Conceived as a tropical paradise that has been hit by a tremendous storm, this superbly themed water park at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida features a wonderland of seemingly wrecked buildings and flotsam and jetsam details amidst its extensive grounds filled with swimming pools and waterslides. The reason I am featuring it on Zoochat is that it has a saltwater snorkel-through lagoon attraction with live fish.
Shark Reef is the attraction, and it is a scenic complex of a low rocky-walled lagoon bisected by a simulated shipwreck. On the edge of the complex is Hammerhead Freds Dive Shop, a seemingly ramshackle building adorned with whimsical details that serves as the checkout location for guests to get their snorkel gear, for use only at this part of the park. The building also has a small pearl shop. The lagoon itself has simulated reefs inside and is about 10 feet deep; guests snorkel from one end to the other. I asked an employee how many gallons the exhibit is and he did not know. I estimate it is about 100 feet long and 50 feet wide. Since the lagoon is bisected by the shipwreck, it may actually be two separate habitats but I am not sure. The shipwreck is an upside-down steel hull, propeller exposed, that serves as the underwater view of the habitat for those who do not wish to snorkel inside; a ramp or stairs lead down to its interior, where about 10 portholes on each side of the ship act as the aquarium windows. The view into the habitat from these is unimpressive however. Several signs in the area have a graphic showing the species inside, but no other information. The species listed include leopard shark, Southern stingray, scrawled filefish, rock beauty, sargeant major, porkfish, Spanish hogfish, rainbow parrotfish, queen angelfish, blue tang, puddingwife, yellowtail damselfish, French grunt, and sargassum triggerfish. When I visited, the snorkeling was unavailable so I only viewed it from the rim and the shipwreck; it did not appear to be very lively or well-populated.
This habitat does not make my top fish exhibit list, but it is certainly pleasant, and my opinion of it could certainly improve if I had been able to enter its waters! Park admission is 45 dollars for adults, which is 40 dollars overpriced if a visitor only wanted to see Shark Reef. However, this is only a small part of what is an excellent water park so the price evaluation is moot in this case. Aquarium fans with no interest in waterslides need not make a special trip here. I have posted pictures in the United States - Other gallery.
Shark Reef is the attraction, and it is a scenic complex of a low rocky-walled lagoon bisected by a simulated shipwreck. On the edge of the complex is Hammerhead Freds Dive Shop, a seemingly ramshackle building adorned with whimsical details that serves as the checkout location for guests to get their snorkel gear, for use only at this part of the park. The building also has a small pearl shop. The lagoon itself has simulated reefs inside and is about 10 feet deep; guests snorkel from one end to the other. I asked an employee how many gallons the exhibit is and he did not know. I estimate it is about 100 feet long and 50 feet wide. Since the lagoon is bisected by the shipwreck, it may actually be two separate habitats but I am not sure. The shipwreck is an upside-down steel hull, propeller exposed, that serves as the underwater view of the habitat for those who do not wish to snorkel inside; a ramp or stairs lead down to its interior, where about 10 portholes on each side of the ship act as the aquarium windows. The view into the habitat from these is unimpressive however. Several signs in the area have a graphic showing the species inside, but no other information. The species listed include leopard shark, Southern stingray, scrawled filefish, rock beauty, sargeant major, porkfish, Spanish hogfish, rainbow parrotfish, queen angelfish, blue tang, puddingwife, yellowtail damselfish, French grunt, and sargassum triggerfish. When I visited, the snorkeling was unavailable so I only viewed it from the rim and the shipwreck; it did not appear to be very lively or well-populated.
This habitat does not make my top fish exhibit list, but it is certainly pleasant, and my opinion of it could certainly improve if I had been able to enter its waters! Park admission is 45 dollars for adults, which is 40 dollars overpriced if a visitor only wanted to see Shark Reef. However, this is only a small part of what is an excellent water park so the price evaluation is moot in this case. Aquarium fans with no interest in waterslides need not make a special trip here. I have posted pictures in the United States - Other gallery.