Swim with Dolphins in California | California Travel Tips
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- Опубликовано: 31 мар 2009
- California travel expert Veronica Hill goes on a swim with dolphins in this episode of "California Travel Tips."
If you've always wanted to swim with dolphins in California, consider a visit to Sea World San Diego.
This is the only place in Southern California where you can put on a wetsuit and then hit the pool to meet some adorable bottlenose dolphins. Six Flags Vallejo near San Francisco offers a similar program.
At the SeaWorld Dolphin Interaction program, you can become dolphin trainer for a day as you get up close and personal with some of the theme park's most playful residents.
It's an educational experience that's unforgettable for adults, and a child's dream come true. In fact, it's my top pick for a California family vacation.
Even kids as young as 6 can participate in this dolphin swim, thanks to a safe platform that keeps you in waist-high water during the entire session. In fact, you don't even have to know how to swim!
The 90-minute program begins in the classroom, where you'll learn some amazing dolphin facts from a Sea World dolphin trainer.
After this quick lesson, it's time to suit up for the pool, which is kept at a salty and brisk 55-60 degrees. Just don't forget to remove all your jewelry - for the safety of the dolphins.
Our dolphin encounter began with Sandy, a 30-year-old bottlenose dolphin who won us over with her sweet personality and intelligence.
After trainer Mary Sears showed us the ropes, we were feeding, touching and training dolphins just like the pros.
Sandy had fun playing dead with our pretend gun signal, and Ripley turned out to be a great dance partner!
"Usually the clicking and the little squeals means they are excited and having fun!"
Mary explained that a dolphin's tail makes them unique. "See those little nicks and cuts in there?," she said. "Those are like fingerprints for a dolphin! Every dolphin has a very different tail and that's how you can tell them apart!"
Between tricks, the dolphins are rewarded with a healthy dose of fresh herring, mackerel and sardines, which is similar to a dolphins diet in the wild.
Some of these intelligent mammals stars in the dolphin show, Dolphin Discovery. Great care is taken that they practice different behaviors each day, so they are always stimulated with something new. The dolphins are encouraged with gentle whistles, ice-cold snowballs and even squirt guns.
Our dolphin interaction ended with a fierce splashing contest, followed by a dolphin photo with Sea World's photographers.
After blowing a kiss to Sandy, she gave a tail wave goodbye and went on her way. Sadly, it was our time to go too.
If you're looking for a memorable family vacation beyond the standard theme parks, Sea World's Dolphin Interaction is well worth the cost.
You'll leave with special memories, and a better understanding of these gentle ocean mammals.
Sea World Dolphin Encounter and Interaction Program
www.SeaWorldSanDiego.com
(800) 25-SHAMU
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They all (including the dolphin) look so happy, and makes me so smile!
I want one as my pet!!
Isn't it great! It was one of the most wonderful experiences ever.
They are absolutely adorable.
i have trained 3 times now with the dolphins . They love what they do . they are very intelligent creatures . if they could talk they would tell you that they are happy . i filmed some baby ones in florida . i have footage of one speaking to me for taking his ball ..so i gave it back to him .that was the best day of my life . thanks to the people who care for them :D liana
I'm glad you enjoyed your experience! I'd do it again and again!
I agree. It's such a wonderful experience. You'll have a blast!
Dude you can't beat people who talk in morse code, that is awesome!!!
OMG! I've ALWAYS wanted to do that! Dolphins are my favorite animal!
Same!
I swam with dolphins in Portugal in seaworld. It was an amazing experience
@CaliforniaTravelTips you always make me smile
i love dolphins ,, so cute
What a great vacation idea.
@sexykitten0627 Thanks for the kind comment. It's a wonderful experience. The dolphins are so sweet and intelligent.
Dolphins are amazing
i love dolphins!
I'm going to the bahamas this summer I'm going to swim with some dolphins!!!! Im Soooo Excited
so so so so so so so so so adorable
Wow. Sounds like fun!
dolphins are so cool
Me too! I'd go do it again today if I could!
LMAO! when my family and i went to cayman island to swim with the dolphins, i was soooooo anxious of it, and my mom was like "uhhh...". and once it was over, i think my mom loved it more than i did!! THEY ARE ADORABLE!! got to kiss it too and swim with it.
For my 13th birthday, I SO wanna go to cali and do this!!
This is so awesome!! I got to do it this summer it was so INCREDIBLE!!! xD i'll never forget it!!! they are so friendly and the trainers are so nice!! i loved it!!!!
Yes, you can do it at the Kahala. We might join a group when we're there this spring. What's cool is you can actually swim in the deeper water with them.
That looks so amazing I hope one day I get to do that!
Very cool!
I always wanted to swim with the dolphins or spend time with them patting them. Dolphins are one of my favorite animals. Someday I do look forward on taking a trip to San Diego for the Zoo and Sea World. Thanks for the info.
Hi there. Thanks for the comment! The music is a jingle from Imovie, so it's readily available. Thanks again! Veronica
I went to sea world on an oceanograhpy trip for 6 grade last year! it was an after school club and we studied an animal for 4 weeks then went on our trip.
