The
Florida Keys offers kids and families an opportunity not
found many other places in the United States or for the
world for that matter with its Dolphin Interaction
Programs. There are four places - Hawk's Cay, Dolphins
Plus, the Dolphin Research Center, and Theater of the Sea
- in the Florida Keys which provide children with an
opportunity to interact with dolphins. All of them are on
the expensive side if your child wants to get in the
water with the dolphin and depending on the age of the
child several require that a paying participating adult
accompany the child which makes it doubly expensive These
encounters and swims usually run in the the $90 to $135
range. Each facility has age, or height, and other safety
limitations and restrictions. Advance reservations
recommended for dolphin encounter programs and dolphin
encounters and swims. CALL FOR LATEST FEE SCHUDULE
.
The
Dolphin Connection at Hawk's Cay Resort, at Mile Marker
61,
Duck Key, Florida Keys (305)743-7000 is described
below:
Hawk's
Cay offers several programs. Its Dolphin
Discovery program is 45 minutes long and includes
25 minutes of personalized contact but no
swimming with the dolphins. Under the supervision
of a highly skilled guide or trainer you'll be able to
pet, touch, and possibly feed the dolphins. Costs more
for non-resort participants.
In
its Dolphins Dockside program, Hawk's Cay
provides adults and teens with a look at dolphin
training. Participants act as trainer assistants
during a training session. ages 13 and over, 12 and
under must be supervised by a paid adult.
The
resort's Dolphin Detective program offers young
children and opportunity for hands-on participation in
the trainer's world including training games,
preparation of dolphin fish food and supervised
training of the dolphins. 30 minute dock side program
c. Children must be 5 years or older.
.
Dolphin
Research Center, Mile Marker
59,
close by Hawk's Cay on Grassy Key, Florida Keys (305)
289-1121,
www.dolphins.org Dolphin
Research Center features Exciting and fun narrated
dolphin and sea lion sessions every half hour from 9 a.m.
to 4 p.m., 7 days a week.
Dolphin Encounter swim program, DolphinSplash wade-in
program and other fun interactive programs offered
daily!
The
Dolphin Research Center began as Santini's Porpoise
School and was run by Milton Santini, a pioneer in
dolphin husbandry and training. At that time visitors
were allowed to swim with the dolphins.
In 1962,
Hollywood hearing about Santini made a movie about a
family in the keys that befriends a dolphin. "Flipper"
was filmed on location at the Dolphin research Center
(Santini's) and starred five of Santini's dolphins,
including Mitzi, Little Bit, and Mr. Gipper. Some of the
dolphins at the Dolphin research center are descended
from those "Flipper" stars. Mitzi, Santini's first pupil,
was picked to star as Flipper in the original movie.This
is the place were the famous porpoise "Flipper" was
trained and buried. Mitzi's performance made the film and
the TV series that followed a hit. She became a beloved
celebrity at Grassy Key. When she died she was buried
beneath a dolphin statue in the School's courtyard. The
Dolphin Research Center maintains the grave, and in honor
of her accomplishments they always make it the first stop
on the tour. A small plaque at the Dolphin Research
Center reads:
Dedicated
to the memory of Mitzi The original Flipper 1958
-1972
In 1977
Jean Paul-Gouin a whale conservationj ist purchased the
Santini facility and renamed it "Institute for Delphinid
Research". the facility was closed to the public in order
to research the dolphin's language and reasoning skills.
In 1984
having completed his project, Jean Paul-Gouin turned over
the facility with its dolphins to his general manage,
Jayne Shannon, and head trainer, Mandy Rodriquez. They
founded the non-for-profit Dolphin Research
Center.
.
Theater
of the Sea,
Mile Marker 84.5, 84721 Overseas Highway Islamorada,
Florida Keys (305) 664-2431, Second oldest marine mammal
facility in the world and home of Atlantic Bottlenose
dolphins., www.theaterofthesea.com
Park
admission to Theater of the Sea includes
dolphin show, sea lion show, guided marine life tour
and a 5-minute bottomless boat ride. Cost of
participation in the dolphin, sea lion and sea ray
programs includes viewing of all shows. Swims include
thirty minutes of water time. Participants take turns
interacting with the animals. Allow 2 hours before or
after program participation to view the shows.
