Discovery Cove (DUW)

[StudentoReptile]

Discovery Cove in Orlando, Florida

This was back in 2007. My sister and I went down after I graduated college and decided to give this a whirl. Definitely not cheap, but we got the "trainer-for-a-day" package, which got us a little more. I thought the experience was worth it.

In the morning, they brought a few non-aquatic critters.

sloth
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/MDC_Leviathan/DiscoveryCove_SeaWorld/sloth1.jpg

some kind of owl
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/MDC_Leviathan/DiscoveryCove_SeaWorld/Michael_owl.jpg

sulcata tortoise
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/MDC_Leviathan/DiscoveryCove_SeaWorld/Michael_tortoise.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/MDC_Leviathan/DiscoveryCove_SeaWorld/ShermanTortoise.jpg


Then we got to feed the stingrays (I know you can pretty much do that at a lot of marine life parks, but I just love stingrays anyway!)
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/MDC_Leviathan/DiscoveryCove_SeaWorld/FeedingStingrays_michael1.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/MDC_Leviathan/DiscoveryCove_SeaWorld/FeedingStingrays_michael3.jpg

[StudentoReptile]

The real fun begins...as part of the package, we got a grand total of 45 minutes time in the water with the dolphins (the standard time was 30), which also included doing a trick with them.

The main dolphin we got to interact with was named Capricorn. He was the largest dolphin at the facility, and he actually was one of the dolphins that were in the film, JAWS 3-D.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/MDC_Leviathan/DiscoveryCove_SeaWorld/BellyRub_dolphin.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/MDC_Leviathan/DiscoveryCove_SeaWorld/PoseTogether_dolphin.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/MDC_Leviathan/DiscoveryCove_SeaWorld/Michael_PoseDolphins.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/MDC_Leviathan/DiscoveryCove_SeaWorld/KissDolphin_Michael1.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/MDC_Leviathan/DiscoveryCove_SeaWorld/RideDolphin_Michael.jpg

Here's that trick. It was the "Superman" stunt, where you have two dolphins, one pushing each foot, propelling you forward in the water. Very cool.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/MDC_Leviathan/DiscoveryCove_SeaWorld/PushDolphin_Michael.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/MDC_Leviathan/DiscoveryCove_SeaWorld/PushDolphin_Michael1.jpg
-----
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/MDC_Leviathan/DiscoveryCove_SeaWorld/Dolphin_Jump.jpg

[StudentoReptile]

For most of the afternoon, we swam in the lagoon with all the fishes and other rays.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/MDC_Leviathan/DiscoveryCove_SeaWorld/bluefish.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/MDC_Leviathan/DiscoveryCove_SeaWorld/cownoseray.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/MDC_Leviathan/DiscoveryCove_SeaWorld/cownoseray1.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/MDC_Leviathan/DiscoveryCove_SeaWorld/eaglerays.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/MDC_Leviathan/DiscoveryCove_SeaWorld/eaglerays1.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/MDC_Leviathan/DiscoveryCove_SeaWorld/hogfish.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/MDC_Leviathan/DiscoveryCove_SeaWorld/meandray2.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/MDC_Leviathan/DiscoveryCove_SeaWorld/school.jpg

[StudentoReptile]

I tried my best to get down by these huge stingrays for a photo to compare size. Needless to say, I had issues with buoyancy and holding my breath for that long!
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/MDC_Leviathan/DiscoveryCove_SeaWorld/meandray.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/MDC_Leviathan/DiscoveryCove_SeaWorld/meandray1.jpg

Followed this little dogface puffer for a bit
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/MDC_Leviathan/DiscoveryCove_SeaWorld/puffer.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/MDC_Leviathan/DiscoveryCove_SeaWorld/puffer1.jpg

some particular ugly specimen...quite ill-suited for aquatic life!
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/MDC_Leviathan/DiscoveryCove_SeaWorld/weirdmichaelfish.jpg

[millertime89]

the park looks great! Is the lagoon enclosed or is it right on the ocean and subject to tides and waves and other natural forces? I had the pleasure of feeding dolphins at Sea World and sting rays at the Texas State Aquarium a few weeks ago, very cool experience.

[StudentoReptile]

the park looks great! Is the lagoon enclosed or is it right on the ocean and subject to tides and waves and other natural forces?

Nah, it was completely enclosed. Pretty large though.

I have mixed feelings about Sea World and its affiliates now, but for this park specifically, I like how they have it set up. They only allow a certain number of people in each day, as not to overload the lagoon pool and to ensure there's not too much stress on each dolphin used for the human/dolphin experiences (obviously, they have about a dozen or so dolphin at that facility and rotate them out throughout the day). So its not like, super crowded or anything.

You can't use your own sunscreen. They provide a special kind that is safe for the fish and dolphins, etc.

[Will0W783]

Awesome!!!! That looks like it was an incredible experience, especially getting to swim with the dolphins! I am sooo jealous, lol.

[Pirarucu]

Very very cool, looks like a lot of fun!

[CK SandBoas]

It looks like you guys had a fantastic time! And it's amazing they still have one of the Dolphins from Jaws 3-D, that movie came out almost 30 years ago :D

[MoreliAddict]

Careful swimming over those manta rays. :)