Dive into an ocean of fun at the Maritime Museum these school holidaysDive into an ocean of fun at the Maritime Museum these school holidays 

Experience extraordinary deep ocean dive footage through the eyes of expert marine scientists and artists. Enjoy beautiful live music and guided drawing activities as you learn astounding fun facts.  

Dive and draw sessions will include a short ocean science presentation alongside a film screening, as well as beautiful musical accompaniment and a facilitated creative workshop in drawing or story making inspired by marvellous and mysterious aquatic life forms.   
Program presented in collaboration with Schmidt Ocean Institute.

Explore wonderful and curious fossils and specimens from our education collection in this hands-on discovery device in our galleries.  Handle both real and replica fossils and sea creature specimens that tell the story of our ancient oceans.  

Run your fingers over the jagged jaws of a marine reptile, feel the weight of an ichthyosaur flipper, marvel at the chambers in a nautilus shell, learn about sedimentation, fossil formation and the ancient creatures who still survive in today’s oceans.  

Take a time out in the deep-sea lounge – a calm space and creative play opportunity.  Star in your own sea creature shadow play on the big screen, wind-down and relax amidst rock pillows and luminous sculptures. Open up a deep-sea story books and add your mark to the collaborative colouring walls.   

Be inspired by beautiful works and fascinating stories by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists these holidays as you follow the sea country activity trail through the museum. Collect all 5 sea creature stamps on your trail to receive your prize.  

Create your own creative underwater explorer’s device from recycled materials, craft curious creatures from the midnight zone into spectacular glowing prints or wearable creations, make slippery saltwater slime and transform marine debris into new usable creations. Enjoy experiments in buoyancy and bubbles in our outdoor area.  Dress up as your favourite aquatic creature for a selfie at the photo booth or take a quiet time out in our coral reef reading zone.  

Pack your bags for an imaginative journey up, off and away, over- seas in a special character tour for under 5s and their carers. Explore different cultures and places from across the seas. Sing songs, dance and enjoy storytime, and then you can create your own printed book bags and whale puppets to take home.  

Enjoy a comfortable environment for kids and adults with a variety of sensory differences. On Sensory-Friendly Days our new exhibitions and activity areas will be open extra early or late for a quieter experience and modified to suit people on the Autism spectrum and visitors with a range of differing abilities. 

For our Autumn sessions, we're offering early access to the museum galleries including Ocean Photographer of the Year exhibition, Journey to the Ultimate Depth exhibition, tall ship Duyfken, an Underwater drones workshop (suitable for visitors 7+ years) and our activity areas for Sensory-Friendly guests. 

Our trained staff and volunteers will be on hand to assist with access and facilitate creative activities. 

Explore below the surface of the harbour with our underwater drones. Have fun testing your gaming skills by challenging family and friends to see who’s the best U-Drone Pilot. Undertake challenges to get your u-drone pilot licence, survey vessels and explore marine habitats around the harbour. Underwater drone sessions include a private workshop with our ocean-science educators and access to amazing underwater footage highlights to keep and share.

Join character guide, Antonio Ponto, for a dramatic after-dark tour aboard the HMB Endeavour replica. Enjoy creative capers, light refreshments and exclusive after-hours access to the vessel for an evening of family fun. 

Create and star in your own imaginative TV segments inspired by our Ultimate Depth and Ocean Photographer of the Year exhibitions.  Learn clever techniques in green-screen, scripting, directing, acting and film-making as you produce your own creative digital stories.  Have your finished work displayed for family and friends in a special-event cinema screening.   

Be inspired by the Ocean Photographer of the Year exhibition and the museum's scenic surrounds as you adventure on a photo shoot in and around the museum, led by award winning travel and adventure photographer and OM SYSTEM Ambassador Matt Horspool, including access to using high-performance OM SYSTEM cameras.   

Explore harbour views through the camera’s lens as you go on outdoor photo shoots, master the art of shooting various subjects in different environments. 

This workshop is an opportunity to learn and build on skills in using various modes on an advanced camera to capture amazing images that tell a story.   

All participants get a large format printed copy of their best photo, which is displayed in a special pop-up exhibition at the museum after the workshop.  

Course presented in partnership with OM SYSTEM, proud supporters of the Ocean Photographer of the Year Sydney Exhibition.