Blackpool goes Jurassic: Mystery footprints leads to SEA LIFE's New Ocean Tunnel opening this May

Giant dinosaur footprints have appeared along Blackpool beach, leading directly to SEA LIFE Blackpool and revealing the opening date of its brand-new Jurassic-themed ocean tunnel on 23 May.

The striking trail has drawn attention along the seafront, with the prints ending at the attraction’s entrance on the promenade, teasing the arrival of a prehistoric-inspired underwater world beneath the waves.

SEA LIFE Blackpool has completed a £1.4 million transformation of its iconic ocean tank, reimagining the space as an immersive Jurassic seascape that connects modern marine life with their ancient ancestors.

Opening from 23 May, visitors can step into the ocean tunnel and come face-to-fin with species whose origins stretch back hundreds of millions of years. Sharks, often described as “living fossils”, have existed for more than 400 million years, long before dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Alongside them is Phoenix the green sea turtle, part of a lineage that dates back over 200 million years to the age of dinosaurs.

Guests will walk beneath a towering four-metre viewing window, where a dramatic mosasaurus skeleton takes centre stage, bringing to life the giant marine reptiles that once ruled prehistoric oceans.

The 500,000-litre tank will be home to more than 50 sea creatures, including blacktip reef sharks, nurse sharks and stingrays. The habitat has been carefully designed with caves, sandy areas and flowing currents to reflect natural ocean environments and support the needs of each species.

The exhibit is filled using seawater pumped directly from the Blackpool coast, with the process taking 14 tidal cycles over the course of a week to complete.

The Jurassic theme invites visitors to explore how ocean life has evolved over millions of years, from the time of prehistoric marine reptiles to the species that inhabit our seas today. Both sharks and sea turtles survived the mass extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs around 66 million years ago, making them living links to a distant past.

The reopening marks the return of a key area of the attraction, which has been closed since November 2025, with anticipation building ahead of the May half-term.

Jenn McDonough, General Manager at SEA LIFE Blackpool, said: “This is the closest you will get to stepping into a Jurassic ocean. We are incredibly excited to reopen the ocean tunnel and welcome our animals back into this spectacular habitat.

“It is not just a visually striking experience, it has been carefully designed to meet the needs of every species in our care. We hope visitors will be amazed to discover just how long these animals have been part of our oceans and the incredible journey they have survived.”