Is it possible to get close to a killer whale

[StevieG6]

After seeing the Shamu show at Sea World we were very jealous of the little kid that got to stroke Shamu's tongue!! Is there anyway you can get closer to the killer whales so that you can feed them and stroke them? Does the Marine Mammal Keeper experience let you do this?

 

[nataliesdaddy]

After seeing the Shamu show at Sea World we were very jealous of the little kid that got to stroke Shamu's tongue!! Is there anyway you can get closer to the killer whales so that you can feed them and stroke them? Does the Marine Mammal Keeper experience let you do this?

yes there are ways to get very close - dinner with shamu will have you face to face with the thing. We sat and ate within 4 feet of this beast putting its face onto the deck in front of us...

as to touching - probably have to do a trainer for the day type of thing for that

 

[robvia]

I don't think their skin would feel much different form a dolphin.
Your kids can pet the dolphins in the Key West area. Bring lots or cash, the fish go fast once you start. Get in line early before the feeding window opens, and get 4 cups ($4 for 4 fish). The dolphins know who has the fish, and they ignore people who don't.

On the other side of Shamu stadium where the holding tanks are, there is a huge glass window, where you can get a good look at the whales as they swim by.

So between petting a dolphin, and looking thru the glass window, it might be enough. Or you show up very very early to a Shamu show and ask if your kids can be in it.

 

[diswedwish]

I had thought about doing the Marine Mammal Keeper Experience; and from what I remember from looking stuff up the most you get to do is give them a signal and maybe a brief pat. But we didn't actually *do* the tour, so keep that in mind. HTH

 

[Nellas Elensar]

Back in 2001, I took part in the Trainer program and got to rub down one of the killer whales during a training session. If you like false killer whales, I got in the water with one and got to hug it and interact with it. Truly magical and breath-taking.

Nellas Elensar