A Day at Discovery Cove

Florida is a place full of memories for me. My family and I go every December, and I get to visit and spend the holidays with my family and friends. We even go to amusement parks all in one trip.

“Wake up”, my mom whispers, while gently shaking my shoulder. I jump out of bed, despite the fact that it’s 7 o’clock in the morning. After finding my bathing suit, I get ready as quickly as possible. My family and I are going to Discovery Cove, an animal amusement park owned by Sea World, for the first time. I sit on the couch and try to wait for them to finish dressing, but my patience is running low. I rush everyone out the hotel door, and before I know it we are in the car and on our way. Little did I know what a memorable day it would be.

When we arrive at Discovery Cove, I can’t get over how beautiful it is. It was like stepping into a tropical paradise. Palm trees are gently swaying in the breeze and a variety of flowers are blooming along the walkways. Walking further and further into this oasis, I am surrounded by man-made beaches and lagoons. I immediately hear splashes and squeaks coming from Dolphin Lagoon, where you can have an up-close and personal experience with a bottlenose dolphin.

After getting suited up in jet black wet suits and receiving our snorkel and mask, I’m anxious to get started. We go to the first lagoon, and I peer into the crystal clear water. What I see takes me by surprise: an array of colorful fish, graceful manta rays, and spotted eagle rays are swimming peacefully along the bottom. I step into the 74 degree water, and float on my stomach while admiring the gorgeous scenery below me. The coral on the bottom houses moray eels and starfish, and hungry fish eat the algae growing on it. Fish are swimming all around me, and one came so close I was able to reach out and touch it. I swim around a sunken ship, and a humongous eagle ray swims underneath me. I’m shocked. The wingspan of the adult eagle rays in the exhibit was nine feet across or more. The way it gracefully moved through the water and navigated around sharp corners in the lagoon was amazing.

I swim from pool to pool, and encounter different fish in every one. I’m simply blown away by this underwater exhibit. While in the lagoon, I become lost in my own world. This is probably why I didn’t hear my family when they were calling me. I slowly float over to the edge and exit the lagoon. My family is waiting for me, and my sister looks very excited. “Time to go to the Dolphin Lagoon”, my mom informs me. Another adventure begins.