Thoughts On Underwater Viewing Setups

BusaSimbaIyo

BusaSimbaIyo

New Member
We're going to have a discussion about aesthetics here.
I'm going I assume everyone's seen underwater viewing windows in zoo exhibits that fall into one of the following categories:

Full to the top, this
Split-level viewing, like this

So we have these two basic types of underwater viewing. They certainly make very different visual impressions.
My preference, in nearly all cases, is the fully submerged window. From what I've seen, split-level setup typically has an unnatural and look to it, even when the habitat interior is extremely naturalistic.

I haven't yet come across a discussion of this matter on Zoochat. I'd love to hear your thought on this.
Who likes the split-level setup?
Who'd rather have a fully submerged view?
What do you like better, and why?
 
I think it depends on the animal. For example, for hippos I like split-viewing, but for pinnipeds I prefer fully submerged. I don't really know why but I just do.
 
I like the split level better because observers can see both above water and below water, meaning that photographers or visitors can see, for example, an alligator half submerged in full and take a nice photo.
That's just my opinion though
 
I can see where you guys are coming from. Split-level underwater viewing certainly offers some unique photo opportunities, and some of the more semiaquatic critters can be interesting to watch in such a setup. However, I have to say that I still prefer fully submerged viewing in nearly all cases. Another issue I find with the partially submerged windows is that the upper half tends to get spotty and smeared from the water below, becoming difficult to see through. Who's encountered this problem before? What could be done differently to fix this, if still using a partially submerged window?
 
Regular maintenance should be able to fix this problem, it's just that, in most zoos, problems like these tend to be ignored because no-one is specifically asked to do this job.
 
Usually or near-always, zoos and aquariums tend to do fully submerged exhibits for species that I like to see in fully-submerged exhibits, and split-level exhibits for those that I like to see in split-level exhibits.
Species that I like to see in fully-submerged exhibits are fully aquatic, such as fishes, cetaceans, manatees, jellies...
Species that I like to see in split-level exhibits are amphibian, such as crocodiles, ducks, turtles, crabs, otters, penguins, mudskippers...
 
Polar bears are difficult to categorize like Kakapo just did because it really depends on the depth of the pool.
 
BusaSimbaIyo said:
Another issue I find with the partially submerged windows is that the upper half tends to get spotty and smeared from the water below, becoming difficult to see through. Who's encountered this problem before? What could be done differently to fix this, if still using a partially submerged window?
Click to expand...

I find myself frequently annoyed by that issue. I think in many cases, it is very difficult to actually give the glass in those areas a good cleaning. Water droplets and stains build up readily.
Interestingly enough, water has been used to clean such windows, at MBA's auk exhibit periodically water is jetted straight down the entire viewing window. It cleans off the droplets and such, and gives a much better viewing experience.
 
For me both types of underwater viewing have merit. It much depends, if this is an animal which is most of the time actually diving (fish, sealions) or often swims half submerged (like crocodiles, hippos or bears). In this second case, split viewing is better.
And there are many nice aquaria which illustrate how environment above water is related to underwater. For example, rainforest above water.
However, underwater viewings are often poorly designed. This poor design is actually quite strange, given how expensive these exhibits are. For example, if there is some rock or land near the window, an active animal will constantly splash water on the window. If such exhibit is also impossible to clean from outside, the whole fun will be lost.
Most common issues are related to water quality (especially plankton blooms in outside tanks with natural filtration) and lighting issues (glare on glass).
 
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One of the more startling exhibits I've seen recently was split viewing of a very simple Japanese 'river pool' at Tokyo SeaLife. The water was obviously filtered but otherwise it was breathtakingly naturalistic; it really felt like they'd just put the viewing window down into a pool that already existed on the aquarium grounds. The inhabitants were a selection of nondescript native species but that only added to the effect.
 
I like both and particularly both in the same exhibit.
What I don't particularly care for would be the split level where I have to really bend down to see the water portion (like if its only 1-3 ft deep)
 
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