Coral World Ocean Park — Zoo in United States Virgin Islands

Coral World Ocean Park and its collection

Coral World Ocean Park, opened in 1970, is a zoo in East End, United States.

History

It opened in 1978 as the second park for Coral World International, after the company's observatory at Eilat in Israel. Hurricane Hugo wrecked it in 1989, and in 1995 Hurricane Marilyn destroyed the observatory and other tanks, after which new owners bought the site a little over a year later. The retired world boxing champion Julian Jackson was taken on as a celebrity guide during the 1990s to pull in tourists.

Exhibits

Viewing from the Underwater Observatory Tower takes place 20 feet beneath the surface of the sea. Added later were Caribbean Reef Encounter, a circular 80,000-gallon tank stocked with marine life from local waters, together with a home for South American sea lions.

What the venue says

• swimming or interacting with sea lions and dolphins
• shark encounters
• SNUBA diving
• Sea Trek helmet-diving along the ocean floor
• There are on-site options for light bites, snacks, and refreshments within the park grounds.
• Complimentary parking is available on-site for visitors, though you are typically required to display a parking permit issued at check-in.
• The park's main pathways and viewing areas are generally designed to accommodate strollers and wheelchairs, though certain specialized in-water or tower areas may have physical steps or limitations.