Sealife Sanctuary Oban
The Scottish Sealife Sanctuary
Barcaldine, Oban, 
Argyll PA37 1SE, 
Scotland
Tel: 01631 720386

About Sealife Sanctuary Oban

Sealife Sanctuary Oban can be found on Scotland’s west coast surrounded by some of the most breathtaking scenery in the whole country – the pine and spruce woodlands of Loch Creran. Sealife Sanctuary Oban opened in 1980 with the aim of caring and conserving the Common Seal. It has since won a reputation as a cutting edge institute in the field as well as a great family attraction. Those with a ticket to Sealife Sanctuary Oban can go on a voyage of discovery, taking in a waterworld full of novel species, hosted in an eye-catching full-circle viewing tank. One of the main events are the activities of the common and grey seals that live in the rescue and rehabilitation facility. Families can see how their seal counterparts interact and also see the operation of the Seal nursery, where the Sealife carers look after numerous stray, sickly or wounded puppies. Further, the family attraction has a couple of common seals – Lorne and Lora – that are pretty much always on view in the Underwater Seal Observatory.

An enlightening and pleasurable family day out at Sealife Sanctuary Oban includes tanks containing no fewer than 30 species of captivating water-based creatures, from sharks and octopus, to starfish, shrimps and the salmon that dart about in amazing shoaling ring, as well as the herrings that skitter around in frantic circles. The family attraction also boasts a deep pool that houses numerous types of stingray, though in the main, the hundreds of exhibits in the family attraction come from the lochs of the West Highlands or the Atlantic Ocean beyond.

Additionally, a bewitching Otter sanctuary was established in 2002, providing ample underwater observation opportunities to appreciate the antics of Fingal and his kin who are housed there and make use of its diving and shallow pools and fast moving streams. The family attraction also carries out its conservation responsibilities via the seahorse stud farm created in 2004. The National Seahorse Breeding and Conservation Centre breeds and rears four types of seahorse (including the spiny seahorse) in a half dozen large tanks, while smaller ones nurture their brine shrimp feed. 

Another highlight of the family attraction is the Claws display of Common and Spiny Lobsters, Edible and Horseshoe Crabs, Mantis Shrimps and Giant Japanese Spider Crabs, which can get as much as three metres across from claw tip to claw tip – the largest land crabs on the planet!
The institute provides an illuminating family day out as lectures and feeding by resident experts furnish ticket holders with an opportunity to feed the sharks and stingrays, as well as handle starfish and crabs. Just the ticket for a unique family day out.

Besides all that, Sealife Sanctuary Oban possesses both sheltered and forest areas, a children’s play facility, trim and nature trails, and a forest walk, all within the ticket price. And with a restaurant and fantastic shore-view coffee shop and gift shop, it makes for a truly memorable family day out.