April 27, 2008 — It is said we learn best by doing, not by reading or hearing about something. And interaction with the marine world is how Coral World educates people about the marine environment and its inhabitants.
This is a place where visitors don't just get to see the animals, they are right there for touching, holding and feeding.
Guided by park greeter Kenan Ottley, nine-year-old Seven Small got to touch starfish and other animals in their own environment. Small, visiting from New York City, came to the park with his mother, Toi Washington.
"We did everything," Washington said. "With a lot of parks and the zoo, you don't get as close. You feel more involved — it's a good value for the money.
After a morning of watching sharks feeding and being up close to stingrays, Washington said that time-wise, "everything is spaced out appropriately." She continued, "All the kids have a chance [to participate]."
Trudie Prior, president and general manager of the park, has been working at Coral World for 11 years, since its purchase by her husband, Cornelius B. Prior Jr. He currently owns the park in a partnership with Henry Wheatley.
According to Trudie Prior, "This became a gift, an opportunity to be more involved in conservation and environmental education. Our goal is to educate the public, local children and adults about the importance of being environmentally conscientious."
Measuring success is difficult, Prior said, but she hopes Coral World has helped visitors gain greater appreciation for animals and their marine environment and has engaged some young people to go into marine studies.
To this end, the park sponsors a $3,500 scholarship through the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands. The park has funded the scholarship for five years.
Something happens every day to make her job rewarding, Prior said.
"It could be an expression on a child's face who is feeding the birds, or touching a shark, or having someone who is mobility impaired thanking us for helping them get close to the animals," Prior said.
Senior citizens visit the park from the Lucinda Millin Home for the Aged.
"It’s a great day out for them," Prior said. "These are people who certainly haven't had exposure to the marine environment in a long while."
Her position used to be a seven day a week job, but two additions to the staff have taken on a lot of the day-to-day work. The husband-and-wife team of Peter Noah, vice president for animal husbandry and facilities management, and Lisa Noah, vice president of operations, has helped make Prior's schedule more manageable.
"Coral World has always been an icon, and we are working very hard to update [the park]," Peter Noah said.
In recent years the demographics of park visitors have changed, Prior said, and now they expect a more hands-on experience.
"We are trying to address this by creating more interactive exhibits," Prior said.
The park boasts several hands-on underwater experiences for visitors, including Sea Trek, which allows people to walk on the bottom of the sea; snuba, which is halfway between SCUBA diving and snorkeling; and the the James Bond-like power snorkel, Peter Noah said.
Sea Trek has the most unique-looking equipment, with a white plastic helmet reminiscent of the storm trooper headwear in the "Star Wars" movies.
The equipment for the experiences is very popular, even with the Coral World staff, which uses it day in and day out.
"I know I'm in trouble when the staff wants to play with the equipment," Noah said, with a look that betrayed his indulgence. Indeed, during a walk over the bridge to the observatory tower, there was a glimpse of one of the staff divers using some of the power snorkeling equipment on her lunch hour.
Surfacing, diver Lisa Berry realized she'd been busted by Noah and exclaimed, "Oh my God! I love it."
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