Daughter will be a senior this coming school year.
She decided to ask for a grad gift for us to all go on a family vacation which we haven't done in probably 10 years. The one caveat is that she wants to swim with dolphins.
I know I have seen some advertisements over the years for the "swim with dolphins" experiences. Don't recall where except for maybe Sea World.
Anyone here ever do it? Suggestions where the experience was good? Places to avoid? I believe a friend of hers just came back from Puerto Rico where they has the opportunity and this is what got her to thinking.
I took my wife to the Bahamas and we ended up swimming with dolphins. The dolphin part was cool, but the rest was kind of a racket. They don’t let you take pictures at all, so you get stuck paying for pictures if you want them. That might be something to look into when you research places.
We’ve not done the swim with dolphins adventure but we did stay at (or next to) a resort that offered it in Kona. I’m not sure what areas you’re interested in but Hawaii is accessible during this Kung Flu debacle, albeit with a few hoops to jump through. My wife just told me that she thinks it’s the Hilton Waikaloa. A co-worker went there and said it was one of her family’s favorite vacation. There are a lot of things to do around the resort which eliminates or reduces the need for a rental car and gives you various restaurants to choose from within walking distance.
Congratulations to your daughter and to mom and dad....the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new and exciting chapter. 👍
There's plenty of places that offer swimming with dolphins. The things to think about are the costs of getting and staying there. And the paperwork involved. Do you and everybody involved have the passports? And vaccination papers? That makes Florida and Hawaii a bit less hassle.
Last time for me was in Tampa Bay wade fishing. I had a plastic baggie of shrimp in my pocket and a huge Dolphin rubbed up against me mashing the shrimp up pretty good. Had to stop fishing because there were three and they were all around me. This in water less than 4 feet deep. And suddenly the fishing went to heck.
Last time for me was in Tampa Bay wade fishing. I had a plastic baggie of shrimp in my pocket and a huge Dolphin rubbed up against me mashing the shrimp up pretty good. Had to stop fishing because there were three and they were all around me. This in water less than 4 feet deep. And suddenly the fishing went to heck.
Can't help as to OP but at every opportunity recall a buddy I've hunted and fished with a bunch. Anyway, 30 miles off of Chatham one of the tuna baits gets crushed. BIG BLUEFIN TIGHT! Not exactly. Any idea what fighting a 600 lb marine mammal on stand-up and when at the boat hours later to remove hook and release it starts whistling a squeaking and making those crazy clicking sounds... Mate was like, I think I just understood his language and he wants us not to hurt him!" lol some of the things you can see and experience only offshore.
Can't help as to OP but at every opportunity recall a buddy I've hunted and fished with a bunch. Anyway, 30 miles off of Chatham one of the tuna baits gets crushed. BIG BLUEFIN TIGHT! Not exactly. Any idea what fighting a 600 lb marine mammal on stand-up and when at the boat hours later to remove hook and release it starts whistling a squeaking and making those crazy clicking sounds... Mate was like, I think I just understood his language and he wants us not to hurt him!" lol some of the things you can see and experience only offshore.
We took the kids to discovery cove in Fkorida a few years ago, I think it's part of sea world. They got a huge kick out of it. Ya pay extra for the "dolphin experience" but we got a free booze upgrade to all of whatever we wanted.
Anyway the dolphin thing was fun, the kids loved it. They were 18 and 16. Didnt think the dolphin was slimy or smelly. Felt like a wet inflated tire.
Avoid swimming with captive hamster dolphins in a tourist trap swimming pool.
Go to Kona Hawaii. swim about 300 yards out from the beach and swim with the wild spinner dolphins that come into the bay and feed every day. pretty cool. No they didn't try and hump me.
pm if interested
Originally Posted by Tarkio
Daughter will be a senior this coming school year.
She decided to ask for a grad gift for us to all go on a family vacation which we haven't done in probably 10 years. The one caveat is that she wants to swim with dolphins.
I know I have seen some advertisements over the years for the "swim with dolphins" experiences. Don't recall where except for maybe Sea World.
