Max and the Deep-Sea Detective Files

Detective Max

Headquarters has received a top-secret mission dossier, Detective Max. Strange and extraordinary creatures lurk in the depths of the New England Aquarium — and only YOU have the skills to crack the case. Study each exhibit carefully, gather your clues, and solve the mystery of the deep. Your mission begins… NOW.

0 / 28 pts

0 of 14 challenges completed

The Investigation Begins

Deeper Waters

The Final Clue

1.
Find a shark and count how many fins you can see on its body.Sharks have been on Earth for over 450 million years — older than trees!
2.
Locate an octopus. Watch for 30 seconds — can you spot it changing color or shape?Octopuses have three hearts and blue blood. Two hearts pump blood to the gills; one pumps it to the rest of the body.
3.
Find a coral reef display and name as many colors as you can spot in the coral.Coral reefs cover less than 1% of the ocean floor but support about 25% of all marine species.
4.
Spot a pufferfish or a fish with an unusual shape. Describe its shape to someone in your group.Pufferfish can inflate to three times their normal size by gulping water — a remarkable defense trick!
5.
Find a crab and watch how it moves. Does it walk sideways or straight ahead?Most crabs walk sideways because of the way their legs are jointed, but a few species can walk forward.
6.
Find a clownfish (orange with white stripes). What kind of animal is it sheltering near?Clownfish are immune to sea-anemone stings and live inside them for protection — a perfect partnership!
7.
Locate a sea turtle. Is it swimming near the surface or resting deeper down?Sea turtles can hold their breath for up to 7 hours while resting, but they breathe air just like you.
8.
Find a school of fish swimming together. Count as many as you can in 10 seconds.Fish swim in schools to confuse predators — a swirling mass is much harder to target than a single fish.
9.
Find a jellyfish. Hold very still and see if you can spot any parts of its body you can see straight through.Jellyfish are 95% water and have no brain, no heart, and no bones — yet they have survived for 500 million years.
10.
Locate a dolphin or large marine mammal. Watch how it breathes — can you spot it coming up for air?Dolphins have unique signature whistles — a bit like names — that they use to call out to specific individuals.
11.
Find a squid or cuttlefish. Report any color changes you observe to a family member or staff guide.Cuttlefish can change their skin color and texture in under a second using 10 million pigment cells.
12.
Visit a touch tank or interactive exhibit. What texture does the animal or object feel like?Many aquariums have touch tanks so visitors can feel how sea stars and horseshoe crabs really feel — bumpy and tough!
13.
Find an information panel about ocean conservation. Name one way humans can help protect the sea.Over 8 million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean every year, but simple changes — like reusing bags — really do add up.
14.
Return to your favourite exhibit from today. Take a mental photograph — what one detail will you always remember?Scientists who study the ocean are called oceanographers. You may have just taken your very first steps toward becoming one!

Case closed, Detective Max! You have uncovered the secrets of the deep and filed your complete report. The New England Aquarium thanks you for your extraordinary service. Until the next mystery — outstanding work, Detective!

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