Swim With Dolphins!

Swimming with Dolphins is great and can be experienced at several places in Florida.  Three of the main places are Sea World (Orlando), Dolphins Plus (Key Largo) and Theater of the sea (Islamorada). 

Dolphins Plus is an education and research facility located at Key Largo and home to 12 Atlantic bottle nose dolphins and 2 California sea lions.  The focus of Dolphins Plus is to educate the public about dolphins and their environment, and to give visitors the chance to join their world.  Swimmers can interact with the dolphins in a lagoon. There are two swim programs- Structured and Natural. With the structured program you will join an educational briefing about the dolphins and then go into the water and through a set of trained behaviors.  The type of contact with the dolphins depends on the trainer and the dolphins.  This is a good program for people wanting contact on a one to one basis. (see shaking hands below).  The natural program takes you into the water with snorkel, fins and mask.  Contact with the dolphins is not guaranteed as it is up to the dolphins to make that decision.  Dolphins Plus is also at the forefront of dolphin assisted therapy for people with special needs.  There is  a gift shop you may visit before or after your swim.  Changing rooms and showers are provided along with a viewing area for non swimmers to watch and take photos if they wish. There is also a facility to arrange to have a video made of your swim.

To find out about cost and booking arrangements click on the link to Dolphins Plus 

To find Dolphins Plus- As you drive into Key Largo from the north you will pass the Holiday Inn Hotel on your left, at Mile Marker 100.  At the traffic lights turn left, go one block and turn right, go another block and turn left into Ocean Bay Drive.  Stay on this road until you come to a small bridge.  DON'T go over the bridge.  Turn right just before the bridge and Dolphins Plus is on the corner and a car park is on the right.  If you are coming from the south turn right at the traffic lights and follow the above directions. (Dolphins Plus is approx 60 miles from Miami).

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Theater of the Sea is a seventeen acre park and home to bottle nose dolphins, sea lions, sea turtles, tropical fish sharks, stingrays and birds of pray.  The park offers a similar dolphin swim program as Dolphins Plus but also has a sea lion swim program, snorkel with stingrays, trainer for the day and a four hour cruise.  The stingray program allows you to feed and swim with stingrays from a shallow sandy beach. While snorkeling you will be able to see tropical fish without going to the reef.  The cruise takes you to a shallow water reef where you have an hour to snorkel. Changing rooms and showers are provided.  Click on the link to find out more about  Theater of the Sea 

Theater of the Sea is at the side of the road in Islamorada, halfway between Miami and Key West.  Mile Marker 84.5 on US route 1. (approx 77 miles from Miami).

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Sea World at Orlando.  I have no information on the dolphin swim program as I have not visited this part of Sea World.  Click on the link to find out more about Sea World

All the swim programs are very popular.  Don't wait until you are in Florida to book your swim because you may find they are fully booked at the time of your visit.  Book early to avoid disappointment.  Bookings can usually only be made by phone.  Sea World has the most to offer for a family day out but if you are only interested in swimming with dolphins I would suggest you go to Dolphins Plus.

Copyright 2002-2003  Site by D.Goddard