Beluga whale

[dhuba]

Has anyone ever done the Beluga whale interaction at Seaworld? We are going in a week and have this booked. I was just wondering what to expect.

 

[maine_jennifer]

Sorry, I didn't even know they had one! My nephew and I did the Marine Mammal Keeper Experience and part of that was a brief interaction with the Beluga Whales, but we never got into the water. I just looked it up and it sounds like so much fun!! Hope you have a great time and don't forget to tell us about it - I'd love to hear how it goes!!!

 

[kirstenjet]

We're considering it so would love to hear what you think of it when you get back please.

Zoe

 

[AmoDolphin]

Oh my GOSH! That sounds like SO much fun! I didn't even know there was one!

 

[dhuba]

Well, we are back from our Orlando vacation and it was the trip of a lifetime. My kids loved the Beluga whale interaction. It was $130 each, and it was about 90 minutes long, which included getting in the wetsuits, and some behind the scenes stuff. The only downfall was the 55 degree water temperature. I am glad I decided to sit this one out. It was quite personal with my two kids and three trainers. They got to do tricks with them, and feed them. We just loved Discovery Cove also. What beautiful surroundings. I just loved the lazy river, and feeding the birds that just flew up on your arm was great. The highlight of our vacation though, was a personal charter in the Crystal River to snorkel with the manatees in the wild. They are so gentle, and you can rub them under their flippers and they roll over. We also got to snorkel in an area in the natural springs. The water was so crystal clear. I really don't know how we can top this vacation. My kids are teenagers, and they said it was the sweetest vacation ever.

 

[Heva2015]

That manatee one sounds amazing...where did you find that?

 

[dhuba]

I found the manatee guide in the papers I received from the Orlando's Visitors Bureau. It is called fun2dive and is located in Sanford, Fl. From there you drive to Crystal River on the gulf. You can find info at the fun2dive website It only costs 85 dollars a person, with a maximum of 6 people. It was well worth it, considering what it costs in get into discovery cove, even though that was great too.

 

[kirstenjet]

Did they get to getin the water with them? If so for how long?

Sounds like a fantastic trip!

Zoe

 

[dhuba]

Yes we got in the water with the manatees. It is just in the natural river. Our total time in the water was about 5 hours. You have to be in Sanford Fl at 6:00 a.m. at the dive shop to get info and watch some videos because there are strict laws regulating what you can and cannot do while in the water with the manatees. You can be fined around $100,000 and put in jail if you violate them, and then it is a little less than a two hour drive to Crystal River. (Well worth the drive) Once there they start looking for manatees off the boat, and then you get in with wetsuit and snorkel and swim with them. Some times of year are better than others. Summer time there are less of them, fall is optimal I believe. Our tour was all day, but there are some other tour operators that have half days with more people. Ours was just the four of us which was great, and the captain even got in the water with us to help us out. We also snorkeled back in the Three sisters spring area, which was beautiful. There are no manatees in the springs, but the scenery was gorgeous.