Florida Guide > Other Activities
Swimming with Dolphins at Marineland Conservation, Florida
Marineland is situated on Oceanshore Blvd, St Augustine, Florida and promises to be an exciting adventure well worth a trip for all the family.
We were a Family of six, but only four wanted to swim with the Dolphins, next it was the big decision of which of the four programmes offered by Marineland would be suitable and be a lasting experience for all. The Immersion – 30 minutes of swimming with the Dolphins, this seems to be the one that interests everyone as you get to interact with the Dolphins. The tickets are booked.
We arrive at the Conservation Centre, right on the shore and book in, complete the necessary paperwork and are shown through to await being called for the time we had booked.
We were all fascinated at the antics of the Dolphins, one was playing with a ball and pushing it to the edge of the tank and nosing it over to the delight of the squealing children who raced around trying to be the first to get the ball to throw it back to the Dolphin who several times repeated his trick for the children.
Soon it was time for the four family members to have their experience swimming with the Dolphins. First 30 minutes are spent in the Classroom to prepare you for that once in a lifetime experience. This lesson is to inform you what will happen, to listen carefully to the Trainer and where you can touch the Dolphins.
Off now to put the wet suits on, make sure you know where the front is and put it on correctly as they are very difficult to get ‘on and off’ as only Tracey in our party will tell you when she put hers on back to front! !
Life vests and snorkels in hand, in was then out to the pool with the Trainer to interact with the Dolphins for 30 minutes, we spent time in the shallow end meeting our Dolphin and throwing the ball about for her to bring back . Everyone got a kiss off her, very fishy, and then after making friends with the Dolphin it was time to swim with her in the deep part of the tank, the feeling was fantastic. The Trainer lined our family up along the edge of the tank with a space in the middle, the rest of our family has been videoing all the event, they were right in front of us when along came their Dolphin and popped up in the middle of them and stayed awhile, fantastic photos of everyone enjoying the day.
A professional Photographer is taking snaps all the time you interact with the Dolphins and at the end of your session the rest of your Family is invited around back to meet the Dolphins and view the photographs. There are two very old ones - Nellie and Blondie, Nellie is 54 yrs of age and Blondie is 50. Blondie has a large scar where she was attacked by a Shark, her colour is light beige hence the name Blondie and the reason they cannot put her back in the wild because she is an easy target being the light colour. Your photos are displayed on a computer and you can view each one on a large screen and choose which ones you want as a reminder of a Wonderful Swim with the Dolphins at Marineland Conservation, St. Augustine.
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