CeeScraps
Pearl Clutcher
~~occupied entertaining my brain~~
Posts: 3,829 
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Post by CeeScraps on Feb 19, 2017 23:30:47 GMT
We (3 of us) are thinking about taking a vacation over Christmas break. We talked about a cruise or just a beach. We'd love to swim with the dolphins.
Has anyone done this? Where did you go? Any recommendations?
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Post by 950nancy on Feb 19, 2017 23:33:26 GMT
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Post by gulfcoastgirl on Feb 19, 2017 23:36:33 GMT
Please don't support swimming with dolphins. The animals are treated wretchedly, and it really doesn't matter where you go. Why not go see a bullfight while you're at it?
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CeeScraps
Pearl Clutcher
~~occupied entertaining my brain~~
Posts: 3,829
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Post by CeeScraps on Feb 19, 2017 23:46:50 GMT
Please don't support swimming with dolphins. The animals are treated wretchedly, and it really doesn't matter where you go. Why not go see a bullfight while you're at it? Sorry.....I didn't realize I'd offend anyone. This is just something I've wanted to do since I was a kid. I honestly didn't think about it harming the dolphins. |
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Post by 1girlygirl on Feb 19, 2017 23:47:29 GMT
We have been in Hawaii - on the big island at the Hilton Wiakoloa, and on Oahu. It was fun for us and the kids.
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Post by katelynr439 on Feb 19, 2017 23:49:26 GMT
I'm not offended, but I also was coming to say please don't patronize businesses that use captive dolphins. Watch The Cove to learn a little more about it - it's shocking. Not trying to ruin your vacation plans, but when we know better, we do better.
Maybe you'd enjoy a glass-bottomed boat or other day trip out to an area where dolphins are known to be in the wild to observe them? I hope you find lots of fun things to do - the beach or a cruise sound great!
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Post by grammadee on Feb 19, 2017 23:56:21 GMT
We (3 of us) are thinking about taking a vacation over Christmas break. We talked about a cruise or just a beach. We'd love to swim with the dolphins. Has anyone done this? Where did you go? Any recommendations? We did this in Caracau on a Carribean cruise. |
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Post by whipea on Feb 19, 2017 23:57:27 GMT
I'm not offended, but I also was coming to say please don't patronize businesses that use captive dolphins. Watch The Cove to learn a little more about it - it's shocking. Not trying to ruin your vacation plans, but when we know better, we do better. Maybe you'd enjoy a glass-bottomed boat or other day trip out to an area where dolphins are known to be in the wild to observe them? I hope you find lots of fun things to do - the beach or a cruise sound great! Absolutely agree. Please reconsider. |
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Grom Pea
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,944
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Post by Grom Pea on Feb 20, 2017 0:56:34 GMT
They do it at sea world, you need to be over the age of 12 to participate.
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Post by mom on Feb 20, 2017 0:59:58 GMT
Well, we have swam with the dolphins at Atlantis. Our boys had a good time (they were 12 & 14) but DH and I didnt think it was that great. Kinda pricy for the short amount of time.
We have stayed at Atlantis but we also have gone for th day to Atlantis while on a cruise that was docked at Nassau.
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Post by 950nancy on Feb 20, 2017 1:01:55 GMT
Akumal in Mexico is a beach with wild sea turtles and sting rays. They guarantee you will see a sea turtle no matter the day. It was really cool. You just put on snorkel gear and walk out into the ocean.
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Post by dnkmmw on Feb 20, 2017 1:14:48 GMT
Please do not swim with dolphins. There is a horrific occurrence each year in which dolphins are slaughtered and rounded up for marine parks. Research the Taiji dolphin drives. Please note that many videos and photos will be disturbing.