For
Trainer for a Day participants, park admission allows
viewing of the the sea lion session only.
Restrictions
for all programs - Must be age 5 or older to
participate, understand English or have translator.
IAdditionally, in order to avoid disease transmission
to facility's animals participants must not have
assisted with a marine mammal rescue within 48 hours.
Liability waivers must be signed by a parent or
appointed guardian. Appointed guardian must provide
notarized documentation of
guardianship.
Dolphin
Swim program - Theater of the Sea offers a
structured interaction in the water with the
dolphin(s).Swimmers do trained behaviors with the
dolphin(s) such as dorsal tows and hugs and may
snorkel the pool with the dolphin(s). Each class and
swim session last an hour . A parent or appointed
guardian is required to swim with participantís
ages 5, 6, or 7. Participant must be a competent
swimmer. Trainers oversee the interactions from out of
the water and cannot personally attend to individuals.
Must not be pregnant. Observers for dolphin swims, pay
park admission plus an additional fee to accompany
participant to the swim area.
Swim
with Sea lions. Structured interaction in the
water with the sea lion(s). Swimmers do trained
behaviors with the sea lion(s) such as flipper tows
and hugs and may snorkel the pool with the sea
lion(s). one hour duration - parent or appointed
guardian is required to swim with participantís
ages 5, 6, or 7. Must be a competent swimmer. Trainers
oversee the interactions from out of the water and
cannot personally attend to individuals. Must not be
pregnant. Observers for sea lion swims, pay park
admission plus fee to accompany participant to the
swim area.
Swim
with the Rays . Feed and touch gentle rays near a
shallow sandy beach. Snorkel with the stingrays and a
variety of tropical fish. one hour. A parent or
appointed guardian must accompany participantís
ages 5, 6, or 7 to the swim area. For those
participating in the 4:00 stingray swim, make plans to
see the shows before program.
Trainer
for the Day - Assist with feeding, training, and
caring for the dolphin(s) and sea lion(s). Does not
include swimming. One hour behind the scenes and one
hour with animals. Must be at least 10 years of age to
participate. Children may be ages 5 to 9 to
participate, but their party must purchase the entire
program. For Trainer for a Day, park admission allows
you to observe the sea lion session only. For those
participating in the 1:30 Trainer for a Day make plans
to see the sea lion show before the Trainer of the Day
program.
.
Wild
Dolphin Adventures
, Key West, Florida Keys - Eco-tour with Key West's
resident pod of wild Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins in
their natural home. http://www.wilddolphinadventures.com
<http://www.wilddolphinadventures.com/>
(Click
Here)
Dolphin
watching is a great family outing. Kids and adults
alike get a major thrill seeing the wild dolphins and
sometimes experience great interaction while
snorkeling amongst them. At times the dolphins take
extra interest in children just like humans get
excited about seeing their babies. Dolphins are
intelligent beings and know that the little ones are
the young and need extra special care.
Enjoy an interactive expedition aboard the CORAL
REEFER, a fast twin engine 28' custom built boat
guided by Capt. Dave Lewis. See local marine life
& birds, learn about the natural history of the
back country mangrove habitats, snorkel coral reefs
and see tropical fish, turtles, lobsters, sponges,
crabs, gorgonians, rays, and much, much more! Wild
Dolphin Adventures also does light tackle
sportfishing.
.
Dolphins
Plus, Mile Marker 100.5
, Key Largo, Florida Keys, (305) 451-1993 ,
www.dolphinsplus.com
Dolphins
Plus offers environmental programs several times each
day at their marine mammal facility. Swim and
interaction program fees vary depending on the
program you choose.
.
Dolphin
Cove, Mile Marker 101.9
Bayside, Key Largo 305-451-4060, www.dolphinscove.com
ACTIVITIES
and PLACES
TO VISIT
for CHILDREN
and
FAMILIES
in the FABULOUS
FLORIDA KEYS
To
find out more about Kids' activities and places to see
to make your children's visit to the Keys a rewarding
and worthwhile experience, CLICK on the links in the
navigtion bar to the left or provided below.
DOLPHIN
PROGRAMS
FOR
KIDS