We left at 10 pm and got in cali at 6 am and went to a pier and took a class about saftey,then we went out on a huge boat [there were 50 of us] and we let a big net in the ocean,caught animals played with them,then relesed them, then went to sea world,then hotel,then aa HUGE aquarim,then on our way home :D it was awesome!
That looks like fun
Cool! Have a great time! Be sure to do the dolphin interaction. It is something you'll never forget!
Veronica
i know!! i just love it!!! =D i wanna do it again if i go back to San Diego!!
It's a really cool experience. Do the money dance at the wedding and you should be covered! Have a great honeymoon! Veronica
OH MY GODNESS!
I WANT A DOLPHIN!
that seems like so much fun
See if you can. You'll have a blast! Veronica
so cuuuuuuuuute
wow thts amazing
You'll have a blast! Thanks for commenting! Veronica
It looks fun.
both my daughters did this and both loved it. I'm not sure it was worth the $170 each but still very cooll experience and memories
Ive swam with wild ones in the Land Down Under. They are just as cool
omgosh i saw sandy perform when i went to sea world a couple years ago :O
i love dolphins sososososososos much they r so cute i want to swim with them sososo much. it is my dream i want to be a dolphin traner i have ben a suba diver for 2 years.. I LOVE DOLPHINS
Don't be - you can do it too! So worth it. Hope you make it someday! :) Veronica
magnificent animals
ME TOO!!!!! THAT'S MY DREAM TOO!!!!!!!!!!
Hi. Thanks for sharing your experience! It is pricey, but certainly memorable for kids. Especially if they love dolphins!
Take care, Veronica
I need to DO THIS!!!!!!!!!
I really want to swim with dolphins :) maby when i go to florida next year i will x
jamaica montigo baye is very awsome my parents swam with the there and they said it was amazing also you can swim and pet sting rays and watch the shark show :)
holy crap that dolphin can do a frontflip!!!
aww dolphin :D
@TheKevieH No, they were very gentle and adorable.
awesome
Thanks! This is in San Diego.
Veronica
What an amazing experience! What program was that? Thanks for commenting! Veronica
I am a dolphin trainer, and I have swum (or whatever the past tense is) and more with them. I actually adopted (they don't live in my house) 2 bottle nosed dolphins and 3 Commerson's Dolphins.
i wish i could do that! :O
@sistersgocrazy Yes, they are well cared for!
your sooo lucky! ive done the trainer 4 a day program & the dolphin interaction program at seaworld australia, & it was GREAT but only lasted 20 mins BOO!
u got 70 mins more than me! so jealous!
we got to do this in mexico it is the exact same from san diago
@LittleMissSunshinee7 Have fun! They also do it in Mexico and Hawaii.
Before you think about supporting this activity, please watch the documentary, "The Cove". I respectfully ask you to check out "The Cove" website and also to review the petitions they have to help save the lives of thousands of dolphins that are slaughtered each year in Japan. The film has changed my way of looking at swimming with dolphins and I hope it will change yours as well. Thank you for taking the time to read this and many thanks for considering to watch the film as well.
@animalover1310 Sandy was adorable. They are all precious creatures.
i might go to jamaica next x mas and i might swim with them YAAAY
@dolphin94lover Glad you enjoyed it! Good luck on your degree!
nice
My dream is to swim with a dolphin!!! :')
@Mrnaturefriend Thanks. You are very kind. :)
@xXMariaLovesYouXx That is for each person.
there very nice and fental creatures :)
@Byrnzi360 Yes, I am.
soooo cutee~~~ sigh....how i hope Indonesia Seaworld could have this program...-_-
Oceanography!
I live in Arizona!
So were only about 6 hours from sea world :]
There was a song 'If I Could Swim With the Dolphins'
One of the show's writers/creators is also a singer, a lot of his work ends up in the show.
Where can I get the INFO for this amazing trip?
me to
and very friendly
thumbs up if south park brought you to this search
@aimee00987 You might want to go down to Mexico and the Caribbean. They probably offer longer programs.
I'm going to California next summer if everything is alright, and I'm looking forward to doing such an amazing thing like swimming with dolphins. I have to do it, we only live once, don't we? :)
@AdommyOfficial You are up to your waist. If you want to get completely in the water, you can do it in Mexico and Hawaii.
the dolphin is a wild animal he is not a clown
@sfilindrus
right, even if it looks cute.I love dolphins
Looks like a great experience but I can also see it is very canned and the reactions of the dolphins are rehearsed and taught,
still an amazing experience nonetheless
Wasn't Sandy one of the main dolphins of the Dolphin Show at Sea World Orlando during the 90's?....She used to be a fantastic jumper!!! Cheers to my favorite Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin! The last time I visited Sea World Orlando in 2004, new dolphins were performing, but their jumps were not even close to Sandy's!
@foreverlove006 It's a track from Apple's imovie jingles. Maybe they used it in their song?
Free the dolphins!
@CaliforniaTravelTips Okay thanks,
@DeadHelena thank you!
@xTealWebkinzx Sounds fun!
@31brokeass Yes!!
@Byrnzi360 I know right!!!
@iFawkChu It is currently $190 for the dolphin interaction.
@camipame Hope you have a wonderful time! Enjoy your birthday!
@CaliforniaTravelTips how much does it cost to swim with them?
do they bite?
can you do that in florida?