Ever dreamed of swimming with a dolphin? This interactive experience is offered at marine parks and beaches around the world, and it’s sure to be an excursion you won’t soon forget. You can create lasting vacation memories with a dolphin swim experience at one of these top eight spots around the world.
Dolphin Quest at Kahala Resort, Oahu, Hawaii
Spend a day in the shoes of a dolphin trainer at Dolphin Quest, where you’ll go behind-the-scenes to feed and care for dolphins before spending several hours with them in the water. If you’re bringing the family, there is also an all-ages swim where the entire family can get up close with these beautiful creatures.
Black Cat, Akaroa, New Zealand
With New Zealand’s rolling green hills and volcanic cliffs in the background, you’ll take a cruise through the blue-green waters and meet the small Hector’s dolphins in Akaroa Harbour, a marine animal sanctuary.
UNEXO, Freeport, Grand Bahama
Underwater Explorers Society offers dolphin encounters at “Sanctuary Bay,” a lagoon that’s home to 14 bottlenose dolphins. Experiences range from kissing dolphins to swimming with one in the open Atlantic ocean or spending a half-day learning to care for them as an assistant trainer.
SeaWorld, San Diego, CA
In sunny San Diego, you can feed bottle nose dolphins while communicating with newly learned hand signals from dry land or hop into the pool for an interactive experience.
Discovery Cove, Orlando, FL
Learn all about marine life at Discovery Cove, where guests six and older can hug, kiss and rub a bottlenose dolphin during the 30-minute experience.
Dolphin Discovery, Cancun, Mexico
A 20-minute boat ride from Cancun’s Hotel Zone, Dolphin Discovery on Isla Mujeres offers everything from dolphin kisses to manatee feeding. The Sea Life Discovery Plus program provides free time with the dolphins, tricks like handshakes and encounters with manatees and sea lions.
Dolphin Cove, Ocho Rios, Jamaica
At Dunn’s River Falls in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, dolphins offer kisses, dorsal pulls and foot pushes during the 30-minute Ultimate Swim program. Dolphin Cove also offers shark shows and a chance to snorkel with manta rays.
Dubai Dolphinarium, United Arab Emirates
The dolphin program includes 20 minutes in the water during either a private or mixed session. You’ll also be able to watch a dolphin show at this state-of-the-art facility.
(Main image: brittreints)
