What Should I wear at DC

[Princess Laura Beth]

Its our first trip to DC and we were wondering what to wear? What do you wear in the water and what do you wear to walk around?

 

[SandrainNC]

We were there in November, so we wore one of the short sleeve/shorts wetsuits the entire time. I think for the dolphin swim you are required to wear the wetsuit (not absolutely positive about this) but the rest of the time you can just wear your bathing suit if you want to I think.

Sandra

 

[laudan14]

We just wore the jackets for the dolphon swim, I was OK but the two children found the water very cold and changed to short wet suits when they swam with the fish. You have to wear a wet suit, jactet or flotation device everytime you are in the water except when you are in the warm pool.

 

[orlando novice]

If we want to can we keep the wetsuits or vest on the entire time?

 

[silverangel879]

We went in July and wore my bathing suit with a confy short-sleeve dress. Once we were ready for the swim, we used the short wet suit and practically passed the day with the suit because we passed the day in water....

 

[aprincessmom]

We wore our bathing suits and swim covers to the park. We also wore swim shoes and were happy we did. The concrete can get hot walking around and it was nice to have our feet protected. DD wore the wetsuit the entire time, I wore the vest. The wet suits are short sleeved and come to your thigh so it's not a full suit. If you get cold easily in the water and are doing the dolphin swim or snorkeling, I would recommend the wet suit. That water is colder than the river water.

 

[silverangel879]

We also wore swim shoes and were happy we did. The concrete can get hot walking around and it was nice to have our feet protected.

We used water shose too....and they were a hit, the concrete could be hot, and the coral reef could hurt your feet! We bought one not too expensive $6 or so and worked fine.

We really enjoyed that day and definetly we will do it again!!!!

 

[maine_jennifer]

I agree - the water shoes are great idea. When I went, I saw people with wetsuits, people with just the vests. When they weren't in them, hey had either just their swim suits . When not wearing those and walking around, a swimsuit is fine and personally, I'd wear a cover up when not swimming.

Remember, they will provide dolphin save sunscreen for you.

Wetsuits are good for the dolphin swim as it is kept at the best temperature/salinity for them to live in. Most of us are not used to that. Though it was warmer than the Maine water up here that people swim in.

Side note - it's not real coral, which is why you are allowed to stand on it. It's just cement or something, dressed up to look like coral. Just don't want to see anyone get flamed.

Cheers!

 

[disneydolphin]

Sorry to barge in halfway through the thread but do you guys wear your water shoes *in* the water?

Just wondering whether to invest in some proper aqua shoes. We have flip flops but I suspect you're referring to the rough surface under the water not just around the park/edge of the water?

 

[aprincessmom]

Yes, we wore them in the water...never took them off.

 

[snoopy_mom]

We wore them in the water, too. We just bought cheapos at Walmart!

 

[IrishMermaid]

If we want to can we keep the wetsuits or vest on the entire time?

When we were there in July they wanted us to keep the vest on anytime we were in the water...If they let you take them off DO IT it has slight flotation in it and makes you work harder to swim under water...
The water in the Dolphin lagoon was 78 when we were there witch is warm for us since we swim in Lake George NY all summer and it never gets warm...

 

[orlando novice]

When we were there in July they wanted us to keep the vest on anytime we were in the water...If they let you take them off DO IT it has slight flotation in it and makes you work harder to swim under water...
The water in the Dolphin lagoon was 78 when we were there witch is warm for us since we swim in Lake George NY all summer and it never gets warm...

Thanks for that, we are going in October, getting close now, we are used to very cold water where we live so hopefully the dolphin water won't seem so cold. The vest will be good for my 6 year old if it helps with flotation, he can swim but not that well.

 

[IrishMermaid]

They do provide life vests also If you want him to use that. I have to say DC is the best place on earth..My 10 yr old told everyone it was the best day of his life...hehe we all agreed. Enjoy!!!

 

[orlando novice]

Is it possible to switch between vest and suits whenever you want to.

 

[laudan14]

Is it possible to switch between vest and suits whenever you want to.

Yes you can switch when you like. My children had the vests first, then changed to the wet suits after the dolphin swim before swimming with the fish because they found the water was cold. My son changed again because his wet suit was tight.

 

[IrishMermaid]

Is it possible to switch between vest and suits whenever you want to.

You sure can...You just go and tell them you want a vest/wetsuit and turn the other one in...They were very helpful and very friendly when we were there...anything you want they will do.