Dolphin swim question

[yazz1]

Hi,

What exactly do you get to do when you do this? Is one part of it a ride with the dolphin? What about little kids?

thanks!

 

[dolphingirl47]

What you get to do depends on the group and also on the dolphin. No kids under the age of 6 are allowed to swim with the dolphins. During the swim, you should get various chances to touch the dolphin, get a kiss, give the hand signals for various behaviours like breaches, flips and vocalizations. You also will get a dorsal tow from the deeper part of the lagoon back to the shallows. Those are pretty standard, but I have also experienced hugs, flipper shakes, a dance and a belly ride during the swim. I have been to Discovery Cove 6 times and no two dolphin swim sessions were the same.

dolphingirl47

 

[yazz1]

My kids will be 7 and 8, just wondering what to expect. Will the trainer do the ride with them or is it something they would have to do themselves? Or can a parent do it with them? Do kids wear a life jacket over the wet suit?
Do they take pictures of you doing the ride as well?

Thanks again!

 

[dolphingirl47]

They will do the ride on their own, but usually with young children, a parent swims out with them and then the child goes first. There is one trainer in the deep end making sure that the person doing the ride holds on properly and one trainer in the shallows who can make sure that the child is OK until the parent is back. Anybody can wear a life jacket if they wish, not just children and they are available in a wide range of sizes. Photos are taken of all parts of the interaction/swim and they will also take video footage.

dolphingirl47

 

[yazz1]

I think we can do that!

 

[dolphingirl47]

You are welcome. I hope that you have a wonderful time when you go.

dolphingirl47

 

[cswtmom]

Hope you have a great time . When are you going???

 

[yazz1]

in October

 

[dolphingirl47]

We are probably going again in October as well.

dolphingirl47

 

[cswtmom]

We are going on April 22,2009
And we can't wait !
I (Peggy) 40+ ,my son (Wayne) 22 and my little girl (Tiffany) 8.
This trip is a once in a lifetime trip for us. My son Wayne gave us a trip to Discovery Cove as a Christmas gift. And yes I am very grateful !! I have the greatest kids.Wayne knows I have always wanted to swim with a dolphin, and he knows that the last 2 years has been are diffecult for me. I loss my 22 year old son Steven on May 9,2007 , and to be honest I have had a VERY hard time dealing with his death.So Wayne took us to Sea World last year and that really helped me with dealing with my son death.I believe my son Steven was with us on that trip
Thanks for letting share
I will post our trip report as soon as we get back.
I hope your trip is wonderful

 

[Megan07]

I went to discovery cove in march 07 and swam with Lester. My mom and I will be going on June 17th in memory of my dad who passed away Oct 30th. I was planning on taking him to Discovery Cove after his Chemo. My mom said she'd go. My question is I've done the normal dolphin swim with the dorsal tow. I'd like to do the belly ride or something different so it's not the same as last time. Will that happen? If I ask do you think they'd allow that?

Dolphingirl what do you think?

 

[dolphingirl47]

They do try to make you happy, but a lot depends on the dolphin you do the interaction with. I know that I was lucky enough to be the only Trainer for a Day in November 2006 and the dolphin I worked with during the interaction was still very young. She had done a number of belly rides with the trainers, but never with a paying customer. They asked me if I would be willing to give it a go knowing that she may refuse this behaviour. I was all for it. She did cooperate and it was one of the experiences that I will never forget knowing that I was the first guest to experience the belly ride with her.
In September I just did the ordinary dolphin swim package, but by now some of the staff there recognize me as I have been there so often and usually do Trainer for a Day. They did ask me if I would prefer a belly ride instead of the dorsal tow as I have done this so often. I declined as I actually prefer the dorsal tow (you don't really feel the strength and power of the dolphin when you do the belly ride), but it would have been an option.

dolphingirl47