Share
Previous Page
Florida Keys Travel Articles
- On & In the Water
- Close Encounters of the Flipper Kind
Here in the Florida Keys, where Milton Santini created the original 1963 Flipper movie, close encounters of the Flipper kind are an everyday occurrence at a handful of facilities that allow you to commune with trained dolphins. There are in-water and water-side programs. The former are the most sought-after and require advance reservations. All of the programs emphasize education and consist of three parts: first, you learn about dolphin physiology and behavior from a marine biologist or researcher; then you go water side for an orientation on dos and don'ts (for example, don't talk with your hands -- you might, literally, send the wrong signal); finally, you interact with the dolphins -- into the water you go.
For the in-water programs, the dolphins swim around you and cuddle up next to you. If you lie on your back with your feet out, they use their snouts to push you around; or grab onto a dorsal fin and hang on for an exciting ride. The in-water encounter lasts about 10 to 25 minutes, depending on the program. On water-side-interaction programs, participants feed, shake hands, kiss, and do tricks with the dolphins from a submerged platform. The programs vary from facility to facility but share a few rules, and the entire program, from registration to departure, takes about two hours. The best time to go is when it's warm, from March through December. You spend a lot of time near or in and out of the water, and even with a wetsuit on you can get cold on a chilly day. Call ahead to get information on restrictions (there are often age or height requirements) and other relevant details.
Dolphin Connection at Hawk's Cay Resort. Marine biologists at the Dolphin Connection inspire awareness and promote conservation through programs at this stylish mid-Keys resort. Dolphin Discovery is an in-water, non-swim program that lasts about 45 minutes and lets you kiss, touch, and feed the dolphins.
Dolphin Cove. The educational part of the Dolphin Encounter program takes place on a 30-minute boat ride on adjoining Florida Bay. Then it's back to the facilities lagoon for a get-acquainted session from a platform. Finally, you slip into the water for the program's highlight: swimming and playing with your new dolphin pals.
Dolphins Plus, Inc. Programs here emphasize education and therapy. Natural Swim begins with a one-hour briefing; then you don snorkel gear and enter the water to become totally immersed in the dolphins' world.
Dolphin Research Center. This not-for-profit organization has a colony of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions. Dolphin Encounter is a swim-interaction program, and in Dolphin Splash you stand on a submerged platform rather than swim.
Content provided by 
. Copyright © by Fodor's Travel, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ADVERTISEMENT
