With 13 species of toothed dolphins swimming in the warm waters of Hawaii, the most common are: the Hawaiian spinner, spotted, bottlenose and rough-toothed dolphins. Akaroa, New Zealand Akaroa is one of the best places in the world for a wild dolphin swim because you will find large pods of Dusky dolphins there virtually all year round and it's rare for any of the dolphin expedition boats to come back without finding them. A former tourism director for NYC, Laurie Jo is a dual UK/US citizen who covered the 2012 London Olympics for "Best of Britain" and received the 2013 Yahoo Contributor of the Year Award. The many action-filled packages offered featuring swimming with the dolphins gives you a chance to get firsthand experience in observing their behaviors and learning all you can about the species. Our guests can experience our dolphins in their natural seawater homes on the Gulf of Mexico (Bayside) in Key Largo, Florida. In Akaroa harbor you will get to spend some time with the Hectors dolphin and your chances of swimming with them are pretty good because they inhabit the inner harbor daily during the summer months and the outer harbor during winter. There is something for everyone at Gulf World Marine Park to enjoy. Epcot Sea Adventures Dolphins in Depth at Walt Disney World/ Facebook. Key West, Florida Vacation 1. Key West Swim with Dolphins (305) 501-4898 With this exclusive 3 4 hours of activities, youll have a sea lion encounter and see marine animal shows that will put a smile on anyones face. A few of the impressive packages offered to guests include the 3 Day Dolphin Swim Program and the 1 Week Dolphin Swim Program. No Walk In reservations! 1. My husband and I participated in the shallow water experience. In Key West there are so many things to do as a family, but swimming with the dolphins at Fury Water Adventures would make your vacation one for the books! If there are officially named tropical storms or hurricane, you may reschedule for another date without any change fee or get a gift certificate for 2 years to come back again. Large pods of Hectors can be seen giving stunning aerobatic displays. Theater of the Sea provides swimming with dolphins, sea lions, and stingrays. Stop by the other Keys first to swim, and settle in Key West for the sandy beaches and resorts. After all Im sure they need down time too! No jewelry may be worn in the animal interaction programs. This is one of the most popular snorkeling spots in the continental United States. Swim in a wave pool And so much more! Fill the box in the right side if you like our product and want to help improve it: We promise not to spam you, scout's honor! We had a really memorable, unforgettable experience. We got to stay a few minutes after to ask questions and watch Samantha and her baby Luna swim together. Even though a Water Planet dolphin tour is not as hands on as a captive facility, there is no shortage of fun to be had and things to be learned from the amazing dolphins! Dedicating their lives to the field of marine mammal care, education, and research, the Dolphin Research Center hosts more than 70,000 visitors a year to educate and provide unforgettable memories to dolphin lovers who come to participate in all the research center has to offer. Underwater cameras are allowed at the trainers discretion. Non-participating guests may observe and take photos of their partys program poolside with general admission to the park/shows. The tour also includes a chance to snorkel the Keys' famous coral reefs. Swimming with these beautiful creatures in the blue waters of the ocean is an incredible experience. Top 10 Places for Swimming with Dolphins Please log in or create a new account to be able to share with Explorra. We have been involved with the Dolphin Swims and Dolphin Encounters in the Florida Keys since 1995. Enjoy the Stingray Interactive Program, the Harbor Seal Encounter, attend the Sea Lion Meet N Greet, see Russell the crow, and so many more! Dolphins are extremely social and gentle to humans. Swimming with the dolphins is the Miami Seaquarium most popular attraction. We brought our granddaughter to Key Largo for a brief vacation with our friends and young children. If so, you are in for a real treat! Nature & Wildlife Tours Stand Up Paddleboarding, Parasailing & Paragliding Adrenaline & Extreme Tours, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park Concession, Parasailing & Paragliding Scuba & Snorkelling, Dolphins Plus Bayside, Key Largo: Hours, Address, Dolphins Plus Bayside Reviews: 4.5/5. From the moment we arrived on location, every employee we encountered was friendly and helpful. Based in San Francisco, Laurie Jo