Back at the Deep - Gentoo Penguins

We've not been to the Deep for quite a while, so decided that since we no longer have a Chatsworth pass we decided to get an annual pass to the Deep this year.  As we prefer things quieter we thought the first week the children go back to school would be a fairly safe bet.  As it happens there were two school trips, but fortunately they didn't disrupt our day out too much.  We had a fabulous day, especially thanks to the Gentoo Penguins who had arrived earlier this year.  We were with our friends and we have both decided to do a project on penguins in follow up to this.  As a prelude to our visit we decided to watch a recent documentary on penguins which I had noticed on iplayer called "The Wonder of Animals".   It is a fascinating program with new insight into the behaviour of Penguins and why they do the things they do.  It was great to have watched this beforehand, as some of the behaviour that was explained in the program was displayed by the Gentoos in our presence.  Namely the wiggling and preening they tend to do in the water prior to jumping out.  It appears that they are allowing air bubbles to get in between the feathers to allow them to become more buoyant and use the air expelling to propel them about double the speed, and literally fly out of the water onto land.  A truly impressive display which I managed to capture on film. Can't seem to upload as it is a really big file... I might try youtubing it and linking.

The children spent a good while at the lagoon area and coral reef drawing and painting, which I really encourage as it gives the children time to really and truly observe what they are seeing.  I found it interesting to notice how fleeting the glances other people made at the lagoon, quickly snapping a photo with their camera and moving on to other things.

Deep day

Well, The Deep quickly became our second home this year as it is such an amazing, inspiring and thought provoking place.  In addition to the fact that it fits in with the kids love of The Octonauts so completely.  A passion shared with some of our friends.  One entry gets you a year pass, and we are certainly taking advantage of that.  Today, however, we went along with a large group of Home Educators from across Yorkshire, and had some activities to engage the kids.

The Deep takes a trip back in time, and then through the ocean from the coral reefs and lagoons to deeper sea with a 10 metre deep tank which is viewed at a variety of levels and angles. Fascinating creatures from clown fish being tickled by anemone's; Moon Jellyfish; Bio-luminescence; Saw fish; mud skippers.  a very atmospheric space which is best viewed early on in term time, before school trips have time to be organised, or on a hot day in the Summer - it is nice and cool.

We tend to rush round in the morning, hardly stopping, and then take a slower and more concentrated look at things on the way down after lunch.  We often do some things like a spot of observational painting or drawing at the lagoon or the coral reef.  Most times we've managed to get a bit of feely time at the exploring area, where we've touched urchins, starfish and velvet crabs.