Coral World Ocean Park is a five-acre marine park and aquarium on Coki Point, on the north-east coast of St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands.
This guide was updated in August 2026. You can book your general admission ticket in advance through Viator.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 6450 Coki Point Rd, St Thomas, USVI 00802 |
| Hours | 9am–4pm daily; ticket booth closes 3pm |
| Closed days (from 21 Aug 2026) | Fridays and Saturdays |
| Adult admission (visitor) | $29 |
| Child admission (visitor, ages 3–12) | $17 |
| Children under 3 | Free |
| Nearest transport | Taxi from Charlotte Amalie cruise docks |
| Typical visit duration | 2–4 hours |
Why book Coral World Ocean Park tickets?
- 🏛️ Undersea Observatory Tower: The only underwater observatory of its kind in the Caribbean, letting you view a natural coral reef 15 feet below the surface while staying completely dry.
- 🎟️ Free for under-3s: Children aged two and under enter Coral World Ocean Park at no charge.
- 🌿 Dolphin Sea Sanctuary: A natural, 69,000 sq ft ocean habitat that exceeds federal Marine Mammal Protection Act and Animal Welfare Act standards.
- 📜 Turtle rehabilitation: Coral World has cared for rescued and injured sea turtles since 1997, with resident turtles now weighing over 200 lbs.
- 💰 Admission included free: Book any paid activity, such as Shark Encounter or Sea Trek, and general admission comes at no extra cost.
Coral World Ocean Park opening hours
Coral World Ocean Park opens from 9am to 4pm, with the ticket booth closing an hour earlier, at 3pm. Until 21 August 2026, the park is open all seven days of the week. From that date, and continuing through September, it will be closed on Fridays and Saturdays. The official site has not published an opening schedule beyond September at the time of writing, so check the official site before planning an autumn visit.
Coral World Ocean Park ticket prices
General admission is priced by age and residency status. Under-3s enter free, and a valid local ID is required at check-in for the discounted resident rate.
| Ticket type | Price |
|---|---|
| Visitor adult (ages 13+) | $29 |
| Visitor child (ages 3–12) | $17 |
| Children under 3 | Free |
| Resident adult (ages 13+, local ID required) | $17 |
| Resident child (ages 3–12, local ID required) | $9.50 |
Prices are listed in US dollars. General admission is included free with any paid activity booking, such as Sea Trek or Shark Encounter. With the new Friday and Saturday closures, it is worth booking in advance through Viator to secure your date.
How to get to Coral World Ocean Park
By car, the park is on Coki Point Road, reached via Smith Bay Road on the island’s north-east coast. By taxi, the most common option for visitors, the ride from the Charlotte Amalie cruise docks takes roughly 25 to 30 minutes. St Thomas has no fixed-route public bus service to Coki Point, so taxis and hotel shuttles are the main alternative to driving. On foot, Coki Beach is right next to the park entrance, so beachgoers can walk straight in.
Parking at Coral World Ocean Park
Parking is free for Coral World Ocean Park patrons. After buying or presenting your ticket at the gate, staff issue a parking permit that must be displayed on your dashboard for the visit. If you also plan to visit Coki Beach, buy your Coral World ticket and collect the permit first, since unpermitted vehicles in the beach car park risk being booted.
How long to spend at Coral World Ocean Park
Most visitors spend between two and four hours exploring the park’s exhibits on a self-guided basis. Add extra time if you book a paid activity such as Snuba or a dolphin encounter, since these run separately from general admission.
Accessibility at Coral World Ocean Park
Coral World Ocean Park is a self-guided walking tour across five acres, with paved paths connecting most exhibits. Guests with mobility needs are encouraged to contact the park directly in advance to discuss access to specific programmes. Paid add-on activities, including Sea Trek, Snuba, and the swim experiences, involve entering the water and are not suitable for all mobility levels, so check requirements before booking.
What to see inside Coral World Ocean Park
The Undersea Observatory Tower stands 100 feet offshore and descends three storeys, with the lowest level sitting 15 feet below the surface. From here, visitors watch fish, turtles, and passing schools of jacks on a natural coral reef without getting wet. The site notes ongoing construction in phases, though the tower remains open to guests.
The Caribbean Reef Encounter is an 80,000-gallon reef aquarium open to the elements, so its corals and sponges experience natural daylight, moonlight, and rain. Water is pumped in at 15,000 gallons an hour, and 12 thick acrylic windows give 360-degree views of hundreds of local reef fish.
The Touch Pool, next to the Caribbean Reef Encounter, lets visitors gently handle sea stars, sea cucumbers, and conchs. It is one of the smallest exhibits in the park but a firm favourite with children.
Shark Shallows houses juvenile nurse, lemon, blacktip, and reef sharks in a large pool with an underwater viewing window. Coral World collects the sharks locally and releases them once they are too large to be easy prey.
At Stingray Lagoon, Southern stingrays bury themselves in the sand for camouflage, often revealing only an eye or a tail tip. They frequently glide close to the pool wall in hope of a fish handout.
The Turtle Pool cares for green sea turtles rescued as hatchlings in 1997, some now weighing over 200 lbs. The park also serves as a rehabilitation site for sick or injured turtles brought in by government agencies and members of the public.
The Dolphin Sea Sanctuary, built in 2018, is a 69,000 sq ft natural ocean habitat with fish, coral, and algae. It exceeds federal Marine Mammal Protection Act and Animal Welfare Act requirements, with licensed veterinarians on site.
Critter Corners covers Iguana Alley and the Nature Trail, home to wild iguanas, red-footed tortoises, Bahama ducks, and a flock of sociable Australian Rainbow Lorikeets available to feed.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Book an activity to skip the entry fee | General admission is included free with any paid activity, such as Sea Trek or Shark Encounter. |
| Arrive before 3pm | The ticket booth closes an hour before the park itself. |
| Bring local ID for resident pricing | A valid local ID at check-in unlocks the discounted resident rate. |
| Check the new closure days | From 21 August 2026 the park is shut on Fridays and Saturdays, so book tickets in advance to avoid a wasted trip. |
| Save on swims and helmet dives | Use code MARINE15 for 15% off Swims and Helmet Dives from Friday to Monday. |
Coral World Ocean Park FAQ
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What are Coral World Ocean Park’s opening hours? | 9am to 4pm daily, with the ticket booth closing at 3pm. From 21 August 2026, the park is closed on Fridays and Saturdays. |
| Do I need to book general admission in advance? | It is not required, but advance booking is recommended, especially with the new Friday and Saturday closures. |
| Is Coral World Ocean Park wheelchair accessible? | The park has paved paths throughout; contact the park directly to discuss access for specific programmes. |
| Is parking free? | Yes, parking is free for patrons, though a dashboard permit is required. |
| What’s the difference between general admission and an activity ticket? | General admission is included free with any paid activity, such as a dolphin or shark experience. |
Things to do near Coral World Ocean Park
Coki Beach is right next to the park and is known for calm, shallow water and some of the best shore snorkelling on St Thomas.
Magens Bay Beach, about 15 minutes away by car, offers a quieter, more scenic stretch of sand for those wanting a break from the crowds.
Drake’s Seat is a scenic overlook near Magens Bay with panoramic views across the north side of the island.
Sapphire Beach, a short drive from Coki Point, is a popular spot for windsurfing and watching sailboats in Sapphire Bay.
Charlotte Amalie, the island’s main town, offers duty-free shopping and historic sites, and is roughly a 25-to-30-minute taxi ride away.