Miller Farr is career-long destination and hotel marketing specialist. Just imagine swimming side by side with a pod of dolphins, which are know to be very sociable. Top 10 Places for Swimming with Dolphins. The shallow water swim is a complete waste of time if you are over 12 yrs old. With this many opportunities to get up close and personal with the marine life, your trip to the Miami Seaquarium is sure to be fun filled and educational! I learned how to do hand signals and the dolphins did them, I received a present from one of them (leaf), and got to shake both of their hands. Client Update From FCTG Managing Director Graham Turner. Fury Dolphin Watch Snorkeling Tour. Swimmers should be comfortable treading in 20 feet/6 meters of water with or without a life jacket while using fins. But the packages vary in price; its according to the trained behavior and the experience youre looking to have. Swimming with the dolphins is one of the many amazing perks of visiting the Dolphin Research Center. All Participants must be 5 years old and up. A 10% service charge will apply per person for any cancellations prior 31 days of activity date. At Gulf World Marine Park, you will find a friendly staff who not only love the marine life they care for, but also a staff who love to educate parkgoers about the dogs of the sea. 6 Places You Can Go Swimming With Dolphins In Key West In the heart of Key Largo, Florida, DPMMR has made it their mission to the conservation and protection of marine mammals all while educating and giving guests incredible encounters with the animals they care for at the facility. Key West is best for open swimming with the dolphins with a private, open-ocean . If you are looking for more marine life fun, then check out the Epcot Sea Adventures Aqua Tour for the opportunity to snorkel with 6,000 sea creatures from over 60 aquatic species in a 2.5-hour experience. 2020 USATODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, Inc. Swimming with Dolphins in the Florida Keys | Hawks Cay *Based on Australian registered businesses & websites for travel departing within Australia. I have no idea how long we were in the water, but I certainly didn't feel rushedalthough I could've stayed all day! We checked in and went down by the water to the teaching area. The sea lion swim and shows, will go on most of the time. Visitor Safety: 4.5/5 Dolphin Welfare: 4/5 Learning Opportunities: 3.5/5 Interaction Quality: 3.5/5 Family-friendliness: 5/5 Click For Best Price #2nd Best Choice Marineland Dolphin Adventure Please contact your Dolphin World specialist to see if any are good for you. The Seal Swim, Penguin Encounter, Sea Trek Reef Encounter, Shark and Crownose Ray Interaction, touch pools, Caribbean Flamingo sightings at the parks entrance, sea turtle exhibits and many more presentations to choose from during your visit to Miami Seaquarium! A10412. The Azores provide one of the best habitats in the world for marine mammals as more than 24 species (25% of the world's known species) have been identified off the coast. 20 of the World's Best Spots to Swim With Dolphins During the interaction you can cheer on the Participants and take photos. They asked the dolphins if they wanted to participate and gave Samantha time as she was socializing with the other dolphins. We have always wanted to swim with dolphins! No more than six people go out on a 3.5-hour boat trip equipped with snorkel gear, flotation noodles, soft drinks, bottled water and snacks. 4 persons. These two programs offer guests a deeper understanding of dolphins, how they interact, social behaviors, and more time observing them in their natural habitat. Some of the different packages based around swimming with the dolphins include the Royal Swim, Dolphin Odyssey, and Dolphin Encounter. Imagine gliding along with or side-by-side with these gentle creatures. Find amazing holidays, inspiration and share your travel experiences. Dolphin Swim & Snokel Trip - Florida Keys (305) 501-4898 Dolphin Swim & Snorkel Trip Dolphin Swim & Snorkel Trip Important advice to dolphin lovers: book early there are a lot of you out there. Watch on. Many of their animals are easily viewed by a bottomless boat ride or by taking a trip to the private lagoon-side beach where you can snorkel and animal watch, by catching one of the many shows offered in general admission, or by booking an animal interaction program for a more hands on experience! SeaWorld is a major attraction in the country and one of its main highlights is Dolphin Cove, the biggest interactive dolphin attraction in the world. Dates and times vary. Key West. My twin 14 year old boys chose to do the Signature Swim