Who Owns Aquaventure Waterpark?
Aquaventure Waterpark is owned by Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE: BAM), a Canadian alternative asset manager that acquired Kerzner International, the parent company of Atlantis Resorts, in 2012. Aquaventure operates as an attraction within the Atlantis Paradise Island resort complex on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. Brookfield is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and manages approximately $1 trillion in assets under management as of 2025.
Parent Company
Atlantis Resorts
Acquired
2012
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
Paradise Island, New Providence, Bahamas
Who Owns Aquaventure Waterpark?
- Parent Company: Atlantis Resorts
- Ownership Type: Wholly owned
- Acquisition Year: 2012
- Company Type: Privately Held
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Aquaventure Waterpark | Atlantis Resorts | Wholly owned |
History of Aquaventure Waterpark
- Founded: 1998
- Founders: Sol Kerzner
- Acquired by Atlantis Resorts: 2012
Sol Kerzner opened Atlantis Paradise Island on December 12, 1998, following a multi-year redevelopment of the former Club Med and Merv Griffin resort properties on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. Aquaventure was a centerpiece of the original opening, designed as a major water-based attraction to anchor the resort's entertainment offering.
The original Aquaventure featured the Mayan Temple, a 40-foot waterslide structure that became the park's signature ride. The park also included a 1.4-mile river ride called the Current, multiple swimming areas, and extensive water slide complexes. Total water capacity across the system at opening was approximately 14 million gallons.
Kerzner International substantially expanded Aquaventure in 2007 with the opening of The Cove and The Reef towers at Atlantis, which added new pool areas, the Power Tower slide complex featuring five slides including the Leap of Faith near-vertical drop slide, and additional river ride sections. The park grew to its current footprint of 141 acres.
In 2006, Kerzner International was taken private by a consortium including Colony Capital, Goldman Sachs Capital Partners, and members of the Kerzner family. Brookfield Asset Management acquired full control in 2012 for a price that was not publicly disclosed. Under Brookfield ownership, Aquaventure has received ongoing capital investment in maintenance and selective attraction upgrades, though no major new expansion has been announced as of June 2026.
In 2017, Atlantis launched a new property on the site called Atlantis Bahamas, rebranding the complex from "Atlantis Paradise Island." Aquaventure continues under the Atlantis Bahamas umbrella.
About Atlantis Resorts
Who owns Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas?
Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas is owned by Brookfield Asset Management following a 2012 debt-for-equity restructuring with Kerzner International. The property is operated by Marriott International under a management agreement. Kerzner International no longer owns or operates the Bahamas property.
Who owns the Atlantis resorts in Dubai?
Atlantis The Palm and Atlantis The Royal in Dubai are owned and operated by Kerzner International, a private luxury hospitality company headquartered in Dubai. Kerzner International also owns Atlantis Sanya in China and the One&Only resort brand.
Is Atlantis publicly traded?
No. Neither Brookfield's Atlantis Paradise Island operation nor Kerzner International is separately publicly traded as an Atlantis entity. Brookfield Asset Management itself is publicly traded on the NYSE and TSX under BAM, but the Atlantis property is one asset within its broader portfolio.
When was Atlantis founded?
Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas opened in 1994 under Sol Kerzner's development. The resort expanded through the 1990s and 2000s. Atlantis The Palm in Dubai opened in 2008, and Atlantis The Royal opened in 2023.
How many Atlantis resorts are there?
There are four Atlantis-branded resorts: Atlantis Paradise Island (Nassau, Bahamas), Atlantis The Palm (Dubai), Atlantis The Royal (Dubai), and Atlantis Sanya (Hainan, China).
What is Aquaventure?
Aquaventure is the water park brand operated at Atlantis properties, featuring water slides, a lazy river, wave pools, and other water attractions. Aquaventure operates at Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas and at Atlantis The Palm in Dubai.
- Founded: 1994
- Headquarters: Paradise Island, Bahamas (Atlantis Paradise Island); Dubai, UAE (Kerzner International)
- Company Type: Privately Held
- Revenue: ~$2.0B (est., Kerzner International, FY2024)
- Employees: ~10,000
Where Is Aquaventure Waterpark Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Paradise Island, New Providence, Bahamas
Aquaventure Waterpark Recalls & Controversies
Animal Welfare Concerns: Aquaventure's Dolphin Cay facility, which hosts bottlenose dolphins for paid swimming and interaction experiences, has faced sustained criticism from animal welfare organizations including the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society. Critics argue that keeping cetaceans in captivity for tourist entertainment causes psychological harm. Atlantis maintains that Dolphin Cay serves marine research and rescue functions alongside entertainment. The debate is ongoing and no regulatory action has been taken by Bahamian authorities as of June 2026.
Hurricane Dorian Impact (2019): Hurricane Dorian struck the northern Bahamas in September 2019 as a Category 5 storm. The storm did not directly impact Paradise Island, but the scale of destruction in Abaco and Grand Bahama depressed overall Bahamas tourism for much of 2019 and 2020, affecting Aquaventure visitor numbers. No structural damage to Aquaventure was publicly reported.
Water Safety Incidents: Like all large water parks, Aquaventure has experienced guest injury incidents over its operating history. No major publicly documented fatality or recall has been reported at Aquaventure as of June 2026. The park employs lifeguards throughout the facility and is inspected by Bahamian safety authorities.
Brands Owned by Atlantis Resorts
- Dolphin Cay - 14-acre marine habitat and conservation center at Atlantis Paradise Island offer...
- The Beach Tower - Former hotel tower at Atlantis Paradise Island that was closed in 2021 and acqui...
- The Cove Atlantis - 600-suite luxury adults-only tower at Atlantis Paradise Island offering elevated...
- Harborside Resort at Atlantis - Villa-style accommodation complex at Atlantis Paradise Island featuring resident...
- The Royal Towers - Iconic hotel towers at Atlantis Paradise Island featuring luxury accommodations,...
Aquaventure Waterpark Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Brookfield's balance sheet and access to institutional capital supports ongoing investment in facilities
- +Scale of 141 acres creates a high barrier to competitive replication
- +Integrated with Atlantis hotel complex, driving captive demand from thousands of on-site hotel guests
- +Established brand recognition built over more than 25 years of operation
- +Prime Caribbean location with no direct comparable competitor on the same island
Considerations
- -Hurricane exposure is a material operational and financial risk in the Bahamas
- -Animal welfare criticism around Dolphin Cay poses reputational risk
- -High operational costs for water treatment and maintenance of a 20-million-gallon system
- -Business performance is closely tied to Atlantis hotel occupancy and broader Caribbean travel trends
- -No publicly disclosed financial reporting for Aquaventure as a standalone business unit
Frequently Asked Questions About Aquaventure Waterpark
Sources & Further Reading
- Atlantis Bahamas Official Website -
- Aquaventure Waterpark Page -
- Brookfield Asset Management Investor Relations -
- NYSE: Brookfield Asset Management (BAM) -
- Bahamas Tourism Authority Visitor Statistics -
- Whale and Dolphin Conservation: Captive Cetaceans -
- Wikidata: Aquaventure Waterpark -
- Forbes: Brookfield Asset Management Profile -
Competitors to Aquaventure Waterpark
No direct competitors found in the same category. This could be because Aquaventure Waterparkoperates in a unique market segment or we're still building our competitor database.
Jobs at Atlantis Resorts
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