Coral World Ocean Park

What Coral World Ocean Park does

Coral World Ocean Park is a privately held marine park and aquarium operating on a 5-acre site at Coki Point in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, continuously since 1977/1978. Its core assets include the only undersea observatory tower in the Caribbean, an 80,000-gallon open-to-elements Caribbean Reef Encounter with continuous natural seawater flow at 15,000 gallons per hour, and a 69,000 sq ft (1.6-acre) open-ocean Dolphin Sea Sanctuary built in 2018. The park is AMMPA-accredited and operates in compliance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Animal Welfare Act, with on-site Animal Welfare Specialists and licensed veterinarians.

The company generates revenue through general admission (from $29 per person), structured paid animal encounters including Dolphin Splash and Swim, Dolphin Moment, Sea Lion Encounter and Swim, Shark Encounter, Sea Trek helmet dives, and SNUBA diving (priced $57–$182 per person), private events such as weddings and corporate functions (from $1,195 plus gratuity), school group and summer camp programs ($17 per student), annual memberships ($45–$130), and on-site photography and retail add-ons. All ticketing is processed through the FareHarbor booking platform, and the park offers Afterpay as an installment payment option.

Coral World serves four customer segments: tourists and cruise ship passengers (primary), local residents and annual members, school groups and educational institutions, and event celebrants for weddings, birthdays, and private functions. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via on-site walk-in ticket sales and online pre-booking, supplemented by cruise line referrals. The park operates 7 days a week in peak season (October–April and July) and on a reduced Sunday–Thursday schedule in shoulder months (May–June, August–September).

Name

Coral World Ocean Park

Legal name

Coral World Ocean Park

Website

https://coralworldvi.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Coral World Ocean Park is a privately held marine park and aquarium in St. Thomas, USVI, offering paid animal encounters, self-guided exhibits, and private events to tourists, cruise ship passengers, school groups, and local members since 1977.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Park and Aquarium

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Coastal Ecotourism (Diving, Snorkeling, Whale Watching) (THAAAAAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks) (THAAAIAH), Guided Diving & Snorkeling Excursions (boat/shore trips) (THAAAIAB), Reef, Island & Coastal Ecotours (mangroves, lagoons, sea caves) (THAAAIAE), Dive Centers & Scuba Training (PADI/SSI, certifications) (THAAAIAA)

Keywords

• Marine park experiences
• Aquarium exhibits
• Animal encounters
• Marine conservation
• Eco tourism

Headquarters

HQ city

Thomas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. General Admission Tickets: Self-guided park tours starting at $29 per person. General admission is included with any experience booking. Covers 5 acres of aquariums, outdoor pools, nature trails, and self-guided exhibits.
2. Paid Animal Experiences and Encounters: Revenue from structured animal interaction programs including dolphin swims, sea lion encounters and swims, shark encounters, Sea Trek helmet dives, and SNUBA diving experiences. Priced per person with age and group size restrictions.
3. Event Hosting (Weddings, Private Parties, Birthdays): Rental and event coordination revenue from eco weddings, vow renewals, birthday parties, sleepovers, and private events at park venues including the Palm Courtyard (seats ~120) and Caribbean Reef Encounter (seats ~50). Wedding packages start at $1,195 plus 20% gratuity.
4. Aquarium Memberships: Annual membership tiers ranging from $45 to $130, offering unlimited admission for one year with discounts on activities and exclusive benefits.
5. Photography and Retail Add-Ons: Revenue from professional photography packages sold following animal experiences, as well as dining and shopping outlets within the park.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Coral World Ocean Park operates a 5-acre marine park and aquarium in St. Thomas, USVI, offering self-guided general admission tours starting at $29 per person plus a portfolio of paid animal encounters (dolphin swims, sea lion swims and encounters, shark encounters, Sea Trek helmet dives, and SNUBA diving). The park also hosts private events such as weddings, birthday parties, sleepovers, and school group programs, and sells annual memberships for repeat visitors.

Product overview

Coral World Ocean Park is an aquarium and marine adventure park offering a unified portfolio of ticketed experiences and educational exhibits. The core offering includes general admission to 5 acres of exhibits, enhanced by paid animal encounter experiences (Dolphin Splash and Swim, Dolphin Moment, Sea Lion Encounter, Sea Lion Swim, Shark Encounter, Snuba Diving, Sea Trek), private event hosting (birthday parties, sleepovers, weddings, corporate events), and school group programs. Key exhibits include the Dolphin Sea Sanctuary, Caribbean Reef Encounter (80,000-gallon aquarium), Undersea Observatory Tower, Shark Shallows, Stingray Lagoon, Touch Pool, Critter Corners, and Turtle Pool. The park also offers annual membership for repeat visitors. All experiences are booked through the FareHarbor platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Coral World Ocean and Reef Initiative (CWORI): Non-profit organization working to conserve the marine environment, supporting coral reef research, and rescuing and rehabilitating wildlife.

