Atlantis, Bahamas (5MB+ pics)

[rmendis]

Hi Reefers,

Hope everyone had a safe and happy Thanksgiving! I didn't get to check RC for 4 whole days - imagine that! However, I made up for it on my visit to Atlantis in the Bahamas! I snapped plenty of pics of the marine life to share with you. I think you'll agree that these tanks qualify as "large", so I decided to post them in this forum. Please excuse the quality - they were taken with my 1.55MP Sony dv camcorder (I wanted to travel light). Also, the source server may be slow, so give it some time, and reload the page if necessary.

First of all, the hotel is simply amazing. Imagine Las Vegas meets the beach, and you get Atlantis. Here are a couple of pics of the resort, to set the stage...

This is the main wing, called the Royal Towers:
http://www.mendisfamily.net/images/atlantis/images/DSC00496.jpg

One of the 23(!) restaurants. This one faces part of the 500,000+ gal Seagrapes lagoon:
http://www.mendisfamily.net/images/atlantis/images/DSC00532.jpg

[rmendis]

Now let's take a look at the marine habitats...

Here are some shots of the lionfish display. I counted about 20 large lionfish:
http://www.mendisfamily.net/images/atlantis/images/DSC00464.jpg

http://www.mendisfamily.net/images/atlantis/images/DSC00466.jpg

Here is a mixed display:
http://www.mendisfamily.net/images/atlantis/images/DSC00473.jpg

Several displays had colonies of tubastrea coral growing along the rockwork:
http://www.mendisfamily.net/images/atlantis/images/DSC00468.jpg

[rmendis]

The Lookdown fish (Selene vomer) display:
http://www.mendisfamily.net/images/atlantis/images/DSC00477.jpg

http://www.mendisfamily.net/images/atlantis/images/DSC00474.jpg

Another species display:
http://www.mendisfamily.net/images/atlantis/images/DSC00480.jpg

An intimidating view of the lagoon:
http://www.mendisfamily.net/images/atlantis/images/DSC00515.jpg

[rmendis]

Starfish from the "petting" tank:
http://www.mendisfamily.net/images/atlantis/images/DSC00485.jpg

A live conch. Most of the conch you'll see are cooked ones - they are a popular local dish.
http://www.mendisfamily.net/images/atlantis/images/DSC00484.jpg

One of the jellyfish displays. These were difficult to photograph:
http://www.mendisfamily.net/images/atlantis/images/DSC00488.jpg

[rmendis]

You eel-lovers would die for this tank. It had about 10 green morays in a beautiful display of broken pottery. Excuse the flash:
http://www.mendisfamily.net/images/atlantis/images/DSC00491.jpg

http://www.mendisfamily.net/images/atlantis/images/DSC00489.jpg

Not saltwater, but impressive nonetheless. A huge piranha display:
http://www.mendisfamily.net/images/atlantis/images/DSC00493.jpg

[rmendis]

The triggerfish were huge (~14+ inches). I can't believe we keep these in our home tanks:
http://www.mendisfamily.net/images/atlantis/images/DSC00526.jpg

http://www.mendisfamily.net/images/atlantis/images/DSC00535.jpg

[rmendis]

Pics from some of the outdoor habitats...

One of the shark pools:
http://www.mendisfamily.net/images/atlantis/images/DSC00501.jpg

Rays & sharks:
http://www.mendisfamily.net/images/atlantis/images/DSC00511.jpg

This guy was about 4 feet long:
http://www.mendisfamily.net/images/atlantis/images/DSC00509.jpg

[rmendis]

When a mag float just won't do:
http://www.mendisfamily.net/images/atlantis/images/DSC00527.jpg

Another reason to quit:
http://www.mendisfamily.net/images/atlantis/images/DSC00510.jpg

[rmendis]

A little (in comparison to the other tanks) seahorse display:
http://www.mendisfamily.net/images/atlantis/images/DSC00537.jpg

http://www.mendisfamily.net/images/atlantis/images/DSC00540.jpg

Here's looking at you:
http://www.mendisfamily.net/images/atlantis/images/DSC00554.jpg

