Tony Bush
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2001
- Messages
- 677
Day 9 (Dec 11th)
Weather today - Hot 75-80F (Thank god as it's the BIG day!)
Up at 6.00 - everyone really excited as it's Discovery Cove day.Sped down I-Drive to the Cove. Got there about 8.30. Checked in at reception - kind of like checking in to an hotel! WE are given a guided tour down to pick up our towels and snorkels and then on to the wetsuit shack!! DD, DW and I all got one to fit first time, but Jack had to have three goes!!!
Found a nice sun bed on the gorgeous white sand next to one of the lagoons. Swam for an hour or so until 10.50 and then it's off to the Starfish Cabana for our pre-swim talk.
Into the water in a group of seven to meet 'Lester' our friend for the next half hour. He's a handsome brute in his mid thirties who also happens to be the Cove's romeo as he's fathered the only two babies to be born here. We tickled, kissed and swam with him for a glorious half hour. Chloe had a life jacket over her wet suit as she's not comfortable out of her depth in water but she was so transfixed with Lester that I don't think she noticed that she was floating in about 16ft depth whilst waiting for her 'tow' to shore. Time is up much too quickly and we kiss Lester good-bye - even I gave him a kiss - he didn't seem to fussy!!
Had a very big buffet lunch with lots of large cakes for dessert!
Relaxed and sunbathed for a while whilst the kids swam. Decided to make some use of the snorkel gear and joined the kids in the freshwater swimming area. DW refused to move and spent the next few hours sunbathing. Had a swim/float around the lazy river and then me and Jack decided to try the sea water 'coral reef' lagoon.
Well I've never really snorkeled before and it took me a while to get used to it, but when I got in the coral reef I was in heaven. Swam and floated around just being absolutely amazed by the teems of fish swimming around and below me. Snorkelled up to the 'shipwreck' and saw the sharks and baracudas - they may be behind glass but you can't see it and they look breathtaking!
Next we tried the Ray Lagoon and although this is not deep water it is just as stunning. The trick is (so I was told by a lifeguard) is just to float along as still as possible. When you do this the naturally inquisitive rays swim right up to you and circle you for a while. He was right. Laying still in the water about 30 of them swam towards me - looking, for all the world, like a swarm of spaceships from 'Independance Day' !!!!!! and I was soon surrounded.
Me and DS must have spent a good two or three hours snorkelling and both left the water with grins wider than the atlantic ocean!
Joined DD and DW to have a walk around the aviary and feed lots of the birds.
And then, unfortunately, it was time to leave.
What an undescribably wonderful day. It's so hard to remember that you are in the middle of Theme Park World as the whole place is so tranquil it could be a small and very remote carribean island.
Got back to the hotel around 6.30. Chloe says that this has been the best birthday present EVER !
Popped out to get KFC and brought it back to the room.
Sound asleep (with wonderful dreams) by 8.30
Fav's for the day :
Tony - Lester (only just pipped the snorkelling)
Paulet - Lester
Jack - Lester/snorkelling
Chloe - Lester
Tony
Weather today - Hot 75-80F (Thank god as it's the BIG day!)
Up at 6.00 - everyone really excited as it's Discovery Cove day.Sped down I-Drive to the Cove. Got there about 8.30. Checked in at reception - kind of like checking in to an hotel! WE are given a guided tour down to pick up our towels and snorkels and then on to the wetsuit shack!! DD, DW and I all got one to fit first time, but Jack had to have three goes!!!
Found a nice sun bed on the gorgeous white sand next to one of the lagoons. Swam for an hour or so until 10.50 and then it's off to the Starfish Cabana for our pre-swim talk.
Into the water in a group of seven to meet 'Lester' our friend for the next half hour. He's a handsome brute in his mid thirties who also happens to be the Cove's romeo as he's fathered the only two babies to be born here. We tickled, kissed and swam with him for a glorious half hour. Chloe had a life jacket over her wet suit as she's not comfortable out of her depth in water but she was so transfixed with Lester that I don't think she noticed that she was floating in about 16ft depth whilst waiting for her 'tow' to shore. Time is up much too quickly and we kiss Lester good-bye - even I gave him a kiss - he didn't seem to fussy!!
Had a very big buffet lunch with lots of large cakes for dessert!
Relaxed and sunbathed for a while whilst the kids swam. Decided to make some use of the snorkel gear and joined the kids in the freshwater swimming area. DW refused to move and spent the next few hours sunbathing. Had a swim/float around the lazy river and then me and Jack decided to try the sea water 'coral reef' lagoon.
Well I've never really snorkeled before and it took me a while to get used to it, but when I got in the coral reef I was in heaven. Swam and floated around just being absolutely amazed by the teems of fish swimming around and below me. Snorkelled up to the 'shipwreck' and saw the sharks and baracudas - they may be behind glass but you can't see it and they look breathtaking!
Next we tried the Ray Lagoon and although this is not deep water it is just as stunning. The trick is (so I was told by a lifeguard) is just to float along as still as possible. When you do this the naturally inquisitive rays swim right up to you and circle you for a while. He was right. Laying still in the water about 30 of them swam towards me - looking, for all the world, like a swarm of spaceships from 'Independance Day' !!!!!! and I was soon surrounded.
Me and DS must have spent a good two or three hours snorkelling and both left the water with grins wider than the atlantic ocean!
Joined DD and DW to have a walk around the aviary and feed lots of the birds.
And then, unfortunately, it was time to leave.
What an undescribably wonderful day. It's so hard to remember that you are in the middle of Theme Park World as the whole place is so tranquil it could be a small and very remote carribean island.
Got back to the hotel around 6.30. Chloe says that this has been the best birthday present EVER !
Popped out to get KFC and brought it back to the room.
Sound asleep (with wonderful dreams) by 8.30
Fav's for the day :
Tony - Lester (only just pipped the snorkelling)
Paulet - Lester
Jack - Lester/snorkelling
Chloe - Lester
Tony
. The photo's are wonderful. Thanks for sharing them.
