Florida Dolphin SwimsYour guide to the Dolphin Swim Facilities of South Florida & the Florida Keys |
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What to Expect During Dolphin SwimsSwimming with dolphins is a dream shared by millions of people. The image of a young girl befriending a loving and intelligent dolphin, playing freely in crystal clear tropical waters is somehow central to our image of the ultimate unity between humans and nature. Dolphin facilities like the ones featured on this site let us enjoy an extraordinary experience and live part of the dolphin dream. A swim with the dolphins can mean a lot of different things and each facility has its own way of offering a dolphin encounter. Dolphin interactions range from a dockside "Meet the Dolphins" experience in which the participants are introduced to the dolphins from the waters edge, to a snorkel with dolphins program in which the participants are in the water swimming freely amongst a pod of dolphins. The most common experience available is a dolphin encounter or trainer lead dolphin swim. These programs generally involve a series of in-water trained behaviors and interactions with the participants in the water. Typical behaviors include a dorsal fin ride, belly rub, kisses, hand shakes and swim alongs. The dolphin is rewarded with food or a favorite activity after each contact with the human. For a first time experience this type of program is the most rewarding. Participants get the most direct contact with dolphins and have the types of interactions that they generally have in mind. The best programs offer a full in-water experience with one-on-one interaction. These programs vary greatly and picking the right facility can make the difference between a great time and an expensive disappointment. We recommend looking over individual web sites carefully and calling the facility with any questions:
Though all of the swim facilities in south florida are reputable, we can recommend Dolphins Plus and Dolphins Cove. Both are located in Key Largo, Florida and both offer similar programs. Both facilities care for Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins in a natural sea water environment. A few things make these two facilities special. First, each participant is guaranteed one-to-one interaction with a dolphin in their structured session. The sessions are based on a number of behaviors and are not time base. Also, both facilities have a very relaxed family atmosphere that puts visitors at ease. The biggest reason we recommend these two facilities is because of the unique natural dolphin swim program. This is a true snorkel with the dolphins program in which all interaction is left up to the dolphins. No food reinforcements or trained behaviors, just you and the dolphins interacting in a natural way. Before picking your dolphin swim facility, we recommend mostly that you look at the web sites for information. No one facility is right for everyone and each of us is looking for something slightly different. The main thing is to have fun and take the plunge. Meeting a dolphin face to face is an experience of a lifetime not to be missed. |