[rmendis]

They did have a reef display, probably around 300 gal, with some nice large pieces:
http://www.mendisfamily.net/images/atlantis/images/DSC00541.jpg

Sponges and Yellow dusters were everywhere:
http://www.mendisfamily.net/images/atlantis/images/DSC00546.jpg

http://www.mendisfamily.net/images/atlantis/images/DSC00553.jpg

Some of the lower corals were dead, perhaps due to insufficient light:
http://www.mendisfamily.net/images/atlantis/images/DSC00545.jpg

All in all, a nice display:
http://www.mendisfamily.net/images/atlantis/images/DSC00552.jpg

[rmendis]

Hope you enjoyed the pics.
If you get a chance to go to the Bahamas, I highly recommend a visit to Atlantis. It is well worth it.

http://www.atlantis.com/images/logo.gif
www.atlantis.com

Cheers!

[Sc4r3d]

Thanks for your time to post these GREAT pics Rich.

Thanks!

Sc4r3d

[gbtower]

I was just there this past March, but I didn't know that they had all that! I checked out the large display and outdoor displays (under the cafe), but the private ones were for guests only and we were staying next door. Darn it!

[Racenrich]

Great job on the photos!
AWESOME displays.
I've been looking into heading there for my honeymoon? What do you think?
Will the significant other be bored?
Hows the scuba?

Rich K.

[David001]

I went to the Paradise Island Fun Club about 6 or 7 years ago before they did a major renovation and they didnt have all of that at the Atlantis.It was still a great time though.The tanks were all great and they had an underwater tunnel that my ex and I got a few shots in.I took some underwater shots while I was there,all in all it was a good honeymoon.

[rmendis]

Racenrich: Atlantis would be a fantasic place to honeymoon. It has pretty much everything you want: nice beaches, gourmet restaurants, casino, island culture, relaxing pools, spas, duty-free shopping, watersports, tennis, golf, etc. There is plenty for both of you to do. We even saw a couple getting married there. We did not go scuba or snorkeling, but I suspect it is world-class.

If you make the trip, here are some recommendations based on my experience:
- Stay at the Royal Towers (not the Coral or Beach Towers)
- Make reservations at the restaurants ahead of time (especially the One&Only club restaurant. Pierce Brosnan & Salma Hayek are currently staying there for a shoot.)
- Book scuba and snorkeling excursions well in advance
- Do not get the meal package (it ties you down)

[gbtower]

If you go scuba, I would recommend the south side of the island over the northeast side (don't know about the other sides). We dove near Atlantis (don't remember company name) and with Stuart Coves on the other side, and it was like night and day. Granted this is the carribean and not the south pacific, but the south side just had more life in general. BTW, we did 3 3-tank dives which each company. Stuart Coves can get crowded, mostly for snorkelers though, but the people were really friendly (we took out our divemaster for some dinner/drinks the last day).

[CCAniman]

Gotta love that sign. Awesome pics thanks for sharing

[deepblue68]

awesome pictures
thanks

[fishtanker]

great pics...i was there on my honeymoon in March. i remember that sign, very funny. Atlantis is an awesome place to visit..great fishtanking experience

[ozadars]

nice piranha tank. These statues are very cool! I can think of doing something like that in a huge reef tank then cover w/ corals.

[lilbuddy]

thanks...

[minfinger]

I knew I screwed up when I didn't go see the Tanks when I was there. Those pictures are awesome.

All my pictures are of the inside of the Casino :D

[DerekW]

What are the litle fish hanging out with the triggers I wonder, They look like they might be cleaning them

[ocamrzr]

My wife and I were lucky enough to travel to Atlantis for our honeymoon and that is the very reason I have a reef tank! Their displays are simply amazing, we stayed 6 days and just kept going back to the tanks, never got bored. Plus there are so many other attractions, the casino is great. We are hoping to go back, but know it is not an inexpensive vacation but definitely one that you will remember. They have a mantaray that has an 8' wingspan, really too many details to mention but an amazing experience.