From feeding sharks and preparing meals for rays to discovering what really happens behind the scenes at the UK’s largest aquarium, the National Marine Aquarium is inviting visitors to step into the shoes of its expert team by becoming a keeper for a day.
For most visitors, an aquarium visit ends at the glass. But behind the scenes, a dedicated team of aquarists, divers and marine experts spend every day caring for more than 5,000 animals, maintaining complex life support systems and helping protect the future of our oceans.
The National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth has opened the doors to that hidden world with a hands-on experience designed to give visitors an unforgettable insight into marine life and conservation.
By spending a day alongside professional aquarists, getting up close to sharks, rays and jellyfish and learning how one of the UK’s leading conservation aquariums cares for thousands of marine animals, the new experience offers a chance to see the aquarium from an entirely different perspective.
Perfect for wildlife enthusiasts, aspiring marine biologists and anyone who’s ever wondered what it would be like to work in an aquarium, the new Keeper for a Day experience offers a rare opportunity to join the aquarist team behind the scenes.
Available to anyone aged 16 and over, participants spend the day learning how the Aquarium cares for its marine residents, including preparing food, carrying out water quality testing, maintaining habitats and discovering the day-to-day realities of caring for species ranging from colourful reef fish to sharks and rays.
It’s an authentic glimpse into a career that few people ever get to experience first-hand, while offering a deeper understanding of the work involved in protecting marine ecosystems.
Meet the experts behind the Aquarium
Alongside Keeper for a Day, visitors can also enjoy a range of exclusive behind-the-scenes experiences that reveal how the Aquarium operates beyond public view.
From discovering how life support systems recreate ocean environments to learning about animal welfare, enrichment and conservation programmes, each experience has been developed to inspire a greater appreciation of the incredible work that goes into caring for one of Europe’s largest collections of marine life.
More than just a day out
Operated by the Ocean Conservation Trust, the National Marine Aquarium combines unforgettable visitor experiences with global conservation work, from restoring seagrass meadows around the UK to inspiring the next generation of ocean advocates.
Every visit helps support the charity’s mission to protect and restore the ocean, while these new experiences allow visitors to connect with marine conservation in a far more personal and memorable way.
Whether you’re looking for an unforgettable gift, planning a unique day out or considering a future career working with wildlife, the National Marine Aquarium’s new behind-the-scenes experiences offer a rare opportunity to discover what life is really like beyond the glass.
Keeper for a Day
- Available for ages 16+
- Full-day experience with the Aquarium’s aquarist team
- Includes behind-the-scenes access, animal husbandry activities and expert guidance
- Advance booking required
To find out more or book an experience, visit: https://www.national-aquarium.co.uk/events/keeper-for-a-day-at-the-aquarium/
