Deep Sea World

Deep Sea World sits beneath the Forth Rail Bridge in the village of North Queensferry, Fife. Built in an old quarry, the aquarium holds sea water pumped straight from the River Forth. Its main tank holds a million imperial gallons, kept at about fourteen degrees. The site is owned by the Spanish Aspro Ocio Group, which also runs other aquaria across Europe. The aquarium is best known for its 112-metre transparent acrylic tunnel, one of the longest in the world. The thick acrylic bends the view so creatures appear about a third smaller than they are. Most animals in the tunnel come from British waters because of the cool sea water. Sand tiger sharks from Florida and South Africa live here too, their metabolism slowed by the lower temperature. Visitors walk through the long tunnel to watch sharks and fish drift overhead. Smaller tanks and rock pools display exotic species beside native ones. A seal enclosure opened in 2005 houses resident seals and animals rescued by the SSPCA. The Forth Rail Bridge frames the view outside, linking the waterfront site to the wider landscape.