Swimming with Dolphins Questions & Concerns

TinaRN

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Apr 6, 2004
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Our kids would like to swim with dolphins, but I'm feeling guilty about the captivity of those poor animals. :( I don't want to open a can of worms with this statement. I just wanted to get a few opinions on the matter.

If we decide to do it, has anyone done it in Cozumel, Grand Cayman, or Costa Maya before? I read on the boards that one of the places in Cozumel with the dolphins had ice cold water! I hate cold water!:scared1: Does anyone know if this is with all dolphin encounters?:confused:

I posted this on my group's thread but thought I might get more answers here.
 
Discovery Cove in Orlando was better than any dolphin thing we've done in any island. The water has to be cold--the dolphins like it that way. At DC, you get a wet suit for the day. You will definitely want to wear it with the dolphins. The other swimming areas are warm, so it isn't needed for those.
 
We just did the dolphin extreme swim excursion in Grand Cayman a few weeks ago and LOVED it!! We are from Arizona, so wimps when it comes to cold water but the water wasnt that cold. A little chilly when first getting in but you soon get used to it. There were about a dozen in our group and we each took turns petting, dancing, and kissing the dolphin. Then we swam out a little ways with a boogie board and then dolphin would push us back to the group. Then we got to hold on to its fins and take a swim! The excursion also included the turtle farm where you get to hold baby turtles and a stingray encounter where we got into the water and pet a stingray! Like I said we absolutely loved this excursion and would recommend it to anyone!
 
Our kids would like to swim with dolphins, but I'm feeling guilty about the captivity of those poor animals. :( I don't want to open a can of worms with this statement. I just wanted to get a few opinions on the matter.

If we decide to do it, has anyone done it in Cozumel, Grand Cayman, or Costa Maya before? I read on the boards that one of the places in Cozumel with the dolphins had ice cold water! I hate cold water!:scared1: Does anyone know if this is with all dolphin encounters?:confused:

I posted this on my group's thread but thought I might get more answers here.

We did the dolphin swin in Nassau. Those 'poor' animals get food, protection from predators, companionship, and a clean place to live.

The dolphin "pens" are not tal enough to keep them in if they really wanted to leave, the dolphins could jump over them if they really wanted to.
 

Discovery Cove in Orlando was better than any dolphin thing we've done in any island. The water has to be cold--the dolphins like it that way. At DC, you get a wet suit for the day. You will definitely want to wear it with the dolphins. The other swimming areas are warm, so it isn't needed for those.

:thumbsup2and there are lots of $199 offers that include visit to theme park too
 
A valid question. Hawaii has banned these type excursions.
My opinion, if you want to do it, so it. If you are not comfortable don't. But I do think it is possible that the days of these encounter excursions may be numbered.
 
At Discovery Cove you do a 15 minute session with a trainer before you get in the water with the dolphins. One of the points the trainer made was that they couldn't "force" a dolphin to participate. Each dolphin has it's own signal--they will call one over for each group, but if the dolphin doesn't want to come, they will just call another. She said that it rarely happens that one doesn't come to "play," but that it is the animal's choice and there is no negative reinforcement for an animal who chooses to not "play."

And, at both the dolphin thing at one of the islands and the the stingray thing at Castaway, we were told that the animals could easily get out of the area if they chose--they choose to stay where the food and handling is. After one of the hurricanes, all the rays were gone from the enclosure at Castaway; within 3 days, they were all back!
 
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Thanks for all of the information and opinions! The one in Orlando sounds great...but still cold! Wet suits are called that for a reason...you get wet! I know, they keep your body insulated but still cold! So is the water in Grand Cayman just ocean water temp?
 
We did the Dophinaris one in Cozumel last February. We were not cold at all in the water and didnt have any wetsuits. It was the highlight of the trip for me and my 5 year old. I would highly recommend it!:thumbsup2
 
Our kids would like to swim with dolphins, but I'm feeling guilty about the captivity of those poor animals. :( I don't want to open a can of worms with this statement. I just wanted to get a few opinions on the matter.

