Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
tower was constructed on land, floated to its present location
and anchored 100 feet offshore.
The Coral World complex, on a four-acre peninsula, looks
rather like a picturesque village, but the four geodesic
domes immediately alert you that this is no ordinary fishing
town. Save the shops near the entrance for later and head
directly to the three-tiered undersea observatory connected
by bridge to the mainland. The top is an observation deck. It
is above water level and, because of its circular shape, the
picture windows face Coki Point, tiny offshore cays, St. John
and the British Virgin Islands.
Head down the central circular staircase to the mid-level
Deep Reef Tank, a 50,000-gallon circular viewing area that
is home to larger animals usually found far from shore. They
live in a donut-shaped tank (you are in the hole). Fresh, un-
filtered sea water is pumped into the tank, with the excess
spilling back into the sea. Observe sharks, barracudas, sting
rays, lobsters, eels, sea turtles and smaller fish as they
co-exist. Feeding time is 11:45 am daily.
The Undersea Observatory, the bottom level, is entirely be-
low water level and surrounded by open ocean. I felt like
Capt. Nemo from Jules Verne's famous novel as I stood on
the ocean floor and gazed at the silent world all around me.
No net keeps the creatures here, so the picture is constantly
changing. Needle fish, tarpons, moray eels, blue parrotfish,
dog snappers and even an occasional octopus dart by. The
coral reef is stunning and as beautiful as any flower garden.
Some of the coral has been brought here from nearby waters
and placed at the same depth and current as their natural
environments. Thus, there is a greater variety of species
here than would normally be found in any one location. Sea
sponges and deep-sea flowers complete the scene. Illustra-
tions and descriptions identify the most common species for
you.
