Inviting visitors to stare into the terrifying jaws of a giant fossil shark is certainly a powerful way to start the visitor experience at The Deep. You’re entering the deep, dark waters of the oceans. But you’re also delving into the past.

The reconstruction of this jaw introduces visitors to the daunting mouth Carcharodon megalodon, an utterly giant fossil shark, more than three times the size of the Great White Shark we know today. It’s a reminder that the oceans and their inhabitants, like those of the land, don’t remain constant – they constantly changing and evolving. And they’re changing faster than ever at the moment, as we continue to ruin the water that surrounds us.

While this is an intriguing object from the past, we have to hope that in the future, visitors are never asked to come face to face with the jaw of an extinct Great White.