East Yorkshire has the world's only submariun, housed in an iconic building.
The Deep is a charitable public aquarium dedicated to increasing enjoyment and understanding of the oceans.
Location
The Deep is walking distance from the City Centre on the bank of the River Humber and there is a large car park. If you have satellite navigation use: Tower Street, Hull, HU9 1TU.
Sharks and Fish
There are over 3,500 fish in a number of aquaria, and 40 large sharks – a dozen species - can be seen very close. The ‘Endless Oceans’ is one of the most spectacular aquarium exhibits in Europe, with 2.5 million litres of water. It could be said that it is the people who are behind glass at ‘The Deep’ – it has the world’s only Submarium, where visitors walk through tunnels to look in on a huge marine world.
Planning the Visit
‘The Deep’ is much more than an aquarium (or submarium), and a visit will last most of the day. There is a fascinating ‘time-line’ which gives some idea of the age and history of the planet – visitors walk slowly up a long ramp which represents a journey through time. At significant points on the gradual climb towards the present there are specimens and explanatory text.
Conservation Research and Education
All good aquaria in the UK are involved in aspects of education, conservation and research. The London Aquarium specialises in education and conservation work including the breeding of rare cichlids, while ‘The Deep’ has an active research programme along with its conservation and educational roles. (The educational programme has been graded as ‘excellent’ by the Department of Education.)
Architecture
The amazing building was designed by Sir Terry Farrell & Partners, and has become an icon for Hull and Yorkshire – it even features on a Royal Mail stamp (see image below).
Facilities
‘The Deep’ goes way beyond the ‘shop and small café’ found in many places. It has a business centre where it is possible to hold meetings and conferences – with the sharks looking on! There is broadband access and a full range of media equipment.
Visiting Aquaria
Marine Biologists naturally gravitate to aquaria, but they are also frequently visited by others! There is something special about coming close to live animals (see the blog about Edinburgh Zoo), and large sharks are awesome. Many city visits can include a visit to the aquarium (see blog about London and Venice), and anyone visiting Yorkshire should try to include a trip to Hull.
Other articles by John Blatchford
