Discovery Cove: Where Deep Sea Dreams Come True
Discovery Cove is like Sea World‘s laid-back, younger sister. It’s all the awesome aquatics without any of the fuss.
Akin to a cruise on land, Discovery Cove is an all-inclusive resort with fine dining, adorable dolphin encounters, and a host of exotic excursions.
Don’t get me wrong, SeaWorld‘s manta ray roller coaster is pretty cool. But if you’re someone who tends to get a little seasick, or you just prefer a slower pace to your vacay, then Discovery Cove is the place to go.
Now, let’s plunge right in!
R&R – Discovery Cove Style!
Discovery Cove is undoubtedly the total package – they have everything covered when you book a day with them.
Your day pass not only unlocks an underwater world, but it also opens a world of unlimited food and drinks! Scrumptious, freshly-made breakfast and lunch are served buffet-style for guests at the Laguna Grill, and snacks are available throughout the Cove all day long. Feel like something salty? Grab a warm, soft pretzel. Something sweet? Snag a chocolate chip cookie. Or two. After all, this is all-inclusive!
It’s hot out there, so make sure to stay hydrated with plenty of complimentary bottled water! There’s also soda, Icees, and adult beverages ( yummy, Pina Coladas) to choose from.
Speaking of the summer sun, the Cove also provides you with animal-safe sunscreen. (That’s going to be important later on!) You’ll also be equipped with snorkels, wet suits, towels, and everything you need to enjoy each and every excursion.
To achieve the total package of ultimate relaxation, you can hang out in a hammock on the sugar-white sands of Serenity Bay or snatch a pool noodle for a float down the lazy river.
It’s worth noting these areas are never over-crowded, and lines to excursions are practically non-existent, as the Cove limits daily visitors to maintain its restful atmosphere. When you spend the day at Discovery Cove, you’re one of the elite few. Now that’s how to do it!
Now, there’s no denying the pleasure of a sun-soaked siesta, but as you’ve probably suspected, the real fun begins when you start seeing fins. . .
“Fintastic” Friends at Discovery Cove
The best part of Discovery Cove is undeniably the wildlife encounters. (Hence the animal-safe sunscreen!) Here, you can meet and greet a host of aquatic creatures that will open your heart to the seafaring world. Whether it’s an otter or a dolphin, we recommend meeting every resident species, as it’s practically guaranteed to be love at first swim.
All-Inclusive Included Friends
Some of the animal encounters are considered “upgrades” to the day ticket and must be specially purchased, but first, here’s a list of friends you can see without worrying about the budget!
Adorable Otters
Head over to the Freshwater Oasis in Discovery Cove to see some furry friends – that’s right, I’m talking about Asian small-clawed otters! There’s definitely something magical about hanging out with them, and not just because Hermione Granger’s Patronus in Harry Potter was an otter!
About the size of a housecat, the Asian small-clawed otter is so named because – unlike a cat – its claws don’t extend beyond its digital pads.1 These digital pads resemble squidgy, little toe beans, and the otters also have webbed skin between each digit. This helps them to paddle and play!
However, the webbing is incomplete, giving them a good deal of dexterity for grasping food. It also gives their tiny hands a slightly human quality. One look into those big, brown eyes, and you’ll definitely feel a connection.
These playful otters especially love tumbling and splashing for the show during their scheduled enrichment sessions, which you’re free to watch!
However, you don’t have to stay on the sidelines. Slip-on a snorkel, and slide into the water, to swim with these sleek fellows! There is a panel of glass that divides you in the water for the otters’ safety, but you’ll still feel incredibly close. These little guys are not shy at all, and they’ll come face to face with you against the glass and race with you beneath the water.
You will otterly adore these freshwater friends!
Marvelous Marmosets
Also, residents of the Freshwater Oasis, fuzzy little marmosets can be seen hopping in the treetops or having fun on their island playground.
These primates are so small they usually weigh less than a pound.2 With puffy, white cheeks, lightly ringed tails, and a wildly tufted hairdo Geoffrey’s Marmoset looks a bit like a minuscule mad scientist.
During their enrichment sessions with trainers, you can watch the nectar-loving marmosets gobble down some honey and get their favorite form of affection: belly rubs.
Too cute!
Beautiful Birds
After you’ve finished frolicking with otters and marmosets, follow the Wind-Away River to Explorer’s Aviary, where you’ll be greeted by melodies of birdsong and the rush of wings.
Discovery Cove’s sprawling free-flight aviary is home to over 30 types of tropical birds, including majestic macaws, laughing kookaburras, and terrific toucans (who may or may not try to sell you a box of Froot Loops). Awesome for amateur or professional birdwatchers alike, the Explorer’s Aviary is sure to inspire and delight.
Visitors to the aviary are provided with a birdwatching guide and bowls of fruit to attract feathered friends. And it’s true what those Hobby Lobby kitchen plaques say: feed them, and they will come! You might find a peacock at your feet or a parrot perching on your shoulder asking for a nibble. These birds are so outgoing. It’s not unusual for them to land on visitors’ heads! (Great photo-op!) Could a royal coronation be any better than getting crowned with a cute, red-cheeked cockatiel? I think not.