while visiting the Keys. Does your program go on Rain or Shine?Yes, this program goes on Rain or Shine. Not only do you get to participate in food preparation, make a stage appearance in the dolphin show in front of an audience, but you also receive a complimentary Gulf World Marine Park trainer t-shirt to remember the amazing experience forever! During the visit, you will interact with the dolphins and gain access to the backstage areas where the dolphins are trained. She is editor of The Travel Vertical, a weekly newsletter for digital travel marketers. Azores is a fabulous wild dolphin swim destination. Shallow Swim is a joke for anyone over 10-12 yrs old. 11 Best Places to Swim with Dolphins in Florida About an hour's drive south of Miami, visitors reach Key Largo, northernmost of the 120-mile stretch of the Overseas Highway that connects the islands. At DPMMR, the trainers and staff are there to guide and educate each guest, so they can have a safe and fulfilling time with the dolphins in the lagoon. They are very knowledgeable and were relaxed throughout the session, putting everyone at ease, reducing the children's anxiety and increasing their anticipation. A destination brimming with attractions and activities, there is, quite literally, something for everyone here. 94% of travelers recommend this experience. This allows our Animal Care staff the opportunity to watch the participants as well as the dolphins to ensure the best safest program results possible. After driving over the seven-mile bridge, this Key is a place for adults to party and sunburn. I had prepaid for the picture package, and the link for the pictures was emailed to me by the end of the day. The Florida Keys are a string of islands on the southern tip of the peninsula. Dolphin SMART is essentially a program dedicated to the protection and responsible observation of dolphins. If you arent interested in getting in the water with the dolphins, there is an option to book the Meet a Dolphin package that includes a lesson about all things dolphin with a trainer, and for approximately 10-15 minutes you will get to touch and feed the resident dolphins. I have an eight year old sister, Marliegh. Looking for the Best Places to Swim with Dolphins in Florida? There are many dolphin watching destinations available to those who want to have the experience of a lifetime. The Trainers do an excellent job of educating everyone about the Dolphins, explaining their uniqueness and safety behaviors. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Theater of The Sea offers programs such as: Swim with the Dolphin, Express Dolphin Swim, Ultimate Swim Wade with the Dolphin, and Wade with the Dolphin. Meet and interact with our dolphins in our hands-on Structured and Shallow Water Dolphin Swims or snorkel freely alongside the dolphins in our Guided Natural Dolphin Swim program for the dolphin encounter of a lifetime. 14 Best Florida Bachelorette Party Destinations! One thing Id recommend is having someone to take pictures of the group, it was just me and my friend so we both went in and had to pay $90 for pictures (though they turned out great!). The Best Places to Swim and Dive with Dolphins. There big pods of wild dolphins in the area so it makes it truly great tourist attraction. Our kids loved it. Key West is not like . Florida Keys Swim with Dolphins Tour and Ticket. There's no disappointment, as Theater of the Sea is open 365 days a year. After driving over the seven-mile bridge, this Key is a place for adults to party and sunburn. Large pods of short-beaked common dolphins are often seen and they adore riding the bow waves of boats. You do not need to have a printed voucher. Along with getting to interact with our marine mammals, guests will learn all about these amazing creatures, and the importance of marine conservation, from our knowledgeable and well-trained staff of trainers and instructors. Are glasses/contacts permitted in the water?Contact lenses can be worn. 101900 Overseas Hwy Bay Side, Key Largo, FL 33037-2668, $$ - $$$ Italian Pizza Vegetarian Friendly, $$ - $$$ American Seafood Contemporary, $$ - $$$ Caribbean Jamaican Vegetarian Friendly, This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. So called for their high, spinning leaps, spinner dolphins are known as playful, eager bow-riders throughout much of their range. WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THE PURCHASE OF TRIP INSURANCE, which will cover your purchase 100% for any interruptions to your Dolphin World activities! John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Key Largo. It was by no means an inexpensive activity, but I can say without hesitation that our experience was worth every penny! Jamaica United Arab Emirates Dominican Republic There are a few other countries in which you can swim with dolphins, but these are the main ones that famously offer the experience to tourists. A life jackets can be provided at no cost for use during the sea lion session. Other than swimming with the dolphins, there is an endless list of things to do and see at Epcot! 