Asia

Singapore

A busy shipping city with a small marine park where dolphins and dugongs are seen only rarely.

Hawksbill turtle, found in the waters of the wider region · Photo: Kris-Mikael Krister on Unsplash

Story only

Story only, for now. We love learning about this place and its ocean, so we share its story here and do not sell trips yet. Checked by Ocean Calling on 6 Oct 2026. Sources: Singapore to have its first marine park on Sisters' Islands - Eco-Business; Turtles in Singapore - NParks; Wildlife Act 1965 - Singapore, UNEP LEAP.

Why: Singapore protects its sea life in the Sisters' Islands Marine Park, a 40 hectare park of coral reef, sandy shore and seagrass with more than 350 reef fish species and the rare Neptune's Cup sponge. Hawksbill and green turtles live in Singapore waters, with a turtle hatchery at the park since 2018, and the Wildlife Act forbids feeding or harming wildlife without written approval. We follow NParks advice to keep our distance from turtles and never touch or feed them, and we enjoy this story rather than running trips.

🧭 Travel advice, checked 30 Sep 2026. The UK FCDO has no country-wide warning for Singapore and says to see its travel advice before travelling. It notes that terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks. Sources: UK FCDO travel advice, Singapore Advice differs by passport: check your own government before you plan.

DolphinsCoral reefs

Why Singapore

Singapore is known for its city, food and transit, and wildlife is only a short park visit. Seven marine mammal species are on the local record since 1820, with the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin seen most often near the Southern Islands. Sisters' Islands Marine Park is only 40 hectares.

Conservation-led. Ocean Calling guests never chase, touch or bait animals.

When to go

Timing changes a lot from place to place. See each place below.

We share this place as a story so you can learn. There is no Ocean Calling trip.

Our ethics check

Can we travel here ethically?

Story only

We tell the story. We do not sell a trip here.

Checked 6 Oct 2026. Places change, so we look again every year.

Sources for this check

The story

Where in Singapore

We share these places as stories and research notes. We do not offer or sell trips here.

Sisters' Islands Marine Park

Story only

A tiny protected marine park in the Southern Islands, inside a busy shipping strait.

Also seen: Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (seen rarely, never certain)

Animals

Animals recorded in Singapore

Tap an animal to learn how it lives, where it travels and how to meet it respectfully.

Hawksbill turtleEretmochelys imbricataSeen in 88 countries in the AtlasCritically Endangered

Dugong grazing on seagrass over a sandy seabed

DugongDugong dugonSeen in 32 countries in the AtlasVulnerable

Adult pink Chinese white dolphin swimming beside a grey calf in Pearl River estuary water

Chinese white dolphinSousa chinensisSeen in 17 countries in the AtlasVulnerable

Two blacktip reef sharks swimming over sunlit sand in turquoise water

Blacktip reef sharkCarcharhinus melanopterusSeen in 38 countries in the AtlasVulnerable

Scalloped hammerhead shark cruising in deep blue Red Sea water

Scalloped hammerheadSphyrna lewiniSeen in 57 countries in the AtlasCritically Endangered

Broadclub cuttlefish hovering with arms raised over reef

Broadclub cuttlefishAscarosepion latimanusSeen in 15 countries in the AtlasData Deficient

Blue-spotted ribbontail ray resting on sand, seen from above

Blue-spotted ribbontail rayTaeniura lymmaSeen in 22 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern

Estuary seahorse with textured orange skin on dark sand

Common (estuary) seahorseHippocampus kudaSeen in 25 countries in the AtlasVulnerable

Silky shark swimming near the surface in blue water

Silky sharkCarcharhinus falciformisSeen in 48 countries in the AtlasVulnerable

Banded sea krait with yellow lip rising over dark sand

Banded sea krait (yellow-lipped sea krait)Laticauda colubrinaSeen in 18 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern

Blue sharkPrionace glaucaSeen in 50 countries in the AtlasNear Threatened

Adult brown booby standing on a rock with its bill open against blue sky, Principe

Brown boobySula leucogasterSeen in 104 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern

Close view of a red-footed booby head with blue, pink and red bill and throat skin among green leaves

Red-footed boobySula sulaSeen in 91 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern

Bowmouth guitarfish seen from above, swimming over the seabed in hazy blue water, with a long shark-like tail

Bowmouth guitarfishRhina ancylostomaSeen in 8 countries in the AtlasCritically Endangered

Saltwater crocodile resting on a muddy bank beside mangrove roots

Saltwater crocodileCrocodylus porosusSeen in 14 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern

Great cormorant perched on a branch, with white head plumes and a glossy blue-black back

Great cormorantPhalacrocorax carboSeen in 90 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern

Lesser frigatebird soaring against a blue sky with its wings spread and tail forked

Lesser frigatebirdFregata arielSeen in 39 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern

Short-tailed shearwater resting on the open sea

Short-tailed shearwaterArdenna tenuirostrisSeen in 24 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern

Swinhoe's storm-petrel flying low over a grey sea, seen at a distance

Swinhoe's storm-petrelHydrobates monorhisSeen in 16 countries in the AtlasNear Threatened

Oriental darter lifting its head and bill out of the water with a catch

Oriental darterAnhinga melanogasterSeen in 14 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern

Bottlenose wedgefish swimming close past a reef, white spots along its back

Bottlenose wedgefishRhynchobatus australiaeSeen in 9 countries in the AtlasCritically Endangered

Curious?

Why this is a story, not a trip

Read our ethics check above. If you would like to talk about it, Rocío is happy to explain.

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