The Deep: Be amazed by what lurks beneath the oceans

Dive into the darkest reaches of the deep sea, without getting wet, and explore alien creatures in one of the most illuminating exhibitions at the ArtScience Museum

The school holidays are almost here and if you’re wondering where you can bring your little ones, look no further than the ArtScience Museum’s The Deep.

There, you can come face to face with the creatures that inhabit the dark ocean bed, some 5,000m beneath the surface. The deep sea is so devoid of light that most marine life don’t get documented — until now.

For the first time in Southeast Asia, the largest collection of extremely rare abyssal creatures is on display. Find out how a world of darkness is actually home to colourful and odd organisms, and uncover never-before-seen specimens.

From the Monstrous to the magical

In Zone A of the exhibition, look out for the arresting centrepiece: The Black-Devil Anglerfish that’s a rarity to find, let alone capture and preserve. Did you know that this menacing anglerfish is actually the female, and the male is but a tiny fraction of her size? This one on display has a male attached to her — see if you can spot him!

You can explore many other odd monstrosities in the same zone, such as the Stereomastis sp. that looks like a giant bed bug, and the Black Dragon Fish that lights up when it is disturbed.

The creatures get bioluminescent as you progress into Zone B, and odder in Zone C and beyond. You’ll have to visit the whole exhibition to appreciate how extreme these lifeforms are.

Interact with Your New Findings

Besides getting up close to deep-sea specimens, you’ll also get to dip your hands into the world of strange, deep sea fauna.

Use recycled materials to create your own upcycled deep-sea creature, such as your own glowing Anglerfish — complete with its light-up UV bait. These upcycling workshops will also teach you about the types of plastics and their impact on our oceans.

There are still Upcycle Art workshops conducted on Aug 21 and 22, and Sep 4, 7, 18 and 24, at 4.30pm. The Make Your Own Glowing Angler Fish workshop is still running on Aug 28 and 29, and Sep 11 and 25, at 4.30pm. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Basement 2 retail space.

Don’t miss the complimentary public guided tours of The Deep, starting from the entrance to the exhibition. The remaining ones will be conducted on Sep 24 at 2.30pm and every Friday at 3.30pm for families.

[su_box title=”4 Cool Facts about the Deep Sea” box_color=”#6feaf4″ title_color=”#000000″]

1. The average depth of the sea is about 3.2km — about seven Petronas Towers high
2. Scientists estimate that between 10 and 30 million deep-sea species remain undiscovered
3. At 4,000m deep, the pressure exerted by the water is equivalent to a cow standing on your thumbnail
4. 90 per cent of deep-sea creatures produce their own light — whether for mating, luring prey or communicating

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By Pamela Chow

The Deep is on at ArtScience Museum, 6 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018974, until Oct 27.