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Post by gulfcoastgirl on Feb 20, 2017 1:14:49 GMT
I'm so sorry for my knee-jerk reaction.  I share the OP'S dream, but without exploitation. CeeScraps, thanks for your kind response. I hope you have a wonderful experience on your break. I bet you'd really enjoy a more natural encounter. Actually, swimming with bottle nose dolphins is like swimming with 700 lb humping bulldogs. They are too big and too horny. |
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Post by melanieg on Feb 20, 2017 1:18:12 GMT
I swam with them years ago in Puerto Vallarta and Cancun. It is an amazing experience to be up close and personal with them. I have also done the experience where you get in the water and learn about them without the swim.
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Post by ktdoesntscrap on Feb 20, 2017 1:38:27 GMT
I did a sea lion experience and it was pretty cool. We did it at Atlantis... if you can get past the fact that the rooms and food are overpriced compared to other Caribbean resorts.. it has a lot to offer.
There are also a couple of places in Cayman. They say they only have dolphins that were raised in captivity.
If you are looking for a truly natural experience, check out Sting Ray City in Grand Cayman, it is a sand bar in the North Sound where the fisherman used to dump the chump from their catch, so sting rays gathered... there are still a ton of sting rays and it is quite amazing to be in the water and have them glide by, and to pet them.
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Dalai Mama
Drama Llama
La Pea Boheme
Posts: 6,985
Jun 26, 2014 0:31:31 GMT
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Post by Dalai Mama on Feb 20, 2017 1:40:22 GMT
Count me among those who are firmly against captive dolphins. It's a vile practice.
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Post by ntsf on Feb 20, 2017 3:57:39 GMT
the dolphins are wild.. and can't be "tamed".. so you are getting close to a massive wild animal. stuff happens, people are hurt.. and it is not good for the dolphins. go watching animals.. don't make wild animals into something they are not. go whale watching.
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Post by chaosisapony on Feb 20, 2017 3:58:58 GMT
I'm with the others, please do some research before you book a swim with dolphins. Their lives are miserable and the capture process is horrifying.
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Post by PolarGreen12 on Feb 20, 2017 4:21:10 GMT
I did a boat ride with wild dolphins off of Padre Island. Our tour guide knew over 200 of the wild dolphins and had named them all. We stopped halfway through and about a dozen came up to the boat to play. They like to play catch with cabbage jelly fish. It was the neatest thing to stand at the bow and play catch with a dolphin. Try looking for a natural habitat experience.
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Post by cmpeter on Feb 20, 2017 7:18:19 GMT
I wouldn't swim with captive dolphins for all the reasons listed above.
There are places you can swim around dolphins. We have done it in HI. You are required to wear a life jacket so you can't dive down and try and touch them. But, you can swim above them with a snorkle and fins. It's very cool.
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sueg
Prolific Pea
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Apr 12, 2016 12:51:01 GMT
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Post by sueg on Feb 20, 2017 7:32:22 GMT
We did a 'Dolphin Encounter' - in the water with them, but not swimming with them - at Balmoral Island in the Bahamas last Christmas. Ours was a day trip from a cruise, but I am fairly sure it was also open to other people.
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theshyone
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by theshyone on Feb 20, 2017 8:18:45 GMT
I'm personally against dolphin swimming, shark feeding and all things that alter the natural behavior of wild creatures. I love the ocean with every bit of myself. I made this personal decision for myself after attending sting ray city in grand Cayman.
Please reconsider. Research. Try scuba diving or even a SNUBA dive.
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Dalai Mama
Drama Llama
La Pea Boheme
Posts: 6,985
Jun 26, 2014 0:31:31 GMT
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Post by Dalai Mama on Feb 20, 2017 13:46:36 GMT
I'm personally against dolphin swimming, shark feeding and all things that alter the natural behavior of wild creatures. I love the ocean with every bit of myself. I made this personal decision for myself after attending sting ray city in grand Cayman. Please reconsider. Research. Try scuba diving or even a SNUBA dive. I could have written this post. After years of watching marine animal behaviour change due to people feeding them (aggressive green morays are scary af), we did the Sting Ray City dive in Cayman. So many people were bitten by the yellowtail snappers that were looking for a 'free meal' and we'd never seen them behave like that before. We decided we never wanted to contribute to that environment. |
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