The Weird Creatures of the West Coast

While in Victoria we went to Undersea Gardens, a fixture on the Inner Harbour for over 30 years. When Bushboy was young we visited a few times, but it has been 10 years since we were last there. Thanks to a quick Groupon grab, we were able to go with our friend for a very reasonable cost.

The viewing windows are big and you can see so many amazing creatures. Sunstars, crabs, fish, sea anemones, eels, and more. There are labels above and below the viewing windows, giving you more information on all the creatures you can see.

Rock fish and grouper, hanging out.

Salmon rushing around in circles, because they most definitely do not just hang out.

The fish were really funny, as the rock fish and grouper were checking us out almost, as Bushboy said, as if to see the new exhibits. The salmon on the other hand were much too busy swimming to pay us any attention. Quite the contrast.

Doesn't he look like a bullfrog?!

In the middle there is a man-made rock pool with a number of more sedentary ocean creatures. No hands allowed.

Blood Star.

Bat star.

Of course, the crown of the exhibits is the live dive show. We were entertained by Diver Derek, who can talk to the crowd through an in-helmet microphone, although there is also a host in the auditorium as well as a narrated sound track.

Diver Derek.

After showing us the wolf eels, the Dungeoness crabs, the fish and the starfish, the diver searches out the star of the show (like the rest wasn’t enough) – a Giant Pacific Octopus!

The star of the show.

Undersea Gardens is a great place to visit, and you can come and go through-out the day with your ticket. The gift shop is interesting and very reasonably priced, and being in the Inner Harbour is always fun. If you’re in Victoria, you should go!

 

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