dolphin swim

[pwade]

Has anyone experienced the dolphin swim? I would like to know exactly HOW you get in the water with the dolphins. I read with the encounter you sit on a floating dock. My concern is my 7 YO niece not wanting to jump in deep water with a vest on. Hopefully there is a ladder available. Any help/answers will be appreciated.

Pat

 

[OurDogCisco]

You actually walk down a flight of stairs to the dock. The water ends up about being waist high on a normal sized adult. Also, don't forget your swim shoes. The dock is pretty rough on your feet. There is also a chain link fence behind you. I remember holding onto the fence for balance. My dd was 6 1/2 years old when she did the encounter and loved it. Your niece will be in a life vest that will keep her at the top of the water so, a ladder would not be needed if she fell off the dock. She will most likely be threading water most of the time. Hope that helps... I might have pictures. I'll have to look.

Tina

 

[RKB]

We did it in Chankanaab park in Cozumel so I am not sure if you are thinking of the same one. For some reason I am thinking that the minimum age is 8. Your niece may be happier with just an encounter. But if you do do the swim - we walked out onto a big pier and then down some stairs to an area where we then took a small ladder down onto a floating platform in which the water was about waist deep to an adult. Then after we were all standing there our dolphin came out and did a "show" and we petted him and kissed him for a photo op. Then we each swam out one at a time to the dolphin (a decent swim in very deep water) and the dolphin swam us back to the platform (ie gave us a ride). After everyone had a turn we then went for a freestyle snorkle/swim with the dolphin (the whole group). Then we went into the gift shop and spent a bunch of money on photos and a video!

 

[OurDogCisco]

We did it in Chankanaab park in Cozumel so I am not sure if you are thinking of the same one. For some reason I am thinking that the minimum age is 8. Your niece may be happier with just an encounter. But if you do do the swim - we walked out onto a big pier and then down some stairs to an area where we then took a small ladder down onto a floating platform in which the water was about waist deep to an adult. Then after we were all standing there our dolphin came out and did a "show" and we petted him and kissed him for a photo op. Then we each swam out one at a time to the dolphin (a decent swim in very deep water) and the dolphin swam us back to the platform (ie gave us a ride). After everyone had a turn we then went for a freestyle snorkle/swim with the dolphin (the whole group). Then we went into the gift shop and spent a bunch of money on photos and a video!

Opps, I just re-read her question. We definitely did the encounter not the swim. Personally, I wouldn't do the swim unless your niece is a strong swimmer.

 

[pwade]

Thanks Tina and RKB. My niece is not a strong swimmer (although she thinks she is) so I might see if they will let me exchange the swim for an encounter. Thanks for the heads up about swim shoes! Appreciate it.