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Published on August 25, 2007

Siam Ocean World Bangkok, the largest aquarium in Southeast Asia, is underscoring its status as an aquatic learning centre with "Fish Funtastic!", an "edutainment" festival that dives into the astonishing behaviour and abilities of a vast array of undersea species.

The festival runs until September 30, and features entertaining games that lead families and children on a joint quest to discover the wonders of sea creatures through the aquarium's seven zones. The Living Ocean Zone, for example, shows how denizens of the deep live by iron rules of survival, and also highlights the sounds that fish use to communicate. Meanwhile, in the interactive Discovery Centre participants are introduced to the "Rhythm of the Ocean".

Elsewhere, the Open Ocean Zone offers the "Heavyweight Championship", a game that gives children and families a chance to take the scales at a weigh-in and compare their bulk with different kinds of aquatic animals.

"One of Siam Ocean World's policies is to promote and support learning among children and youngsters," says Phinyada Atchatavivan, the aquarium's product development manager. "We've developed programmes that make Siam Ocean World an entertaining classroom for children to learn about aquatic life."

The "Little Penguin Dancing Contest" and the "Sleepover Programme" are among successful previous projects.

Tidbits of knowledge are scattered around in all the zones waiting to be discovered. Did you know that starfish have the ability to regenerate lost arms? Or that the stonefish, despite the name, has a soft, flexible body and is the most venomous fish in the world? Or that the invention of the submarine is based largely on the buoyancy and movement of the giant cephalopods called nautiluses?.

"Besides new experiences, children and parents will add to their knowledge every time they visit Siam Ocean World," says Phinyada. "With this festival we want to emphasise the importance of aquatic life and encourage everyone to protect it by helping conserve natural freshwater and marine resources."