Charting new waters with Singapore Oceanarium

The former S.E.A. Aquarium reopens on July 24 with 22 zones to explore

- Elisa Chia

When the Singapore Oceanarium opens its doors to the public on July 24, you can see a pop culture sensation in the flesh: the albino axolotl.

This charming creature—with its pastel-pink skin, wide-set eyes and "feathery" gills that frame a seemingly smiling face—has captivated children and youth since its inclusion in the video game Minecraft in 2021, leading to a surge in demand for axolotl plush toys.

Sharing its habitat is another axolotl with a mottled brown-grey body.

Beyond the thrill of seeing these real-life axolotls, you can learn about this critically endangered salamander species, native to the lakes and wetlands of Mexico.

They are among the new additions to the former S.E.A. Aquarium at Resorts World Sentosa. After 12 years of operation, it closed for renovation on April 30 and is now triple its former size.

The expanded space is divided into 22 zones, each telling a story about the ocean's past, present and future.

One of the first zones visitors will encounter is Ocean Wonders, home to sea jellies which are known to be ancient survivors that have existed for more than 500 million years.