Ahoy Coders! A Sound Adventure at Sea at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

About

Ahoy Coders! The sea is never truly silent. It creaks against hulls, crashes against harbour walls and hums with engines - and for centuries, the Royal Navy has relied on sound to navigate, communicate and understand what lies beneath the waves. This interactive, family-friendly coding session invites visitors to explore how sound and technology have shaped life at sea.

Families will begin their mission as junior naval sound explorers, programming a ship-robot to travel across a pretend ocean floor. Working together, participants will steer around obstacles, solve problems and collect hidden sea sounds along the way. This challenge is inspired by how the Royal Navy uses sound to explore underwater environments, detect hazards and safely guide ships through unfamiliar waters.

Next, it's time to get creative. Using simple coding techniques, families will design and programme their own "sound of the sea". By experimenting with tones, rhythms and patterns, participants can recreate waves, foghorns, ship engines or mysterious underwater noises. This activity encourages creativity and curiosity while linking to the many sounds heard aboard naval vessels, from communication signals to engine rooms.

The final challenge introduces families to an important part of naval communication history: Morse code. Participants will code a secret message using flashing lights on a Sparkle matrix, discovering how sailors once sent information across long distances when out at sea. Teamwork and problem-solving bring this final mission together as families crack codes and communicate like naval crews of the past.

Packed with play, creativity and discovery, this interactive session connects coding with real maritime history and science. It offers families a fun and engaging way to learn how sound has helped the Royal Navy operate, communicate and stay connected at sea!

From aged 7-11. This event is free with a valid museum ticket.