Aquatic Design & Engineering
Splashaway Bay at Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day Island at CocoCay
Bahamas
Architect: HKS
Aquatic Consultant: Aquatic Design & Engineering
Builder: Bahamas Environmental Group
Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing Engineer: CH2M
Startup and Monitoring: CES
Day tripping for tots
The cruise line Royal Caribbean has a private island in the Bahamas, called Perfect Day at CocoCay, where ships dock so guests can visit for a day of recreation.
The space already included parks meant for teens and adults. Splashaway Bay, the latest addition, provides a destination for younger children. On one side, kids find five slides that terminate in a 2-foot-deep wading pool. On the other, at a higher elevation, they can frolic in a zero-depth-entry playground with various spray elements.
Users can move back and forth between the two primary areas via a raised wall and steps that also provide a place for parents to sit while monitoring their tots.
On the sprayground, an elevated play structure draws on children’s instincts for exploration while also assisting with safety and sightlines: The elevated portion, featuring several water toys, provides a spot for lifeguards to perch. And because it’s set like a bridge, parents can see under it for unimpeded views of their little ones. Two large dumping buckets — one set on either side of the bridge — give children a reason to run from area to the other.
The bright, child-friendly colors were used to signal changes in setting. For instance, the floor of the raised bridge shifts color to indicate a new section. Each slide has its distinct hue, making it easier for kids to identify and talk about the ones they like.
Suppliers:
Controller/Control System: BECS Technology
Filtration: Neptune-Benson
Interactive Waterfeatures: Vortex Aquatic Structures
Pumps: Marlow Pumps
Slides: WhiteWater West
Flooring: Life Floor
MEP: CH2M
Chlorine Generator: ChlorKing Startup and Monitoring: CES
UV System: ETS UV Technology