Lost Chambers Aquarium

The Lost Chambers Aquarium is an impressive aquarium built on the theme of the lost city of Atlantis, and visitors will feel like they’re exploring the sunken ruins. The highlight is the huge Ambassador Lagoon which contains over 65,000 marine animals. There are also 21 other exhibits to explore, featuring jellyfish, clownfish, lobsters, and piranhas. Some of the exhibits are touch tanks, and at certain times of the day, staff will be on-hand to help you feed to animals. The aquarium offers a few unique experiences, from diving and snorkeling to yoga classes. Yes, yoga classes! They take place every Tuesday and Friday mornings before the aquarium opens to the rest of the public and you should reserve tickets in advance so you don’t miss out.

If you want a full day out on at the Atlantis Palm resort, then it’s a great idea to combine your trip to the aquarium with a visit to Aquaventure. It’s a large water park attached to the luxury hotel Atlantis The Palm, Dubai, which sits at the very end of the Palm Jumeirah artificial archipelago. The park contains a huge lazy river, rapids, two towers and an island with multiple waterslides each, plus children’s play areas, a zipline, and plenty of sun loungers for relaxing. From Aquaconda, which has top speeds of 35 km/hour (approximately 22 mph) to the terrifying Poseidon’s Revenge, which drops you through the floor, there’s plenty here for thrill-seekers. There are also plenty of activities for smaller children, making this the perfect day out for the whole family and a great way to stay cool in Dubai’s extreme heat. Just remember to pack swimwear and lots of sunscreen!

The only guided tour on offer is the Fish Tales tour, which will take you behind-the-scenes to learn how an aquarium works while giving you extra information about the species that the keepers look after. You’ll also get to visit the ‘Fish Hospital’, where vets take care of animals that are unwell. Tours last between 45 minutes and an hour. If you’d rather not pay for a guided tour then don’t worry, it’s easy to find your way around the aquarium and staff are on-hand to help if you need assistance or have any questions.

Yes! For those who haven’t dived before but who are confident swimmers, you can try the Ultimate Snorkel in the Ambassador Lagoon, which is suitable for ages 6 and over. If you’d like to try scuba diving then Dive Discover is available for visitors aged 10 and over and is a great way to find out if you want to go further and get PADI certified. Dive Explorer gives certified divers the chance to spend 30 minutes exploring the depths of the Ambassador Lagoon, seeing all the different species of fish and rays that call it home. Finally, there’s the Predator Dive, where certified divers aged 10 and over can feed up to 14 different species of sharks and rays. Each experience comes with a safety briefing and equipment but you’ll probably want to bring your own towel. Experiences are available at a discounted price for Atlantis hotel guests.

While the aquarium is relatively compact, the richness of its exhibits can engage visitors for anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours. If you’re planning on doing any of the diving experiences, you should plan to spend at least an hour on the experience and then take some time after to explore the rest of the aquarium.