Products and services

• General Admission
• Dolphin Splash and Swim
• Dolphin Moment
• Sea Lion Encounter
• Sea Lion Swim
• Shark Encounter
• SNUBA Diving
• Sea Trek Helmet Dive
• School Groups & Summer Camps
• Eco Wedding Package (Land Ceremony)
• Snuba Wedding Package
• Birthday Party Package
• Sleepover Experience
• Private Events
• Annual Aquarium Membership

Quantifiable outcome

• Rescued and rehabilitated hundreds of sea turtles over decades of operation
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of the Virgin IslandscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Coral World and the University of the Virgin Islands are collaborating on ocean-based coral nurseries to restore Staghorn and Elkhorn corals around St. Thomas. UVI received funding in 2018 for this project, and Coral World hosts one nursery site. The partnership also aims to establish a citizen science club for local community participation in coral restoration.
• Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums (AMMPA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Coral World has been an active member of the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums since 2015. AMMPA is an international association representing marine life parks, aquariums, and research facilities dedicated to the highest standards of care for marine mammals and to their conservation in the wild. AMMPA administers a stringent accreditation process, and accredited members must uphold Alliance Standards and Guidelines to optimize marine mammal welfare.
• The Nature ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Coral World teamed up with The Nature Conservancy in 2009 to install a coral nursery tree at the underwater observatory. Following hurricane damage in 2017, the nursery was reinstated in October 2018 with assistance from the University of the Virgin Islands.
• National Marine Fisheries ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoral World shares its shark tagging research data with the National Marine Fisheries Service, which conducts an ongoing shark population study. Coral World's shark tagging program is funded entirely by Coral World.
• Caribbean Fishery Management Council (CFMC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoral World participated in a collaborative research project with the CFMC and the Virgin Islands Fisherman Association investigating lobster resources in the USVI. The study investigated effects of lobster molting on tag loss rates using lobsters housed at Coral World.
• Project AwareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoral World supports shark conservation education efforts by directing visitors to Project Aware (a PADI-affiliated ocean conservation organization) for additional information on shark conservation.
• West Indian Marine Animal Research and Conservation ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoral World collaborates with this organization on sea turtle census work and turtle conservation efforts, assisting with turtle rehabilitation and research.
• The Sea Turtle Assistance and Rescue Network (STARN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoral World staff collaborate with STARN on sea turtle conservation, census work, and rescue operations throughout the USVI.
• VI Division of Fish and WildlifeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoral World staff assist the Division of Fish and Wildlife with sea turtle census and collaborate on turtle conservation initiatives.
• Virgin Islands Conservation Society (VICS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVICS collaborated on the Smith Bay Watershed assessment (2015–2017) as part of a multi-organization effort including Blue Flag—USVI, Horsley Witten Group, and VI Department of Planning and Natural Resources. Coral World Ocean Park was the sole sponsor of matching funds to support community outreach educational activities.
• Blue Flag—USVIminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on a two-year Smith Bay Watershed assessment (2015–2017) to study stormwater and non-point source pollution in St. Thomas.
• Horsley Witten GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on the Smith Bay Watershed assessment providing technical hydrological expertise as part of a collaborative effort with VICS, Blue Flag—USVI, and DPNR.
• VI Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDPNR provided guidance and input on the Smith Bay Watershed assessment (2015–2017) and funded the project through a US EPA 319 grant. Coral World contributed matching funds for community outreach.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Georgia Aquarium: Large US aquarium offering dolphin and shark encounter programs, animal welfare leadership, and conservation research. Comparable encounter portfolio and animal welfare standards, but operates at urban mega-attraction scale.
• Atlantis Paradise Island: Bahamas mega-resort marine habitat featuring dolphin encounters, aquariums, and water experiences. Closest direct comp by business model (aquarium + paid marine animal encounters in the Caribbean), but operates at much larger scale within an integrated resort.
• National Aquarium (Baltimore): Major US aquarium with paid animal encounters, strong conservation programming, and educational mission. Directly comparable mix of exhibits, encounters, and conservation positioning, though located in a temperate US urban market.
• SeaWorld Orlando: Largest US marine theme park operator offering dolphin swims, shark encounters, and aquarium exhibits. Directly comparable encounter products (dolphin, sea lion, shark) but at theme-park scale and with broader brand portfolio.
• Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies / Toronto: Multi-location chain aquarium offering shark tunnels, touch tanks, and standard marine exhibits. Comparable general aquarium/encounter mix but with a commercial franchise model rather than single-site research-driven operations.

Direct peers

• Monterey Bay Aquarium: Non-profit aquarium renowned for conservation research, exhibit storytelling, and educational programs. Strongest comp for Coral World's AMMPA-style standards, conservation grants model (CWORI parallel), and exhibit-driven visitor experience.
• Maui Ocean Center: Tropical marine aquarium and ocean park in Hawaii focused on Hawaiian reef ecosystems, daily presentations, and educational encounters. Closest single-site regional peer combining aquarium exhibits, marine encounters, and conservation storytelling.
• Dolphin Cay (Atlantis): Caribbean-based dolphin and sea lion encounter facility within Atlantis, Bahamas. Closest comp to Coral World's paid dolphin splash/swim, dolphin moment, and sea lion encounter SKUs at Caribbean resort-destination pricing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/coralworldvi
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCmblnJq6ufseyygqv6MHhQg
• Facebookfacebook.com/coralworldoceanpark
• Instagraminstagram.com/coralworldvi
• TikToktiktok.com/@coralworldvi
• Pinterestpinterest.com/coralworldvi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/coral-world-ocean-park

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Coral World Ocean Park