A Day at Exploris: Discovering Northern Ireland’s Underwater World

Just an hour from Belfast, right on the shores of Strangford Lough, Exploris Aquarium in Portaferry offers a brilliant day out for anyone interested in sea life or just looking for a unique spot to visit. It’s Northern Ireland’s top aquarium, perfect for families, nature lovers, and anyone curious about the underwater world. From colourful fish and graceful sea turtles to playful otters and the hypnotic glide of stingrays, you get to see some of the ocean's most interesting creatures up close in really well-designed habitats.

As someone who eats plant-based, I’ve always got mixed feelings about places that keep animals in enclosures. It’s not something I’d usually go for. But the educational and conservation focus at Exploris made a real difference. They do a great job showing why protecting these animals’ natural habitats is so important, and the whole experience was eye-opening in a way I didn’t expect.

I took my iPhone along and managed to capture some of the magic on its camera. The cinematic feature on the iPhone did a fantastic job bringing out the colours and movements of the sea life – really handy for something like this! It was a nice change from the usual screen work, and it reminded me how useful mobile videography can be for moments like these.

If you’re curious, check out the video below for a look at some of Exploris’s underwater world. It’s well worth a visit if you’re ever near Portaferry – a great way to see Northern Ireland’s marine life up close!