Five Ways to Swim with Dolphins & Other Sea Animals

Photo via Dolphin Discoveries

Ever since Flipper swam his way into the hearts of audiences in the 1960s, people have been looking for ways to connect with dolphins. Whether it’s feeding them, petting them, or actually getting into the water to swim with them, the allure of the dolphin has never faded.

And as our understanding of the natural world around us grows, our instinct to interact with other sea life also gets stronger.

At Dolphin Discovery, which owns and operates numerous parks and attractions throughout Mexico, the Caribbean and Florida, visitors can find themselves in the midst of a number of interactive programs that allow them to get a deeper understanding of dolphins, sea lions, manatees and other sea life.

Marine life encounters include:

Sea Lion Discovery
Dolphin Discovery Vallarta, Mexico
Spend a day in the company of sea lions in the Mexican Pacific at Dolphin Discovery Vallarta, located inside Aquaventuras Park. Participants in the Sea Lion Discovery program get a whiskery kiss and a smile before learning about the diet and history of the California Sea Lion at Aquaventuras Park, where five sea lions reside. Also located on site are a zip line and a climbing wall. Programs start from US$99.

Manatee Encounter
Dolphin Discovery Cozumel
A brand new experience in Cozumel, Mexico, the Manatee Encounter is the only swim-with-the-manatees program in the Caribbean. Manatees, which were once believed to be mermaids, are gentle, enormous marine mammals that can grow as long as 4 m and weigh up to 600 kg. This adventure includes admission into Chankanaab National Park alongside the Caribbean Sea.  Programs start from US$59.

Dive with Dolphins
Dolphin Discover Cozumel
Enjoy an hour of diving in the turquoise waters of Cozumel, Mexico, inside Chankanaab National Park. With the Dive with the Dolphins program, novices have time to learn about scuba equipment and then dive down to 75 meters, for a dolphin’s-eye view below the surface. Watch the dolphins as they play and perform amazing flips. After the dive, enjoy the facilities at Dolphin Discovery, the Chankanaab National Reef Park and downtown Cozumel, Mexico, a favorite shopping location.  The program starts from US$179.

Sea Life Circle
Puerto Aventuras, Riviera Maya, Mexico
Spend the day in the company of dolphins, manatees and sea lions with the Sea Life Circle program. Learn all about anatomy and diet of the manatees, meet sea lions and swim in the company of two playful dolphins at Puerto Aventuras, an exclusive residential complex in the heart of Riviera Maya. The program starts from US$189 and includes transportation from Riviera Maya hotels, two hours in a catamaran with snorkeling time, a buffet meal and two non-alcoholic beverages.

Trainer for a Day
Half Moon Dolphin Lagoon, Jamaica
Become a dolphin’s best friend in the Trainer for a Day program at Half Moon Dolphin Lagoon in Jamaica. Spend the day training with marine mammal specialists and learn about dolphins, their needs, food preparation, anatomy and health care. You’ll learn how to use a whistle to work with the animals, participate in training games and even try your hand at leading a session. Photographers are on hand to capture your experience. This program is only available to guests of Half Moon and starts from US$ 979.

Whale Watching
San Lucas, Los Cabos, Mexico
For a more sedate experience, enjoy one of Cabo San Lucas’ most popular excursions, a whale watching tour. The Whale Watching San Lucas program only accommodates up to 15 passengers at a time and trained bilingual guides keep their eyes open for the best route to maximize the chance to see whales. Once they’ve been spotted, the boat will follow them as they travel through the Pacific Ocean. The package in includes transportation from the RIU and Fiesta Americana hotels and starts from US$ 89.

For more information on these and all program, visit Dolphin Discoveries. Air Canada Vacations also offers a number of vacation packages that include Dolphin Discoveries programs.

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