The Institute of Marine Science in Bang Saen
Bang Saen is a city known among locals for its pristine beaches. Bangkok dwellers – and Vitamin Sea lovers – often flock to the coastal town to enjoy weekends away from the hustle and bustle of the concrete jungle. But besides getting your tan in on the beach, diving deep into the ocean to admire marine creatures underwater, may require a bit more effort.
That’swhy the Institute of Marine Science – an establishment in Burapha University with a museum and an aquarium filled with all sorts of marine animals – is a great place to visit to gain a greater appreciation for sea life. Since it’s officially part of an educational institution, it’s also open to people from all walks of life and we’ll take you through what to expect below.
More places in Thailand:
- TreeHouse Villas is a forested resort on an island in Phang Nga
- Cafe Timeo is a riverside Scandinavian-themed Coffee bar in Khao Yai
- Fairest Domestay is a rainforest resort with private jacuzzis in Kanchanaburi
Aquarium houses marine creatures native to Thailand
The Institute of Marine Science is a hidden aquarium in Burapha University in Bang Saen, Chonburi. The bustling museum acts as an educational hub for people to learn about marine creatures and Thailand’s efforts to preserve the habitats of native fish species in our country.
Once you enter the university, look for a fountain with dolphin statues because that’ll indicate that you have arrived at the heart of the institute.
Walking into the building, you’ll see a ticket counter where you need to pay to enter the aquarium. The admission fees differ for Thai citizens and foreigners; costing ฿80 (~USD2) for locals and ฿220 (~USD6) for foreigners.
Within the aquarium, there are zones with different kinds of sea animals shown to visitors. For example, here’s a spot where you can see cute clownfish swimming around and nipping at plants under LED lights scattered within the tank.
Once you reach this hallway, you might be surprised to see bulky stingrays swimming back and forth among swarms of small fish, not something we can normally see in our daily lives.
Interestingly, one of the most popular spots in the aquarium is this glowing jellyfish exhibition. Here, you’ll find many people gazing attentively at these jellyfish; mostly engrossed in taking photos and recording videos. Having said that, we’re not too surprised as the jellyfish do look extremely ethereal and beautiful.
Catch diving and feeding demonstrations
At 2.30PM daily, there will be a dive show unfolding at the large tanks. You’ll get to spot a diver clad in scuba-diving gear plunge into the fish tank among hundreds of fish, trying to feed them while the rays are swimming around. On the weekends, the institute runs this show twice, the first at 10.30AM and the second round at 2.30PM.
Of course, these pictures are but snapshots of what a live feeding experience could feel like. We’re sure that the moment when a diver feeds a stingray will definitely be an impressive scene for many folks.
As for us, we basically feel like taking the plunge ourselves to get closer to these fish. In any case, we’d recommend getting your cameras ready to capture this moment if you do attend a show.
Go up to the second floor to explore a museum
After you’re satisfied with the aquarium tour, try going up to the second floor to tour a cosy museum that’s home to exhibits imparting knowledge about marine life.
The details and diagrams are presented in both Thai and English, so there’s no need to worry about any language barriers. If this sounds interesting to you, carve out some time from your itinerary to explore this area too
Getting to the Institute of Marine Science in Bang Saen
Diving into a deep ocean just to get a glimpse of sea life might sound like a pipe dream for many of us, but that doesn’t mean there’s no hope you can see marine life at all. The Institute of Marine Science is could be a good pitstop in Thailand if you wish to learn more about different aquatic creatures, or gain a better understanding about conservation efforts in the Land of Smiles.
For the location, the Institute of Marine Science is 2 hours away from Bangkok but less than 10 minutes from Bang Saen Beach. So if you plan to turn up after a day of chilling at the beach, you can get to this place easily. Check out the map we’ve linked below for more precise directions and let us know what you thought if you’ve been here before n the comments.
The Institute of Marine Science
Address: 169 Long Had Bangsaen Rd, Saen Suk, Chon Buri District, Chon Buri 20131
Opening Hours: 9AM – 4PM, Daily
Telephone: +66 3 839 1672
The Institute of Marine Science’s Facebook | Google Maps
Cover images adapted from (Clockwise from Top Left): @nutto_pigpanda, @tiewtooktit, สมาชิกหมายเลข 5660505
Enjoying The Smart Local Thailand? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more stories like this.