4 persons. Reservation in advance is a must with a Master Card, Visa, American Express, Discover, Paypal, ApplePay or Bitcoin. 1. Im wondering about the meet the Dolphin and the shallow experience. Due to its approach to Dolphin Connection, is the perfect tour in Florida Keys to spend after or before your swim with dolphins. Swim With the Dolphins in Key Largo, FL | Dolphins Plus Wonderful set up for the spectators to view and take pictures. Stop dreaming and start planning. The Florida Keys are a collection of tropical islands extending off the southern tip of Florida. Confirmation number is a must for entrance. Places to swim with dolphins near Key West - 305-501-4898 This program is not available to expectant mothers. The "Trainer for a Day" program lets you shadow a marine expert and learn all about dolphin behavior and communication. Check the specific programs below for details. What hotels are near Dolphins Plus Bayside? Swim with dolphins in the Florida Keys while learning about consevation of the species. Our dolphin swims are available to the public throughout the year and are a great addition to your Florida vacation. 631 Greene Street Key West FL 33040. Located just at 5 minutes away in Grassy Key, you will have the opportunity to do some extreme activities in a lagoon. Key West is 50 miles south of Marathon where bottlenose dolphin adventures means getting out on a boat or catamaran to swim with them in their natural habitat. Key West is an island in the Straits of Florida at the southernmost tip of the Florida Keys. Do you have a restaurant on the property?A snack bar/grill is available and serves a variety of delicious foods at the the facility. Hectors dolphin, one of the worlds smallest and rarest dolphins, is found around South Island, with a separate sub-species Mauis dolphin found around the western coast of North Island. Wetsuits can be rented. Gracias. Explorra is only a venue for advertising but does not actually sell holidays. Deep-sea fishing is common in this area, so it is a popular place for the locals to spend a weekend fishing. There were 3 or so dolphins, 4 staff members and the dolphins did some tricks (with proper fish snack motivation of course). They did not actually swim or get in with the dolphins, but they got to pet them and have them do several tricks with them. No Walk In reservations! Outdoor Showers and Changing rooms available. If you can have someone in your party stay out and take photos then do it. There are four species often seen in the Red Sea - common dolphins, bottlenose, spinners and the shy Risso's dolphin. The archipelago is made up of atolls and coral cays with hundreds of different islands around them. THE 5 BEST Places to Swim with Dolphins in Florida Keys Observers participate in all aspects of the program minus the in-water interaction. Bottlenose dolphins, common, Rissos and spinners are all common to the region, and pan-tropical dolphins and their exuberant displays popular with visitors. However, I would like to take a moment and address your concerns mentioned above. Kids and adults can enjoy the activity, and it is a safe environment for the dolphins and the family. Florida is known for its wildlife, warm weather, and premier destinations, that is why it is no surprise that it is one of the best states to experience the magic of marine life and get up close and personal with dolphins. Swim with Dolphins in the Florida Keys | Hawks Cay Resort Florida Keys Dolphin Swim (800) 667-5524 Thank you for reaching out to us. Top 10 places to swim with dolphins in Florida - that you'll love! A village in New Zealand, with many small bays and a great coastline. Can handicapped individuals participate?While this dolphin program does accept handicapped individuals, this program is not a Dolphin Therapy session. The wild spotted dolphins of Little Bahama Bank like to swim side by side with humans. Flight Centre Travel Group Limited trading as Travel Associates ABN 25 003 377 188 ACN 003 377 188 ATAS - Travel Accredited No. The trainers adore these animals and treat them with respect, care, compassion and enthusiasm. These two small islands in the Bahamas are only 50 miles east of Florida, and they offer more activities than any other Bahamian island.