Swimming with dolphins is always an experience worth enjoying. Apart from several world-renowned aquariums that let visitors swim with these friendly mammals, there are certain destinations around the world that offer visitors one of a kind interactive and educations dolphin experiences.
Here are some of those best places that bring you closer to dolphins and allow you to swim with them!
Discovery Cove in Orlando, Florida
The Discovery Cove in Orlando is a must visit destination for all dolphin lovers, thanks to its world renowned ‘Trainer for a Day’ program that allows guests to learn everything there is to know about dolphins, including the way they behave and communicate. Visitors will be paired up with a marine expert who would help them with the same.
The program also includes an interactive dolphin session for 30 minutes in which guests will get to enjoy a dorsal fin ride and a double foot push maneuver (two dolphins would push them through the water) around the lagoon. The program finishes with a private photo session wherein the guests can pose along the dolphins for some quick and memorable snaps.
Marsa Alam in Red Sea, Egypt
A quintessential modern resort that caters to travelers from around the world, the Marsa Alam Resort is located along a striking coastline filled with filled with some of the best and richest underwater life found in the Red Sea. And in addition to exploring the diverse underwater life in the region via scuba diving adventures (the area houses over 200 species of corals and over 1000 kinds of invertebrates), visitors to the resort can opt to swim alongside several dolphins who would be more than willing to give them company.
Dolphinaris in Cancun, Mexico
Visitors to the Dolphinaris in Cancun would be treated to specialized workshops on dolphin psychology and behaviors as part of a larger swim program that also lets them swim along with these gentle creatures, get a fin shake and a kiss from them, and enjoy a dorsal fin ride. The program also offers a visit to the Dolphin Planet workshops that allow guests to get useful insights on the characteristic behavioral patterns of dolphins and the way they adapt to changing environmental conditions. Once the workshop ends, guests can opt to visit the Dolphin Park, a theme park for families.
Oahu Island in Hawaii
Considered to be one of the liveliest islands of Hawaii, Oahu is a quaint amalgamation of several cultures and communities. The island offers plenty of land and water activities for its guests. And one among them happens to be swimming with dolphins. The waters around Oahu are home to nearly 8 different kinds of dolphins, all of which are extremely playful (and rather inquisitive). And the best way to get as close to them as possible is to sign up for a tour that would offer the activity along with other activities like scuba diving and snorkeling.
Akaroa in New Zealand
Formerly a combined British and French settlement, Akaroa in New Zealand is a historic village located in a now extinct volcano. With extremely friendly locals to greet them, visitors to Akaroa never go back disgruntled. And apart from the attractions on the mainland, the village is surrounded by waters that house the smallest species of marine dolphins. Visitors to the village can therefore, enjoy relaxing swims with these mammals in addition to opting for other activities like sailing and cruising.
Dolphin Research Center in Marathon, Florida
Like the Discovery Cove in Orlando, the Dolphin Research Center in Marathon, Florida, offers its visitors a program called ‘Researcher for a Day’ which enables them to join hands with an onsite dolphin research team to help with cognition studies related to dolphins (for instance, blindfolded imitation).
The non-profit facility is visited mainly for educational purposes and also offers an interactive program called ‘Dolphin Dip’ for kids. The program involves an up close and personal encounter with dolphins in addition to teaching kids dolphin signals and the flipper shake greeting. Finally, the ‘Paint with a Dolphin’ program would enable guests to get a hand (oops sorry, fin) painted T. shirt from the onsite Picasso.
Dolphin Cay in the Bahamas
Stretching for over 14 acres, the Dolphin Cay is an extravagant habitat located on the grounds of the Atlantis Resort on in the Bahamas. The resort offers plenty of interactive activities for guests to learn more about dolphins and their behaviors.
Some of these include the opportunity to enjoy a shallow water interaction with a dolphin or sea lion (offered for children below 10), the ‘Ultimate Trainer for a Day Program’ that enables kids above 10 to enjoy a customized training program from an onsite marine specialist and the deep sea program that allows adults to enjoy graceful swims alongside dolphins with the help of a hand held water scooter.