There you can witness sea creatures with devolved eyes such as hagfish, as well as fish whose eyes have become enlarged in order to capture the few glimmers of light available, such as the black snake and ruby snapper. Okinawan sculptured lobsters also have large compound eyes. As you witness and try to imagine the origin of such amazing differences—whether due to their deep sea habitat or due to new ways of capturing prey—you may lose yourself in deep thought.

Churaumi Column

Coral: Living jewels?
No doubt you have seen personal accessories made out of red coral in souvenir shops, but did you know that such accessories were made of coral that live in the deep sea? In this exhibit, Churaumi Aquarium displays three different kinds of corals, red coral, pink coral and white coral, which are typically used in personal accessories in Okinawa. Here you can enjoy living 'coral jewels'. Be sure to note the differences between the coral you see here and the coral you see in the stores.
Experience the temperature of the deep seaA big hit in summer: Touching the Deep Sea
Did you know that the water temperature of the Deep Sea Corner is displayed on the tank? The temperature varies from 6 ℃ to 18 ℃. Indeed this reflects the water temperature of the location (deep sea) where each of these sea animals was captured and collected. Did you know that the sea animals collected from Okinawa's home waters lived in such low temperatures? The reason why the Deep Sea aquarium tanks fog up so often is that the temperature of our side is very different from the temperature of the tank.

 

*Please note that there are reading mistake.