BRING THE OCEAN TO EYE LEVEL IN YOUR COMMUNITY
The Floatarium is a floating, catch-and-release public aquarium.
Concept model
Preliminary sketches by designer, Kate Walker.
Watch our trial run!Watch how you can add an environmentally friendly tourist attraction to your community or development.
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What is a Floatarium?
The Floatarium is a floating aquarium that can be set up in your seaside town next to a wharf or existing dock. It is made up of a ~1000 sq. ft. floating platform with a 40' shipping container. Inside, the container is kitted out with 20+ aquarium exhibits and touch tanks showcasing sea stars, crabs, snails, nudibranchs, sponges, shiner perch and juvenile rockfish. Expert marine biology staff will provide engaging tours, live demonstrations, and facilitate hands-on learning with each visitor in an intimate immersive experience. Visitors will also be given the chance to see the ocean at eye level through microscopes, underwater cameras, remote operated vehicles, video screens and underwater sound exhibits.
What is collect-hold-release all about?
Ocean to Eye Level (OTEL), the makers of the Floatarium, are committed to a collect-hold-release philosophy which aims to make as little impact on the environmental as possible by releasing the locally-collected invertebrates and robust fish back to the sea after a short stay on display. Kids are encouraged to BYOB - bring your own bucket - on release day! Kids are given a hardy sea star or crab to gently return to the ocean where the animals were collected from.
Seasonal or year-round?
It depending on your tourism season and how intense your winters are! For most tourist towns, setting up the Floatarium in the summer will allow for high revenue generation during the busiest time. Removing the dock and/or container from the water in the winter and storing it on land can maintain the life of the infrastructure and reduce damage from winter storms. The dock is modular and designed to be stored inside the container when it is not in use.
Is it a non-profit?
The Floatarium could be operated and managed by non-profit or as a small business venture. Give us an email or call to talk about what is best for your situation.
What's the business model?
The Floatarium is ideal for any community looking to develop innovative ecotourism and economic development. Visitors pay admission for an immersive 20-30 minute visitor experience targeted to local and tourist families with children. Gift shop sales, memberships, donations, events, birthday parties, corporate sponsorship and cafe sales can contribute to revenue generation.
Be the first.
Your Floatarium will be the first of its kind. So far, we have run a successful trial and we are looking for the right client to test it full scale. Be the hero who opens a Floatarium in your community.
Floatariums are designed to
pop in any coastal community with
access to a public marina.