A behind-the-scenes experience where visitors can join the aquarist team to care for marine animals, including feeding, habitat maintenance and enrichment sessions.
Keeper for a Day is a new behind-the-scenes experience at the National Marine Aquarium in Coxside, running on Fridays and Saturdays over the summer holidays from 31 July. It's a full day's work: you join the aquarist team and help look after more than 5,000 marine animals. The Aquarium is run by the Ocean Conservation Trust and is billed as the UK's largest, housing one of Europe's largest collections of marine life.
You'll be doing the actual work the keepers do. That means getting hands-on with feeding techniques, preparing food and vitamins, and taking part in animal enrichment sessions. There's a technical side too: you'll carry out pH and salinity tests and help clean and maintain the habitats. Along the way, you'll get close to sharks, rays and jellyfish. The day also includes a VIP tour of the aquarium, a goodie bag with an exclusive t-shirt, a 'Keeper for a Day' certificate, and an annual pass—or a year's extension if you've already got one.
Every week we pick 🏆 the 5 best 🏆 things to do in Plymouth and send them to your inbox. Just one weekly email, no spam.
By submitting your email, you accept our Privacy Policy
It's open to anyone aged 16 and over, and you'll need to book in advance. The Aquarium runs other behind-the-scenes experiences too, and their work reaches beyond the tanks—they're involved in global conservation, like restoring seagrass meadows around the UK. The day runs from 09:00 to 15:30, and it costs £250 for one person or £325 for two.
Date
31 July – 29 August
09:00
Price
Paid
Recommended Age
+16 years
