How To Swim with Dolphins

By Tarek Khaleel

We can see with every passing year an activity that never seems to loose its momentum. An activity that each summer brings a smile to a child face and builds strong long lasting memories that are pined for by each family at some point in their lives and that is none other than the Swimming with Dolphins experience. This experience as it is called because of its uniqueness and rarity is a fascinating opportunity in any individuals life, whether young or old, athletic or not, whatever the person, a swim with dolphins can no less be described than simply magical.

Yet, the question has arisen by those that are practical, how does one even swim with the dolphins? Besides simply floating effortlessly next to them, how do you actually do it, are their techniques, different ways of approaching them, different names to the types of swims? All very valid reasonable questions, after all this is not an activity most of us embark upon each and every day.

This Article is specifically written to answer these questions and much more, we will actively cover all the types of swims their names, how to actually do them, what to expect to happen from them and if you have done the ride correctly, how to treat the dolphins and even how to book the reservation and enjoy your vacation while fitting in a swim with dolphins activity into your very active and busy schedule.

Best Way to Go Swimming with Dolphins

So lets get right to it shall we, the first thing you need to know is the protocol of how to interact with a dolphin, first is the very obvious facts, don’t hit the dolphin, scream at them, hurt or abuse them in anyway so that they will quickly comply with your requests. This goes without saying and of course you will be banned from the facility if you do this. Also never insert your fingers into any of the holes of the dolphins including its blowhole in which it uses to breathe. Always follow the Trainers instructions to the letter, do not divert or modify anything they say to better suite your personal experience with the dolphins. Still on Protocol, when gripping the dorsal fin ride of the dolphin never pull hard down on the dolphin, but gently rap your hands firmly around the fin as it attempts to pick you up to swim with you. Always treat the dolphin as you would any human being, with courtesy and respect so that it may return the favor.

Now that we have covered dolphin protocol we can begin talking about the actual swimming encounters with the dolphin. Lets start with the most common, The Dorsal Fin Ride, this ride is the most common ride you may do with a dolphin, it basically compromises of you standing in the middle of the water with your right hand outstretched or left (if you are left handed) and upon the trainers command a dolphin will begin to swim towards you and will begin to veer slightly of course as to come right next to you so you will have a window of 2-3 seconds where the dolphin will present its dorsal fin clearly in the air next to your out reached arm. You will have the opportunity to reach and grab onto it so that he may pull you through the water the rest of the way to the end of the pool. This in essence is the Dorsal fin ride and it is among the basic activity of the swim with the dolphins program.

If you thought the Dorsal fin ride was pretty cool, just wait for what we have next, the not so common peck ride, most people tend to very much enjoy the peck ride, the peck or the dolphins two swimming fins is what is used in this ride to carry you across the water. Essentially it is a very similar set up, your in the middle of the water and both hands are outstretched this time, on the trainers command the dolphin will begin to swim towards you but upside down, where his two peck fins will be clearly shown in the air, as he begins to get closer you have to time the ride correctly also a window of 2-3 seconds where you must then gently but firmly grab onto the two peck fins of the dolphin and ride him to the end of the pool, the dolphin is propelling both you and himself with primarily the power of his tail fin, goes to show just how stupendously good swimmers dolphins really are.

Finally we come to the rarest of the dolphin swim rides the toe push ride. Those who have already experienced it covet it deeply. And those who have only heard of it only fear it. It’s the equivalent of Space Mountain and the Hulk combined except the roller coasters essentially are dolphins. So enough with the suspense what on earth is the toe push. Well to put it frankly the name says it all, the toe push is where you have two dolphins swim underneath the water and use just their noses to push your feet, one for each foot, up and through the water and actually catapult you into the air to simulate the feeling of flight. Needless to say many people are fearful initially when they hear this is what will happen, however we can say with great confidence that every participant that has ever done the toe push ride has loved it and wanted to do it again and again. The toe push ride is the most uncommon of the swim activities and is not done in all dolphin swimming locations, as of now it is not done in the US. It is done in locations like Mexico, Bahamas, Grand Cayman and Tortola.

Now we come to the practical section of the article, it wouldn’t make a lot of sense to tempt you with all these tantalizing, exciting and exhilarating stunts that anyone can experience with the dolphins without informing you just how you can implement them and make reservations for them. Dolphin World / Keys Adventures Tours has been the main Dolphin supplier for quality, safe, fun dolphin swim activities worldwide for 15 years. If your going somewhere on a vacation there is a good chance we might have a dolphin swim for you. There are two ways to book, by making your reservations online at www.dolphinreservation.com or by calling us at Toll Free 800-667-5524 to make your reservations over the phone. We have locations in Miami, Florida Keys, Orlando, Grand Caymans, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Tortola, Hawaii Jamaica and more. Even if you’re not on a vacation, time is so short and experiences as these are rare and ephemeral, and precious. Take a vacation now; take some time off from the everyday grind and monotony and experience life to the fullest with an experience to truly match. Try a one of a kind Dolphin swim activity today, but don’t delay summer and Fall times are our busiest times of year and you need a reservation in advance, so make your reservations now to ensure this experience doesn’t pass you by and we will be waiting for you here at Dolphin World Keys Adventures Tours.