Anyone here ever do it? Suggestions where the experience was good? Places to avoid? I believe a friend of hers just came back from Puerto Rico where they has the opportunity and this is what got her to thinking.
Daughter will be a senior this coming school year.
She decided to ask for a grad gift for us to all go on a family vacation which we haven't done in probably 10 years. The one caveat is that she wants to swim with dolphins.
I know I have seen some advertisements over the years for the "swim with dolphins" experiences. Don't recall where except for maybe Sea World.
Anyone here ever do it? Suggestions where the experience was good? Places to avoid? I believe a friend of hers just came back from Puerto Rico where they has the opportunity and this is what got her to thinking.
We did it on Grand Cayman. It was actually really fun.
They have a mini water park that the dolphin encounter is park of. When we went a few years ago, they did not over sell the attraction, and it was a pleasant day all around. They do A?V talk about dolphins, get you suited up, and you do the encounter with a trainer. Only one group/family at a time in each pool, so it was very individual. My daughter loved it and says it was one of the best things we ever did as a family.
Aces is correct the Waikola Hilton offers this experience. It’s a beautiful resort we’ve stayed there 3 times.
It’s a spendy place to stay but far more affordable if you sign up to view their timeshare offerings.
It’s not my redneck cup of tea but I’ve had fun with it. Both the resort & the timeshare offerings. I tend to go to them looking like I can’t afford a cup of coffee leave alone a timeshare.
Also wander around the resort looking same.
But the lagoon pool area where the swim w dolphins are offered is fantastic. Well worth the experience imo
Back in the early 90's, I took Wife 1.0 (Satan) to the Keys. She wanted to go play with the dolphins. There was a place in Key Largo.
For whatever reason, the dolphins gave me an exceedingly wide berth. I must have had the "NO FUN" sticker on my back.
However, there was entertainment to be had. There was a 13 yr old girl that must have been menstruating. She got in the pool and the male dolphin (named Rocky) would not leave her alone. He came up and hooked her around her legs with his prehensile penis and kept dragging her away from the ladder. It took some doing to get the poor girl extricated from the mess. She came out of the water quite hysterical. Yikes! I thought he was going to drown her.
They have a mini water park that the dolphin encounter is park of. When we went a few years ago, they did not over sell the attraction, and it was a pleasant day all around. They do A?V talk about dolphins, get you suited up, and you do the encounter with a trainer. Only one group/family at a time in each pool, so it was very individual. My daughter loved it and says it was one of the best things we ever did as a family.
Some of my very good friends took their kids their to do it about 15 years ago. They enjoyed it very much.
Dolphin research center on Grassey Key which is just above Marathon in the keys. All you need to know about Dolphins including feeding them and swimming. About a half day at a very nice place.
Back in the early 90's, I took Wife 1.0 (Satan) to the Keys. She wanted to go play with the dolphins. There was a place in Key Largo.
For whatever reason, the dolphins gave me an exceedingly wide berth. I must have had the "NO FUN" sticker on my back.
However, there was entertainment to be had. There was a 13 yr old girl that must have been menstruating. She got in the pool and the male dolphin (named Rocky) would not leave her alone. He came up and hooked her around her legs with his prehensile penis and kept dragging her away from the ladder. It took some doing to get the poor girl extricated from the mess. She came out of the water quite hysterical. Yikes! I thought he was going to drown her.
Back in the early 90's, I took Wife 1.0 (Satan) to the Keys. She wanted to go play with the dolphins. There was a place in Key Largo.
For whatever reason, the dolphins gave me an exceedingly wide berth. I must have had the "NO FUN" sticker on my back.
However, there was entertainment to be had. There was a 13 yr old girl that must have been menstruating. She got in the pool and the male dolphin (named Rocky) would not leave her alone. He came up and hooked her around her legs with his prehensile penis and kept dragging her away from the ladder. It took some doing to get the poor girl extricated from the mess. She came out of the water quite hysterical. Yikes! I thought he was going to drown her.
