We got there right when the park opened and upon entering the park, we entered a small cabana-type building where we waited on line to check in. After we gave the clerk our names he gave us our time for our dolphin encounter, we stood in front of a camera and got our picture taken. We were then told to go to another desk where we picked up ID card which had our names and photos on them.
Immediately upon stepping out of the cabana we were approached for our complementary photo. The approached by another park worker and instructed where to go to pick up our gear. On the way to get our gear we passed the main galley and decided to go in for the continental breakfast. The provide a wide assortment of pastries, fruits and cereals along with any type of drink you care for. That is except beer. I was informed beer was not allowed to be distributed until after 11am.
After breakfast we proceeded to look for the pick station for our wetsuits, goggles and snorkels. Basically, you receive a locker during your stay and you are handed either a vest or a wet suit. The attendants just estimate what size they think you are. Being that it was November Jenna and I elected the wetsuit Maureen went with a vest. The snorkels are new and they come in a mesh bag with sunscreen and a pair of goggles. The sunscreen is specially made to be safe for the animals. In fact you are warned not to use your own sunscreen and to shower to remove any soap residue before you enter the water. Oh my gosh I was in shock at how fat I looked in the wetsuit. I'd say that's very brave posting this picture. That's why I'm on a diet.
The atmosphere of discovery cove is great. There was no crowd at all. Supposedly even during peak season they limit admission to 1000 people. There couldn't have been more that 3-400 that day. The park is big and densely landscaped. It feels like you are one of very few people in the park.
The first stop we made was the coral reef ocean-simulating pool. This pool contains hundreds of fish of all species. There are enormous manta rays on the bottom of the pool which are the size of some small houses. The wetsuits made it very easy and were helpful staying afloat to take it all in. There are also some underwater viewing areas where you can look and feel like you are swimming amongst different species of barracudas. The water is extremely deep in this pool. The water was quite cold and extremely salty. This pool was beautiful and a once-in-a-lifetime experience that shouldn't be missed and is well worth the expense.
Next we went to the stingray lagoon. This is a small pool with many baby stingrays in it. The water is about 4-5 foot deep with a sandy bottom. The stingrays are quite approachable and they let you pet their backs. There is an attendent in the pool at all times who sternly warns you to keep your feet on the ground at all times. It was very cool having them come so close to you. In fact I got a picture of of one swimming right between my legs. We also had the opportunity to feed them. One of the attendants gathered us all in circle and gave everyone a handful of fish. You were instructed to hold the fish in your closed fist then put it out in front of you. The stingrays would then swim over the fish and suck it out of your hand. It was a really weird feeling. We each got like 10-12 fish.
After that it was time to do the dolphin encounter. We made our way down to the cabana and watched a short movie about dolphins and then were introduced to the trainers. The encounter itself consists of the trainer telling you about the dolphin and also go through some basic points. When we got to the beach we were introduced to our dolphin. "Tyler" who out 0f 46 dolphins ion the park was the same one Jamie and Maureen swam with 7 ago.They had Tyler come right in front of us so we could feel, pet and rub him on both his back and stomach. We learned a lot about dolphins. They had him do a number of trick for us and had a us pose for a number of pictures such as the one above. For the grand finale we went out into about 12 feet of water and got like a 30 yard holding the dorsal fin. That was very cool. The whole encounter lasted about 30-40 minutes. Once again worth the cost.
After lunch we entered the lazy river which is actually quite rapid and pretty deep. Most of the river is about 8 foot deep. There are no fish in the lazy river, but the water is nice and warm and there are multiple waterfalls and underwater scenes such as giant pots and canons to stand on. The floor of the river is covered in river rocks which the kids love to dive down to grab and try to find different colors. Somewhere along the course of the river, you go through a waterfall and enter the aviary.
Maureen and Jenna decided to go see the avairy while I rested on the beach. I really can't comment on how that was except that it's a hands-on experience with hundreds of birds.
The beaches at the Cove are beautiful with nice white sand. You don't have to worry about stepping on anything and you can take your shoes off and relax. The park is also very clean in all areas including the showers and bathrooms. The gift shops sell merchandise at reasonable rate and some of the profits go back to support marine wildlife. The only area in which the park tries to make a large profit is in its photographs. You get a complimentary group photo when you enter, but after that no photos are free. We bought a couple pictures of our dolphin encounter one posted here.
In conclusion, discovery cove is a beautiful park and a great experience for people of all ages. I thought it was well worth the expense and will treasure the memory.
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