A Question Regarding the DC Dophin Swim

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

So we just booked our visit to Discovery Cove for New Years Day...... ....... so excited!!! (did I mention that we're excited? lol )

All three of us (DH, DS and myself) will be doing the dolphin interaction. So here's my question:

I understand that the dolphin takes you for a little swim (where you hang on to the dolphin and it pulls you along). DH is 6' 4" tall and 270 pounds.....not a small lad in comparison to that wee dolphin. Do you think he will be prohibited from this part of the interaction? (maybe we are underestimating the power of these creatures.....perhaps they will be strong enough to pull him along? )

Any insight you guys can provide is appreciated!! I must admit, our day at Discovery Cove is turning out to be the most anticipated part of our vacation.

 

[bas71873]

I'm curious about this too as my DH is also a big guy. We have a trip planned for next summer

 

[LockShockBarrel]

Dolphins are surprisingly strong. I'd have to imagine they've run into this issue before and have something in place for it. That being said...I have no idea what it actually is. Perhaps they bring over one of the larger/stronger dolphins?

 

[chiamarie]

So we just booked our visit to Discovery Cove for New Years Day...... ....... so excited!!! (did I mention that we're excited? lol )

All three of us (DH, DS and myself) will be doing the dolphin interaction. So here's my question:

I understand that the dolphin takes you for a little swim (where you hang on to the dolphin and it pulls you along). DH is 6' 4" tall and 270 pounds.....not a small lad in comparison to that wee dolphin. Do you think he will be prohibited from this part of the interaction? (maybe we are underestimating the power of these creatures.....perhaps they will be strong enough to pull him along? )

Any insight you guys can provide is appreciated!! I must admit, our day at Discovery Cove is turning out to be the most anticipated part of our vacation.

An average adult dolphin will range from 6-9 feet long, and 400-800lbs. Dolphins are amazingly powerful animals, who are almost solid muscle and bulit for swimming in the water , much more so than us.

To us, your DH is a rather big guy; to dolphins, nothing.

You all have a great time with your swim, you're going to love it!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

An average adult dolphin will range from 6-9 feet long, and 400-800lbs. Dolphins are amazingly powerful animals, who are almost solid muscle and bulit for swimming in the water , much more so than us.

To us, your DH is a rather big guy; to dolphins, nothing.

You all have a great time with your swim, you're going to love it!

Fabulous information, and just what we wanted to hear!

Who knew the average dolphin was THAT large? And why have I always pictured them to be small and delicate? Definitely my bad on that one!

 

[LockShockBarrel]

I think dolphins are just one of those things where you don't realize just how big they are until you're right next to them. The fully grown dolphins feel HUGE when you're next to them.

 

[Capt_BJ]

consider this as well: in the water that weight has much less resistance against movement then it does on land - even if it were on wheels. On a calm day I could lean against my ship - which displaced 1000 tons - and push it away from the pier & I'm no weight lifter. That wet suit they give you to wear increases your buoyancy even more so a healthy dolphin sees us as nothing more than a fun toy.

 

[Daysleeper40]

Don't worry if the dolphin in the first half of your interaction is smaller - we had a younger female dolphin initially and then a larger male did the "swim" part of the interaction.

 

[solpo]

We went in January of this year. I'm about 5'7" and 290-300. Lester had no problem towing me through the water. One of the greatest thrills of my life!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

We went in January of this year. I'm about 5'7" and 290-300. Lester had no problem towing me through the water. One of the greatest thrills of my life!

Fabulous!!! We are like three big kids now, just "x"-ing off the days on the calendar until our trip to Orlando!