We’ve been working with the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town as its digital partner for nearly 10 years, yet there’s always something new to see among the warm-water species from the Indian Ocean and their cold-water counterparts from the Atlantic Ocean.
Here are 20 images that show why the aquarium is one of our favourite places to visit.
The foyer of the Two Oceans Aquarium at Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront is home to many warm-water species from South Africa’s Indian Ocean coastline. Even though you can get very close to the fish, they are more difficult to photograph than you might think, not least because most of them are quick swimmers.
(Image:
Tara Turkington)
The sharks are among the biggest attractions at the Two Oceans Aquarium – in this case a large ragged-tooth shark, perfectly showing off the reason for its name.
(Image:
Tara Turkington)
A turtle glides effortlessly by above the heads of visitors.
(Image:
Tara Turkington)
What are you lookin’ at? Giant kob (Argyrosomus japonicas).
(Image:
Tara Turkington)
The giant spider crabs (Macrocheira kaempferi) look like they belong in a sci-fi movie.
(Image:
Tara Turkington)
A longhorn cowfish (Lactoria cornuta), which looks like something from Walt Disney’s imagination.
(Image:
Tara Turkington)
Schoolchildren marvel at the creatures of the deep.
(Image:
Tara Turkington)
A school group learns about skates and rays.
(Image:
Tara Turkington)
A cartoon-like evileye pufferfish (Amblyrhynchotes honckenii).
(Image:
Tara Turkington)
Meet the stars!
(Image:
Tara Turkington)
Graceful seahorses.
(Image:
Tara Turkington)
Some sharks are oviparous, laying eggs that are hatched outside their bodies, from lightweight casings. These egg pouches, shown here, are also known as “mermaid’s purses”.
(Image:
Tara Turkington)
Apart from developing its website and online ticketing system, Flow Communications has also worked with the Two Oceans Aquarium on other projects. These include developing the Kelp Forest Quest interactive game. Visitors to the aquarium can tweet the names of fish species to @KelpForestQuest and virtual aquarium staff will drop virtual fish into the tank live. The game is intended to teach visitors about the need for balance in the oceans. Find out more here: www.aquarium.co.za/site/kelp-forest.
(Image:
Tara Turkington)
Zebra fish (Diplodus hottentotus).
(Image:
Tara Turkington)
Stonefish belong to the genus Synanceia and are highly poisonous.
(Image:
Tara Turkington)
William Wordsworth said: “The ocean is a mighty harmonist.” You’ll leave the Two Oceans Aquarium feeling as though your soul has been refreshed.
(Image:
Tara Turkington)
A foxface rabbitfish (Siganus vulpinus).
(Image:
Tara Turkington)
Shrimpfish (Aeoliscus punctulatus).
(Image:
Tara Turkington)
Brown tang (Zebrasoma scopes).
(Image:
Tara Turkington)
Black musselcracker (Cymatoceps nasutus).
(Image:
Tara Turkington)
