An urban explorer has provided a fascinating glimpse inside the UK's first ever SeaLife centre, which has stood completely abandoned for six years with its tanks still containing water and animal feed left to gather dust.
The Deserted Sanctuary
Daniel Sims, a 35-year-old urban explorer who operates under the YouTube channel BeardedReality, recently filmed inside the Barcaldine SeaLife Centre on the shores of Loch Creran near Oban, Scotland. The sanctuary, which first opened its doors to visitors in 1979, was the nation's inaugural SeaLife centre but closed permanently in October 2018 following a dramatic decline in visitor numbers.
The entire site remains eerily deserted today, with tanks, enclosures, and interactive displays still largely intact. Cleaning products, hazardous materials, and containers of animal feed have been left exactly where they were when the centre closed, now collecting layers of dust.
Exploring the Abandoned Attraction
Daniel explained his discovery process: "I research abandoned places, and I came across an article about the SeaLife Centre shutting down a few years back – and I wanted to see if it was still there. The weather up there was absolutely crazy – it was completely flooded."
He continued: "We couldn't really find the exact spot because it was so overgrown. Originally, we found the gift shop, and then we started seeing the other buildings around the sides – and realised that everything had just been left."
The explorer expressed surprise at what remained: "There were cleaning chemicals and hazardous materials that shouldn't have been left. There was food for the animals left, which was really weird."
Former Glory and Current State
The attraction was particularly renowned for its otter sanctuary, which launched in 2002 and gained national attention in 2011 following a special 'royal wedding' ceremony for otters named Isla and Lewis. The centre also featured a comprehensive seal rescue and rehabilitation facility, offering visitors educational opportunities about native marine species.
Daniel described exploring specific areas: "We spotted the otter area – there was a sign we could measure ourselves against to see what size otter we would be. We mainly spent time in the seal section – we were there for about an hour and 40 minutes."
Signs of Vandalism and Preservation
The urban explorer noted mixed conditions throughout the abandoned facility: "We saw quite a few signs of vandalism – one side of one of the tanks had been smashed. That must have taken some effort, because the glass in aquariums is really thick. I've no idea how they managed that."
However, he added: "On the other side, all the tanks were untouched, which we thought was strange. There was a big circular tank which still had water in it – the water must have been there for six years now without draining away."
Daniel expressed amazement at the overall condition: "The whole thing is really interesting – and the fact that it's in such good condition is surprising!"
The Closure Announcement
Back in 2018, the Scottish Sea Life Sanctuary announced on its website: "Sadly visitor numbers to the attraction have been in decline and after comprehensively reviewing every possible option, there isn't a viable way to sustain the significant investment that is required in order to keep the sanctuary open."
The statement continued: "Therefore, we have come to the sad conclusion to close the sanctuary on the 31st October 2018. This was an enormously tough decision which has been reached with a heavy heart and with the utmost consideration."
Today, the abandoned centre stands as a haunting reminder of what was once a pioneering wildlife attraction, with its empty tanks and forgotten supplies creating an atmosphere frozen in time since its closure six years ago.
