Atlantis Digs

[Noble22]

Hello everyone. This is my first post here as I am planning my first cruise to Nassau for July of this year. I really enjoy wildlife-themed attractions, and the possibility of seeing manta rays at Atlantis' Digs is too much to pass up. I have read in posts from several years ago that it is possible to tour these aquariums for free after a certain time. Can anyone confirm that this is still applicable and if so, after what time are you able to visit for free?

 

Also, with my mention of the manta rays, are you able to see them from above the water as well as below?

 

Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[PaddleAddict]

I was just at the Dig this October, and you really can't tour the entire aquarium for free. Some people will say that later on in the day the guards go off duty and you will be able to sneak in, but this is not allowed and you may not be able to even pull it off.

 

There is a free area at the entrance to the Dig where you can see some really neat fish, but the good stuff is inside.

 

If you like fish, this aquarium is wonderful--I highly recommened it. I think it was only $35 per person, which I thought was reasonable. This included a guided tour, which was very informative. After the tour was over, you could wander around the aquarium all day by yourself.

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

The Digs are free after the guards go off duty for the day. In the winter this can be between 5pm and 6pm and during the summer it's later. Thus, accomplishing this requires that you're on a ship that is remaining in port late. This is not "cheating". They could close the tunnel off if they wanted to. The tunnel is open and it's free to enter after the guards leave. There is no guided tour; you're on your own.

 

The price used to be $29; the prior poster says $35. IMO either figure is a rip-off. You can see a lot more for a lot less at aquariums in Chicago, Atlanta, Tampa, New Orleans, etc. But to each their own.

 

BobK/Orlando

[MartyinGA]

King Bob is correct. It is not 'sneaking in' after 5. They can lock it up if they choose, but know that if they leave it open it costs them nothing and the people coming in might stay for dinner, buy something at the gift shop (open much later), drink or gamble.

You will see Manta and sting Rays. YOu can see them from above too, if you walk around outside, but the view is better from the digs. There is no place to pet a ray there, if you had that in mind.

[MamaParrotHead]

The Digs are free after the guards go off duty for the day. In the winter this can be between 5pm and 6pm and during the summer it's later. Thus, accomplishing this requires that you're on a ship that is remaining in port late. This is not "cheating". They could close the tunnel off if they wanted to. The tunnel is open and it's free to enter after the guards leave. There is no guided tour; you're on your own.

 

The price used to be $29; the prior poster says $35. IMO either figure is a rip-off. You can see a lot more for a lot less at aquariums in Chicago, Atlanta, Tampa, New Orleans, etc. But to each their own.

 

BobK/Orlando

 

Shedd Aquarium in Chicago is $23 for adults (displaying 26,000 marine animals), Atlanta Aquarium is $29.50 (with 100,000 marine animals), Atlantis Digs are now $32 (displaying 50,000 marine animals). Tampa Aquarium is $17.95 (displaying 20,000 PLANTS and marine animals), NOLA Aquairum of the Americas is $17.50 (with a whopping 10,000 animals on display). I don't know about how you make your calculations, but that isn't "a lot more for a lot less" in my book.

 

I don't see the prices for the decent aquariums being a whole lot different (the most being $9, especially considering EVERYTHING is more expensive in touristy areas), and the atmosphere and variety of species in the larger aquariums is well worth the extra price, IMO. The Digs seems like a really reasonable excursion option for families in Nassau, not like there's a WHOLE lot else to do there (most of the alternatives include being trapped on a charter bus and carted around the island like cattle on some ship sponsored excursion. Blech.).

[thecruisers723]

We went to Atlantis after 6:00 last March. We were able to go right into the digs and toured the entire thing for free. The gigantic Manta Ray was my favorite thing. I've never seen one as big as they have in my life and I've been to several aquariums in the past. I was in awe of the huge Manta Ray. The whole aquarium is amazing. We're going to Nassau again in a couple of weeks and plan to try to get back over to Atlantis after hours to see this again and spend a little time in the casino since we're in port until 3:00 AM. Does anyone know if there is a certain time that they discontinue allowing you to go through the digs at night?

[L&J]

We will be at the Digs in a few weeks. We are just taking a taxi over and buying tickets to get in to the Digs. I was under the impression that we could just wander around in there on our own. Do we have to wait for a guided tour to begin?

[Quampapetet]

You don't have to take a guided tour, but can wander at your own pace.