If we decide to do it, has anyone done it in Cozumel, Grand Cayman, or Costa Maya before? I read on the boards that one of the places in Cozumel with the dolphins had ice cold water! I hate cold water!:scared1: Does anyone know if this is with all dolphin encounters?:confused:

I posted this on my group's thread but thought I might get more answers here.

I've read that many groups capture the dolphins from the wild. It is less regulated elsewhere than the US. I refuse to do these excursions. Look at the Humane Society of the US for research.

Jodie
 
A valid question. Hawaii has banned these type excursions.
My opinion, if you want to do it, so it. If you are not comfortable don't. But I do think it is possible that the days of these encounter excursions may be numbered.

Sorry, but not true.
They have them on Hawaii, at the Hilton Waikoloa, and on Oahu at Sea Life Park.
 
I've read that many groups capture the dolphins from the wild. It is less regulated elsewhere than the US. I refuse to do these excursions. Look at the Humane Society of the US for research.

Jodie



Jodie, the 2 dophin swims we did had a big picture and history layout of the animals............many are rescue dophins that were injured or hurt and brought there to recover. Some cannot be released to the wild becuase of their injuries and are used at the swims. Others are offsping of the rescue animals.

Under these condtions I have no problem supporting the swims and the overall work they do.

AKK
 
Jodie, the 2 dophin swims we did had a big picture and history layout of the animals............many are rescue dophins that were injured or hurt and brought there to recover. Some cannot be released to the wild becuase of their injuries and are used at the swims. Others are offsping of the rescue.

AKK, where were your swims? I'm inclined to believe things may not be as humane in other countries such as the carribean. No offense to anyone!
 
Thanks for all of the information and opinions! The one in Orlando sounds great...but still cold! Wet suits are called that for a reason...you get wet! I know, they keep your body insulated but still cold! So is the water in Grand Cayman just ocean water temp?

Yes the water in Grand Cayman should be about ocean water temp because it is filtered ocean water.
 
Jodie, the 2 dophin swims we did had a big picture and history layout of the animals............many are rescue dophins that were injured or hurt and brought there to recover. Some cannot be released to the wild becuase of their injuries and are used at the swims. Others are offsping of the rescue animals.

Under these condtions I have no problem supporting the swims and the overall work they do.

AKK

Thats good to hear, and I agree with what you're saying. I think the question then becomes - do they capture ANY dolphins from the wild? I would want to know that before participating. More info here -

http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/captive_marine/facts/swim_dolphins.html

Jodie
 
We swam the Royal Swim at Chankanaab Park's Dolphin Discovery and it was the highlight of our trip. We booked with them directly which made me nervous but it is a beautiful park, very clean and professional. There is a pool for the little ones to swim in. I would definitely book it yourself and save.

We went the third week in December and the water was chilly but bearable. Once you are in the water with the dolphins, you don't even think about the temperature of the water.

We are cruising the Fantasy December 2013 and we are going back to do it again. This time I think we'll add the Manatee swim as well. My sister-in-law and her kids have swam with the dolphins in Hawaii and other places and they said Chankanaab was the best. We loved it so much we are going back!
 
AKK, where were your swims? I'm inclined to believe things may not be as humane in other countries such as the carribean. No offense to anyone!



This was Discovery Cove in Orlando and Blue Lagoon in Nassua, If the whole thing wasn't the truth, they sure put alot of work into to make it seem so..........in Nassua we were shown 1 dophin with a prop cut that had healed.........again.I want to belieive this and really have no reason not to.


AKK
 
Sorry, but not true.
They have them on Hawaii, at the Hilton Waikoloa, and on Oahu at Sea Life Park.

We're both right. Apparently the law that went into effect in 2008 bans such encounters with wild dolphins in open waters. "Domesticated" dolphins in private waterways are except. I had never heard of domesticate dolphins.
 

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