While the building is going on next door, on our side plans are being made and designs are being finalised. Here the guys are looking at the model of the new exhibit and discussing the proposed rockwork. It takes a lot of precision planning.

During July, construction started on the entrance to the tunnel of the new exhibit. The side walls of the tunnel were also constructed.

If you visited us in the last month, you would have noticed that we have installed hoarding in the Atlantic Ocean Gallery. This picture shows what is happening behind the hoarding. The previous Cold Reef exhibit has been removed to make way for the entrance to the new exhibit.

In early July, Michael Farquhar (Two Oceans Aquarium curator) travelled to Rome, Italy, to inspect the acrylic panels for the new exhibit. The panels are being manufactured by Clax Italia. He was very impressed, and so are we! This picture shows one of the panels. Yes, the forklift is BEHIND the panel. And yes, it really is that clear.

The white building is the oven in which the acrylic panels are “baked” until they are cured.

The open oven with our main viewing panel inside. The panel is 33cm thick.

We’ve been talking about the new exhibit’s tunnel. Well, need we say more? OK, we will – awesome!

The tunnel all packed and ready to ship.