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On your next morning walk, run or jog, grab a bag, put on your gloves and pick up a few pieces of plastic waste from your curbside and throw it away in the nearest bin. This is a great cause and we'd like to encourage you all to support this initiative from Ocean Pledge - plus, there are some prizes to be won!

We're looking for Marine Masterminds! Read our blogs, take the quizzes and climb the Marine Masterminds leaderboard - if you're on top of the leaderboard when lockdown ends, you'll be a winner!You could win a year of unlimited Two Oceans Aquarium access for your family, have the chance to meet the too-cute rockhopper penguins in person, or win tickets for Aquarium visits for two. Only South African citizens and residents are eligible for these prizes, but anyone is welcome to climb the leaderboard and show why they are the best of our Marine Masterminds.

Humans like to name things. We name our cars, our homes and the streets we live on. Often, both our pets and loved ones end up with weird and wonderful nicknames, that just don’t make sense. When scientists name a newly discovered species, they assign a scientific name to it. Then, usually the locals in the area where the animal has been found (or in some cases the scientists themselves), give the animal a “common name”. This is the name that non-scientific people use when speaking about the animal. It might be a name that has been passed on through generations, or it might end up being a completely new name. It all depends on the species.

"As an animal keeper, I've come to appreciate the fact that I've been able to spend lockdown caring for and interacting with the animals I've come to share a bond with," says aquarist Ayrton King of the Two Oceans Aquarium. "I know that spending time with the precious penguins has helped get me through the stress and uncertainty of the lockdown period and the coronavirus pandemic at large - I know that these birds cheer me up every day, so I hope that I can share some of that with everyone."

The Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation's next paid, online course is for all of you aspiring marine scientists. Oceanography forms part of the marine sciences and will be a vital aspect for anyone keen to study marine sciences at a tertiary level – even if the aim is to study marine biology.

Dive into online learning with the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation’s brand new online learning platform!The Aquarium Foundation is launching its e-learning platform by offering an online course for Grade 8 and 9 students. This course covers topics covering biology and oceanography within the marine sciences.

Good news! The Two Oceans Aquarium's online store is open again, allowing you to buy or renew value-packed annual memberships, get Aquarium tickets in anticipation of our reopening, or make a small donation directly to conservation and rehabilitation efforts.

Although the Two Oceans Aquarium is closed, we don't get to take a break when it comes to caring for our animals. Every day's challenges are unique - from teaching social distancing to sharks and checking up on Nemo's home to making a lockdown beach visit to find food for hungry snails.

Celebrate World Turtle Day with a game - Turtle Adventure is a boardgame suitable for all ages. Help an endangered sea turtle navigate the dangers of the ocean, from ghost fishing nets to hungry seagulls, to find a safe nesting ground! But it's not all danger; there are plenty of facts and milestones to give your turtle the edge to beat the other players too!

If you buy an annual membership or day ticket now, you will be able to have the full Aquarium experience when we reopen. Visit the fish, sharks, penguins and other ocean favourites - we know they are missing you too! Your advanced purchase will help us greatly in continuing our operations until then. Sea you soon!

The Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation is offering a brand-new online course, run by research manager, Dr Nathalie Viljoen. This course is an introduction to the biology, anatomy and physiology of marine fish and is well-suited for those with a deep interest in marine fish and how they work.

Alichia Nortjé is the Guest Experiences Manager of the Two Oceans Aquarium - the person responsible for training our friendly floor staff, creating wonderful experiences for our annual members and ensuring visitors to the Aquarium are always greeted with a smile by knowledgeable guides. If you're a member, you've almost certainly been met with a smile by Alichia at some point. The letter below is from Alichia to our members and loyal supporters throughout the years. Thank you!