Swimming with gentle and friendly bottlenose dolphins is an experience most adults and children would like to try. Whether staying in a hotel in Mexico or visiting for the day by cruise ship, there are several companies that offer this opportunity in lagoons, aquariums or water theme parks. Guides will prepare and orient you about dolphins and what to expect while in the water with them. Some programs also offer a chance to swim with sea lions, manatees and stingrays.
Things You'll NeedSwimsuit; Water shoes.
Step 1Gather information where a dolphin swim program is offered at or near your destination in Mexico. Speak with a travel agent familiar with this type of recreation. Some cruise ships offer land excursions that include swimming with dolphins at a port stop. Different programs offer different swimming experiences; so check carefully what is included with the price charged. Dolphin facilities are located on both the Mexican Riviera and Mexican Caribbean side, and include Puerto Vallarta, Cancun and Cozumel (see Resources below).
Step 2Begin your hour-long session with a dolphin orientation and behavioral presentation in groups of 8 to 10 people that can be a combination of children and adults. The dolphins will swim around you doing stunts while your guide shows you how to use hand signals to command the dolphins. As a participant, you will be standing in waist-deep water on a submerged mesh platform in about 3 feet of water. Each person takes a turn on the platform; be sure to wear your water shoes, as the platform can be uncomfortable. This is the time for any member of your family not in the water to take photographs of you.
Step 3As the dolphins swim by, you’ll be able to touch their skin, get a handshake or a kiss. You can even swim around the lagoon holding on to the dorsal fin. If you opt for the program that includes the “foot push,” a dolphin will lift you up out of the water and throw you into the air, and you will land safely back in the water. You can also wear a diving mask and watch the dolphins swim around you.
Step 4Enjoy a 10- to 15-minute opportunity to play freely toward the end of the session. After the swimming session, participants can purchase photos of themselves with the dolphins taken by one of the staff members.
TipsSome programs offer a 15-minute session for parents with children under 3 years old. If interested, inquire about the “Be a Dolphin Trainer for a Day” program.
WarningsMost programs require participants to be a minimum of 4 feet tall. Participants 4 feet tall or under must be accompanied by a paying adult. No expectant mothers are allowed. All participants must know how to swim.
Resources: Dolphinaris Website
Dolphin Discovery
By: Natasha Lawrence
Natasha Lawrence is a service journalist and photographer with over 20 years of writing experience for Internet destination companies such as Gayot.com, Wcities.com, Citysearch.com and SouthernTravelNews.com. She’s been a contributor to magazines like "Savannah Magazine," "Alaska Business Magazine," "Northern Virginia Magazine" and "Florida Woman." Her photographs have been on the cover of "Traveler of Charleston" and "Florida Artists."
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