Where the Clacton Pier Dolphinarium is today

 
 
 
 

This is where the dolphins & whales held their shows on Clacton Pier,
these ariel photos were taken in 2006 and you can still see that some of the dolphinarium still remains today.
The concrete seating can still be seen around the outside of the arena, the green area in the photos
was part of the pool where the dolphins put on their show.

 
 
Recent ariel photo of the dolphinarium
 

In 1932 the swimming pool was opened on Clacton pier and was the first pool in the country to be
built over the sea. On the 1st August 1971 the pool was closed and turned in a dolphinarium, the
original swimming pool was the subject of falling receipts and high running costs.
The dolphinarium was a permanent summer attraction run by owner Michael Goss and dolphin
trainer and expert Reg Bloom.
Reg Bloom was a former curator of Flamingo Park and Chester Zoo, he also opened dolphinariums
in London and Majorca.
Mr Bloom also helped design and build the dolphinarium in Windsor Safari Park.

 
 
Clacton Pier Dolphinarium (1978)
 
 
Ariel photo of the pier & dolphinarium taken 1979, just after the dolphins left Clacton Pier
 
 
Photo of the Olympic sized pool on Clacton Pier before the dolphins & whales lived there
 
 
Crowds flocked to Clacton Pier's swimming pool
 
 
Water chute and pool in 1988, 3 years after Nemo left the pier
 
 
Outside of the dolphinarium in 1991
 
 
1995 saw the start of the demolition of the Sea Lion complex on Clacton Pier
 
 
The Clacton Pier Dolphinarium 2009
 
 

Copyright Martin Allen 2010
Website Design by Martin Allen

Photographs on this website cannot be used without permission from the owners