Coral World VI: An Unforgettable Island Experience

Recently, we had the most amazing day celebrating my son's birthday at Coral World VI on St. Thomas. We decided to kick off the day with the highly recommended Dolphin Experience, and let me tell you, it was nothing short of magical.

We started our day early, scheduling the Dolphin Experience for 8:45 am. I noticed that the earlier time was more budget-friendly, which was a pleasant surprise. Booking online was a breeze, and signing our waivers ahead of time made the check-in process incredibly smooth. All we had to do was show our QR code, get our wristbands, and our adventure began!

For the Dolphin Experience, we were greeted by a friendly guide who provided us with water shoes and life jackets. They had convenient lockers to store our belongings, which was a thoughtful touch. Before heading to the water, we watched a short five-minute video about Coral World, the importance of marine conservation, and what to expect during our experience.

Walking out onto the dock, we met our dolphin trainer and the star of the show – Ping, the oldest and sweetest dolphin at Coral World. The experience began on a platform in the water, hence the need for water shoes due to natural sea growth making it a bit slippery. Although the groups can be up to ten people, our group was small, consisting of just three of us along with a couple of other families. Despite the small group, we felt we had ample time with Ping.

We spent about 20 minutes interacting with Ping, giving her signals for tricks, and capturing unforgettable moments with lots of great pictures. Coral World’s photographer made it easy by taking photos while we were in the water, which we could purchase afterward – and trust me, the memories were so special, you wouldn’t want to leave without them!

After our dolphin adventure, we made use of the showers and changing rooms, which was perfect as we planned to spend the rest of the day exploring the park. The park itself was a treasure trove of experiences. We saw vibrant macaws, plenty of iguanas, gentle sea turtles, and even lemon sharks. The underground observatory was particularly fascinating, offering a unique view of marine life.

While Coral World VI is a more costly experience, it's one I wholeheartedly recommend saving up for if you're traveling to St. Thomas. It's 100% worth it! Aside from the Dolphin Experience, Coral World offers a variety of other experiences, each with its own price range. Whether you’re interested in sea lion encounters, turtle feeding, or even a sea trek helmet dive, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Our visit to Coral World VI was an unforgettable way to celebrate my son's birthday. It was a day filled with joy, laughter, and incredible memories – truly capturing the essence of island living.