Top Florida Swim with Dolphins Experiences
Swimming with dolphins should be at the top of everyone’s bucket list. These fantastic creatures are brilliant and amusing. Individuals who are stressed or anxious benefit from their nearness.
After spending a few hours with these marvelous aquatic mammals, both adults and children will feel connected to nature and its rewards. In all my travels across Florida, there is nothing more fascinating than encountering a dolphin — it’s most likely one you would not soon forget. In case you didn’t know, swimming with dolphins in the wild is risky. That said, there are plenty of places where you can safely swim with them! Here’s a list of my favorites.
Marineland Dolphin Adventure
Swim with Dolphins just south of St. Augustine
Marineland Dolphin Adventure is located on the southern end of St. Augustine. After a scenic drive along the Florida coast, Marineland Dolphin Adventure can be an all-day excursion, with activities ranging from swimming with dolphins to kayaking through estuaries and listening to scientific lectures. When you tell your friends and family about your trip, we’re sure one of the first things you’ll say is, “We went swimming with dolphins!”
You can have an incredible, intimate in-water experience as you rub down on a dolphin, splash and play with their favorite toys and learn how to build positive relationships with these fantastic animals. An informative and educational pre-encounter session will prepare you for your program and offer the opportunity to learn more about these amazing marine mammals.
Marineland Dolphin Adventure, 9600 N Ocean Shore Blvd, St. Augustine, FL 32080; Phone: (407) 563-4701
Can you swim with dolphins at Hawk’s Cay?
Swimming with Dolphins in Marathon
Get up close and personal with our incredible Bottlenose Dolphins in their natural lagoon habitat. Choose from one of our five interactive programs, each with its own distinct experience. Leave inspired to make changes for the betterment of the ocean, the environment, and all the amazing creatures that live there! Inspiring Conservation is something they are very passionate about at Dolphin Connection!
Their Dolphin Connection program is in an ocean-fed saltwater lagoon and is home to a pod of friendly dolphins that visitors can interact with while learning the importance of protecting Florida’s marine ecosystem. Hawks Cay Resort is the only hotel or resort in the mainland United States that offers its guests the opportunity of dolphin viewing on-site, in their natural habitat.
Dolphin Connection in Hawks Cay Resort, 61 Hawks Cay Blvd, Duck Key, FL 33050; Phone: (305) 289-9975
Miami Seaquarium
Miami Dolphin Swim Odyssey
Check out their Dolphin Odyssey, where you can get kisses, handshakes, rubs, training techniques, feed, and a dorsal fin tow that will showcase their true power!
Dolphin Swim / Odyssey is a 30-minute shallow and deep water experience that includes touching, playing, and training with a dolphin, as well as the opportunity for a deep-water interaction with a dolphin, such as a dorsal fin ride from one pool to the other, as well as General Admission to the Park, Marine Animal Shows and Marine Animal Exhibits, and other Marine Animal Shows.
Miami Seaquarium, 4400 Rickenbacker Causeway, Key Biscayne, FL 33149; Phone: (305) 361-5705
Swim with Dolphins in Orlando Discovery Cove
Swim with Dolphins in Orlando
Get a nose-to-bottlenose encounter in shallow or deep water while learning all about dolphin habits and their amazing ability to communicate.
A once-in-a-lifetime Dolphin Swim Experience at Discovery Cove could be the perfect addition to your vacation! In an aquatic wonderland, families can swim with bottlenose dolphins, feed exotic birds, and play with otters and stingrays. Give your dolphin companion simple commands and watch them joyfully obey! When it’s your turn, follow your trainer’s instructions and glide thru the cool waters while gently clinging to the dolphin’s dorsal fin. Finally, enjoy having your picture taken while your dolphin kisses you on the cheek! This is an experience you will remember for the rest of your life.
This interactive marine life park in Orlando, adjacent to SeaWorld® and Aquatica®, provides guests with encounters with dolphins and other incredible sea life in a one-of-a-kind setting.
Discovery Cove, 6000 Discovery Cove Way, Orlando, FL 32821; Phone: (407) 513-4600
Theater of the Sea
Swimming with Dolphins in Islamorada
Swim with dolphins in the Florida Keys! Here you can touch and interact with a dolphin while swimming and snorkeling around a lagoon. This iconic place that’s been around since 1946 is also home to sea lions, sea turtles, sharks, stingrays, alligators, and a variety of exotic birds.
The second oldest marine mammal center in the world, Theater of the Sea, is located halfway down the Florida Keys in Islamorada, Florida. Visitors appreciate a comfortable and clean environment in which to view marine exhibits and live animal shows.
The park’s intimacy with the animals and aquatic life is what makes it so special today. You can see the animals and their many talents from any seat in the house. Swim with dolphins and sea lions, take a guided tours, and experience one of the best known bottomless boat rides in Florida. The mission of Theater of the Sea is to provide these animals with a wonderful home while also expressing them with visitors in ways that inspire awareness and sensitivity toward animals, the environment, and conservation issues.
Theater of the Sea, 84721 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada, FL 33036; Phone: (305) 664-2431
Swim with Dolphins at Dolphin Research Center
Dolphin Encounters in the Florida Keys
One of my favorite places to swim with dolphins. There are many other programs they offer, including painting with a dolphin and being an ultimate trainer for a day.
The Dolphin Research Center is a fascinating and interactive family attraction. You can visit the Dolphin Research Center for an hour or the entire day. Whether you come in for a general admission look at dolphins and sea lions during behavior exercises, or you opt for a fun-filled interactive program that includes swimming with dolphins.
58901 Overseas Highway, Grassy Key, Florida 33050; (305) 289-0002
Gulf World Marine Park
Swim with Dolphins in Panama City, Florida
Have an unforgettable experience with dolphins at Gulf World Marine Park. Interact with these friendly creatures and explore the many exhibits at the park. For 30 minutes, you get a belly ride, kiss, handshake, hug and caresses, and free time with a dolphin!
Gulf World Marine Park, 15412 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32413; Phone: (850) 234-5271
Dos and Don’ts When Observing Dolphins in the Wild
Allow dolphins to swim to you rather than you pursuing them. Although it is reasonable that you want to get closer to them, dolphins will be cautious. You may end up spooking them if you try to follow them. The best thing to do is to float calmly on the water.
Don’t be afraid if dolphins approach you; it’s a fantastic experience if you come across them in the wild. Remember that dolphins are friendly and have even been known to assist in the rescue of humans on the verge of drowning. Tour guides will help you set your expectations so you can relax and enjoy watching the dolphins play with you.
- Feeding or pursuing wild dolphins is not permitted. It is not only illegal, but it is also considered harassment and may result in stress, injury, or even death. Dolphins that are fed may become dependent on human food and abandon hunting grounds. Furthermore, when wild dolphins are fed frequently by humans, they lose their natural fear of humans.
- Never try to entrap or circle around a group of dolphins while viewing them in the wild from a boat. This may cause them to change their current behavior pattern, traumatize them, or even harm them physically. When approaching individual dolphins or dolphin pods, always keep the boat engines in neutral.
- When you’re near wild dolphins, try to be as quiet as possible. Sudden, loud noises may startle them and accidentally separate mothers and calves.
- Dolphins should never be touched or petted, even if they are close enough to touch. Instead, use binoculars to observe dolphins from a safe distance in their natural habitat.
- If you believe a dolphin is disturbed or stressed by your presence, back away slowly.