Coral World Ocean Park

Coral World opened in 1978 at Coki Point and its central feature is unusual: an observatory tower built out in the bay and sunk into the reef, reached by a walkway, where you descend below the surface and look out through windows at the living reef rather than at an aquarium. Around it are tanks of local species, a shark pool, a sea turtle pool, a lorikeet aviary and a nature trail. A set of paid encounters allow visitors into the water with sea lions, sharks and turtles.

History

Coral World opened in 1978 beside Coki Beach, the second marine park of the Coral World company after its underwater observatory in Eilat. Hurricanes have shaped its story: Hugo destroyed it in 1989, Marilyn wrecked the observatory and other tanks in 1995, and the park was sold to new owners more than a year later. Sea lions arrived in 2007, and in 2017 Hurricanes Irma and Maria caused an estimated $2 million of damage (Wikipedia, Coral World Ocean Park).

What's there

• The undersea observatory - a tower sunk into the living reef.
• The reef tanks - local Caribbean species close up.
• The turtle and shark pools - the park's larger residents.
• The lorikeet aviary - birds feeding from the hand.

When to go

Year-round. Cruise days bring crowds through the middle of the day. Mornings are calmer. The undersea observatory is best when the water is clear, which is usually early and in settled weather.

Good to know

The paid animal encounters, particularly the sea lion programme, draw welfare criticism and are worth considering before booking; the aquarium and observatory can be visited without them. Entry is expensive and the encounters cost considerably more on top. Visibility in the observatory depends entirely on the sea state.

Nearby

Coki Point beach is next door; Red Hook is ten minutes south.

Key facts