Underwater Observatory in Eilat - a world below the surface

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Yesterday we visited the Underwater Observatory in Eilat, Israel. To begin with, this is a park with several large aquariums and pools with fish and turtles. But the most fascinating thing is the underwater tower, where you can go deep under the surface and experience the underworld of the Red Sea through lots of big windows. Fascinating!

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Aquariums with cool fish

There are several different aquariums in the area, where you can see fish of all shapes, sizes and colours. Nature is wonderfully creative, it must be said!

Large turtles

The park also has a pool with large turtles, and we were lucky enough to see them being fed. There are two types of turtles in the park, one type that is vegetarian and another type that eats fish. The staff told us that the vegetarian turtles eat seaweed in the wild, but in the park they get salad instead, which apparently works just as well.

Staff also told us that turtles are endangered and that the best thing we can all do to save them is to pick up rubbish from the sea every time we see it. The turtles don't understand that they can't eat plastic, and often die from doing just that...

Sharks world

Sharks World is a cool part of the park, with really big aquariums. There are five different kinds of sharks, a bunch of big rays and many different fish. We watched as a diver swam into the largest aquarium and fed the fish, with sharks and rays swimming around him. The top picture in the post was taken on this occasion!

Underwater tower

The highlight of the whole park is undoubtedly the tower, which is located some way out to sea and is accessed by a pier. There is a restaurant at water level and if you go to the very top you can see the view in all directions. But the most fascinating thing is of course what is under surface.

Descending the stairs brings you to two circular rooms six metres underwater, with large windows all around in all directions. Going down here is like stepping into a completely different world, and here you get to see what usually only divers see. This world is full of beautiful coral reefs, and the just everywhere fish swim in beautiful colours. It was difficult to capture the magical feeling in a photo - must be experienced!

Film from the Underwater Observatory in Eilat

Here is also a film that Peter put together, from the trip to Israel and the Underwater Observatory in Eilat. I especially like the yellow (almost square!) fish a bit into the film.

Facts about the Underwater Onservatory in Eilat

• Prices: Feel free to check the park's website for current prices. In addition to the activities mentioned above, there is an oceanarium with film screenings and a glass-bottom boat for tours (extra charge).
• Timing of activities: It's also good to keep track of the schedule - specific times during the day you can watch things like the feeding of fish, sharks and turtles.
• Food and servicesThere are a few different fast food restaurants in the area where you can eat things like schnitzel with chips or pasta. There is also a small kiosk.

Finding the Underwater Observatory in Eilat

• LocationThe Underwater Observatory is located west of Eilat, along the coast near the border with Egypt.
• Bus or taxi: You can easily get here by local bus from Eilat bus station or by taxi. We took a bus home and paid 4.20 shekels (11 kroner) per person.
• Go for a walk: We asked at the hotel how long it would take to walk, and after they answered "50 minutes" and after they answered "yes" to the question if it is a nice walking path, we chose to walk. It turned out that the walk took more like two hours, and that the nice walkway consisted mostly of a sandy pavement between a car road and various walls. Quite ok if you walk for exercise, but otherwise you might as well take a bus.

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