Back in the early 90's, I took Wife 1.0 (Satan) to the Keys. She wanted to go play with the dolphins. There was a place in Key Largo.
For whatever reason, the dolphins gave me an exceedingly wide berth. I must have had the "NO FUN" sticker on my back.
However, there was entertainment to be had. There was a 13 yr old girl that must have been menstruating. She got in the pool and the male dolphin (named Rocky) would not leave her alone. He came up and hooked her around her legs with his prehensile penis and kept dragging her away from the ladder. It took some doing to get the poor girl extricated from the mess. She came out of the water quite hysterical. Yikes! I thought he was going to drown her.
Daughter will be a senior this coming school year.
She decided to ask for a grad gift for us to all go on a family vacation which we haven't done in probably 10 years. The one caveat is that she wants to swim with dolphins.
I know I have seen some advertisements over the years for the "swim with dolphins" experiences. Don't recall where except for maybe Sea World.
Anyone here ever do it? Suggestions where the experience was good? Places to avoid? I believe a friend of hers just came back from Puerto Rico where they has the opportunity and this is what got her to thinking.
We’ve not done the swim with dolphins adventure but we did stay at (or next to) a resort that offered it in Kona. I’m not sure what areas you’re interested in but Hawaii is accessible during this Kung Flu debacle, albeit with a few hoops to jump through. My wife just told me that she thinks it’s the Hilton Waikaloa. A co-worker went there and said it was one of her family’s favorite vacation. There are a lot of things to do around the resort which eliminates or reduces the need for a rental car and gives you various restaurants to choose from within walking distance.
Congratulations to your daughter and to mom and dad....the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new and exciting chapter. 👍
You can "swim with the dolphins" pretty much anywhere on the Gulf coast, it just depends how commercialized you want. Look at Chrystal River, Florida. She can swim with the dolphins AND manatees. Surprise her.
We did the swim with dolphins a couple of days ago in Cobo. It was fun, we got a bunch of photos. We went with these guys. https://www.cabo-adventures.com/en/
You can "swim with the dolphins" pretty much anywhere on the Gulf coast, it just depends how commercialized you want. Look at Chrystal River, Florida. She can swim with the dolphins AND manatees. Surprise her.
Just to lend another oddball perspective, during one of my many conversations with my wife's grandma (Japanese and 90 this year) asking her about her experiences as a young gal growing up during WWII, I asked her about food shortages and the like and asked about what kinds of things were available to her and the kids at her rural school. She said that it was pretty horrible and amongst many daily hardships, she and all the kids dreaded the 'main course' of many school lunches. Intrigued, I pressed her for details.
'Well, mostly we were given rice and seaweed products and things like pickled vegetables and tofu and dried fish. Sometimes we got bread which was good, but most often the non plant-based protein came in the form of bony, poor quality fish, often half-off. No meat to speak of was given, except a couple times a month they got something 'special' in the form of either whale, which she said was OK, or dolphin. When I asked her about details she simply made a face of disgust and said that it was horrible and most of the kids hated it. A select few who enjoyed it would be in hog heaven though, as most of the other kids, if not eating theirs or not bringing theirs home would give theirs away to them. 'Oh NO, not DOLPHIN surprise again!'
I was working offshore on a fixed platform many years ago and school of dolphins chased a large school of needlefish up around the structure. It was the bloodiest most violent feeding frenzy I have ever seen. The water was red around the legs. I would not have wanted in the water. It was fun to watch. They worked as a team and ate good.
Dolphin research center on Grassey Key which is just above Marathon in the keys. All you need to know about Dolphins including feeding them and swimming. About a half day at a very nice place.
We took our granddaughter here three years ago and she just loved it. We loved that she loved it. On a canoe trip my wife and I took though the inland waterway in Everglades Park, we had dolphins which followed us for miles.p and we enjoyed their company. We watched one which was swimming up and spraying water at a blue heron which was trying to fish along the shore. It looked like he was just tormenting the bird for the fun of it. GD
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