While you’re in the aviary, keep a special eye out for the red-billed hornbill. That’s Zazu from Lion King, and he really needs to get back to Simba with his morning report!
Stunning Stingrays
Once your fruit bowl is empty, it’s time to head over to the Grand Reef to snorkel with thousands of tropical fish and sociable stingrays (also known as sea flap flaps).
The Grand Reef is home to both cownose and southern rays.
Cownose rays are named after cattle snouts because, to be honest, their faces do kind of look like cow noses, which is cute in its own way. Their faces might be a bit derpy, but cownoses are truly graceful swimmers, cutting an elegant line in the water with their pointed “wingtips.” (Those are actually pectoral fins!3) In fact, cownoses are constantly in motion and are rarely found resting on the ocean, or Grand Reef, floor.
On the other hand, Southern rays can be a bit lazier and like to take a snooze on the sandy bottom. In fact, the southern ray enjoys covering itself with sand until only its eyes are still peeping out!
Being buried would be a problem if this ray only used gills to breathe; however, when it’s feeling sleepy, the southern ray just uses the specialized openings (called spiracles) on top of its head so it can stay in the sand.4
As you snorkel in Grand Reef surrounded by fish, be sure to reach out for a finned high-five from these velvety soft friends!
Can’t get enough of the rays? You can add a special upgrade to your day pass that lets you feed these sea pancakes their breakfast! There’s certainly nothing more heart-melting than getting nuzzled by a sweet stingray begging for a treat.
Exclusive Friends at Discovery Cove
While the all-inclusive included wildlife is enough to fill an entire day at Discovery Cove, there are still a few more friends you might like to meet. . .
Flamboyant Flamingos
There’s one species of bird you’ll find roaming outside of the aviary – the noble flamingo! You can schedule a morning “flamingle” with them as they migrate from the Grand Reef to the courtyard near Laguna Grill. (Which is a great place to hang out!)
During the “flamingle,” you get to walk with these feathery friends as a member of their flamboyance (that’s what you actually call a flock of flamingos!), feed them their breakfast, and then wade into the serene, reef waters with them.
Forget the sunrise; the pretty, pink flamingo feathers are the best way to start your day!
Spectacular Sharks
At Discovery Cove, you can dive into the water with over 20 sharks. That’s a lot of teeth! But not to worry – these sharks only eat small fish and crustaceans. (And you’ll have a thorough training session beforehand and expert aquarists by your side!)
The Discovery Cove shark population is made up of blacktip reef, nurse, zebra, and bonnethead sharks. Each of these cartilaginous creatures is incredibly unique and will make your swimming experience a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The blacktip reef shark is a common sight in the Pacific shallows, but that doesn’t make it any less special of a swimming companion at Discovery Cove!5 Its fins, elegantly accented with blotches of black, make it one of the most stylish sharks in the world.
The nurse sharks have an affable, disarming appearance with their rounded heads and smallish mouths adorned with barbels (a functional Fu Manchu that helps them locate prey). Like the southern rays, nurse sharks tend to hang out around the bottom of the ocean floor, especially because they are suction feeders!6
Perhaps the coolest looking of the quartet is the zebra shark. The name seems misleading since this slippery friend is spotted, not striped; however, zebra sharks are born with stripes. They just slowly fade and change into the distinctive dots of adulthood.7
The last shark species you’ll find swimming at your side is the bonnethead. They vaguely resemble their hammer-headed cousins, but they have a narrower, rounded head. They’re usually colloquially referred to as “shovelhead sharks!”8
Swimming with sharks is a memorable experience and a great add-on, especially if your favorite movie is Jaws. But if Flipper is what floats your boat, then boy, do we have an exclusive excursion for you!
Delightful Dolphins
The grand finale to our guide and the climax of any Discovery Cove visit is their signature swimming with dolphins excursion!
Go “nose to bottlenose” as you make a new, deep-sea friend for life – your dolphin for the day will definitely capture your heart.
Bottlenose dolphins are some of the most intelligent animals on the planet, continually contending for the rank of the #1 most intelligent animal. They’re naturally inquisitive, so interacting with new people can be an enriching rather than stressful experience for their curious minds. In other words, they’ll be just as excited to see you as you are to see them!
During your dolphin experience, you’ll be guided by a knowledgeable and passionate animal specialist who will tell you everything you need or want to know about your dolphin companion! While the dolphin swim does happen in a group, each individual will receive quality one-on-one time with the dolphin.
One-on-one time includes a dolphin hug and kiss, lots of pets, and a ride-along.9 By the end of the swim, you’ll have truly bonded with this extraordinary sea creature!
Photographers are on hand to capture each moment of your blossoming friendship, and the dolphins are also excellent posers for staged shots too! (Photo packages do come at additional cost but are totally optional! Though, if I had to guess, you’ll probably want to purchase those snaps of you and your new BFF!)
The Discovery Cove dolphin swim is by far the most favorite thing to do at the resort. Once you’re kissed by a dolphin, you’ll understand why! There’s nothing sweeter than making a new friend that you’ll remember forever.
Have you been to Discovery Cove? What was the name of the dolphin you swam with? Let us know in the comments below!
And until next time, just keep swimming!
Cover Image
Photo: Unsplash
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