DC: How good a swimmer must you be?

[Jackie H.]

How good a swimmer do you need to be to do Discovery Cove?

My family of four has different degrees of swimming ability, with me being the worst, I'm sorry to say. All the pictures seem to show water an adult can stand up in. Is it really that way, or is just parts of it shallow?

I appreciate any help on this.

 

[BarryHom]

I haven't been, but I don't think you need to be an Olympic swimmer to splash around. I would assume that you can get a life vest for the worst swimmers.

 

[LisaRex]

I believe DC won't let you swim with the dolphins without either a life preserver (vest) or a wet suit, which also doubles as a life preserver.

You don't have to swim at all really, just be able to navigate while floating.

 

[robvia]

The required wet suit keeps you on the surface of the water.

For the dolphin encounter, if you can't swim, that's ok. You wade to the edge in waist deep water to pet them. Then if you want, they'll do what is called a "slingshot" ride where the dolphin takes you to the middle and back without stopping.

You don't have to go underwater for anything, most people just paddle around on the surface looking down thru their masks. It is very hard to go underwater, your required wet suit will bring you back up.

They have life guards everywhere, there is nothing to worry about.

 

[kellymonaghan]

The vest they give you should do you just fine, but if you are worried you can ask for a heftier, thicker plastic vest that has more bouyancy.

 

[kristas mom]

I would try out the wetsuit before you swim with the dophins, you`ll be surprised how well they keep you afloat. You don`t have to be a very good swimmer at all. My husband and I took our 7 and 8 year old children with now problems at all.
We had our swim first thing though and didn`t realize how bouyant the suits were.
Later while swimming we found it nearly impossible to sink to the bottom.