In-Depth Info on New Grand Reef at Discovery Cove

The New Grand Reef area is going to open very soon at Discovery Cove. let's take a close look at what you'll be able to experience in this wonderful, new themed area:

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THE GRAND REEF AT DISCOVERY COVE - FACTS

The all-new Grand Reef at Discovery Cove in Orlando features multiple levels of exploration, from shallow waters to deeper swimming adventures, from white sandy beaches and hammocks swaying in the breeze, to snorkeling among canyons inspired by reefs from around the world.

The Grand Reef footprint: 2.5 acre area, with close to a million gallons of water

Water temperature: A comfortable 77 degrees

Animals: Approximately 10,000 animals, representing 125 different species of fish, rays and sharks

Fish

Thousands of tropical fish dart through crystal-clear waters, creating a whirlpool of color inside the reef’s grottos and crevices. Discovery Cove’s experts chose only colorful species whose natural populations are healthy and sustained. The fish include angelfish, butterflyfish, wrasses and tangs as well as larger, unusual-looking hogfish and filefish.

Fishy highlights

A showcase moment happens when snorkelers get up-close to venomous lionfish – all safely behind panoramic windows. Thousands and thousands of schooling sardines, shining in the sun, will swim freely throughout the main reef. Combined, the animals in The Grand Reef eat almost 150 lbs of food each day.

Rays

Dozens of rays, gliding through the water, are a beautiful sight. Four species of rays will fly among swimmers, including spotted eagle, cownose, southern, and bluntnose rays.

Ray highlights

Spotted eagle rays are found in Caribbean and Pacific waters. Unique animals with white spots and greater than 5-foot wingspans, eagle rays are a protected species. Discovery Cove has one of the few – and most successful – eagle ray breeding programs in the world.

Eels

Long and slinky, a variety of exotic eels swim among The Grand Reef’s canyons. Good news – they’re safely behind glass. Other interesting species -- grouper and triggerfish -- make their home with the eels.

Eel highlights

Eels are really just elongated fishes, ranging in length from two inches up to 12 feet for the giant moray. There are approximately 800 species of eels, a predatory, toothy fish.

Sharks

Exciting new views of sharks allow non-swimmers to gaze down from above while snorkelers and SeaVenture participants can gaze through 10-foot-tall panoramic windows into a habitat filled with zebra, nurse and blacktip and whitetip reef sharks.

Shark highlights

A species new to Discovery Cove, zebra sharks are found in Southeast Asia, Southern Africa and Western and Northern Australia. Cream-colored with spots, they’re born with stripes – suggesting a sharky zebra. They’re also known as Australian leopard sharks.

SeaVenture

The Grand Reef’s innovative experience, SeaVenture, is an underwater walking tour where guests -- wearing dive helmets -- will feel right at home under the sea. Easily climbing down a ladder and setting foot on the reef floor, guests immediately come eye-to-eye with sharks through a full, 8-foot-tall, 21-foot long panoramic window. During their journey, guests encounter velvety rays, exotic-looking lionfish hiding under a dock – and even touch a star fish or sea urchins found along the way. The adventure ends with schools of fish feeding around the divers with the massive open reef as the backdrop.

SeaVenture highlights
Some say it’s like walking on the moon – but surrounded by fish. SCUBA certification is not required. The program is about an hour long for groups of up to six people per excursion. The cost is $59 per participant.

More Grand Reef Facts

Removable Coral

Discovery Cove is using a unique technology to ensure The Grand Reef’s man-made coral maintains its vibrant colors. Each piece of coral – most weighing a ton – is inflatable. When filled with air, the coral sections float to the surface for easy maintenance and cleaning. Overall, The Reef will have 90 pieces of the colorful coral in four different sizes.

Salt Water

It takes about 140 tons of salt to make The Grand Reef’s crystal clear water. The recipe is a closely guarded secret.

Beach Sand

Discovery Cove has found the perfect beach sand for The Grand Reef and it’s used throughout all of the resort. Mined at nearby Davenport, Fla., the sand is from Florida’s ancient beach dunes. More than 5 million pounds will be used at The Grand Reef, and every pound is sifted and grated. This makes the sand just right – not too coarse and not too fine.

Cabanas

Eight new cabanas will be found at The Grand Reef. These private, shaded areas are available for rental at an additional fee and are located at the water’s edge. Complete with table and chairs, chaise lounges and rolled towels, the cabanas provide a special place for guests to relax when they’re not in the water, swimming among thousands of tropical fish.

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Here's the map of Discovery Cove, including the Grand Reef:

This sounds like the perfect place to relax and interact with fantastic tropical fish! We really can't wait to experience all this, along with the rest of Discovery Cove, of course!

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