Exploring marine biodiversity with Lisbon Ocean Experience

In a unique initiative, Oceanário de Lisboa has launched a cruise to allow visitors to explore marine biodiversity, in its natural habitat.

- Varsha Singh

Most people head to an aquarium in order to see marine animals in an environment that tries to replicate their natural, at least to some extent. Few can have the luxury of seeing the animals in their natural and original habitat. Now, Oceanário de Lisboa, a renowned aquarium in Lisbon, has come up with a novel experience that allows visitors to see and experience the marine biodiversity in and around Lisbon, not just inside a glass-fronted pool, but also out in the nature.

Come September and visitors can have their first Lisbon Ocean Experience, which is a remarkable eco-tourism programme aboard a historical sailing ship that will go on a four-day sailing in the Tagus River. According to the officials of Oceanário de Lisboa, during this unforgettable journey, visitors can get to know the biodiversity of the river and be thrilled with the bottle nose dolphins on the Sado River. Underwater, in the Professor Luiz Saldanha Marine Park, participants will find one of the largest biodiversity oases in Europe, where more than 2,000 species have already been observed.

"Lisbon is the only European capital with this proximity to such a vast marine world, which makes it possible, in a programme lasting a few days, to get to know the beauty and wide diversity of oceanic and coastal habitats," says Elsa Courela, Education and Commercial Director of Oceanário de Lisboa. Each expedition is accompanied by a marine biologist who will share knowledge of the sealife and landscape.