Dolphin Swim in the Florida Keys

We did it! We Swam with the Dolphins!

Actually I swam with the dolphins twice. My husband, daughter and I went for the first swim! It was as awesome as I expected. I talked about it so much that my friends and I decided to go back about 5 years later. The only place I would recommend for this adventure is Dolphin Research Center in Marathon, Florida. They genuinely love and care for the dolphins. Visit their website in the link list below.

PHOTO: Joan and Santini

Dolphins at Grassy Key

by: Marcia Seligson, George Ancona

Amazon Price: (as of 07/11/2009)
List Price: $15.95

Dolphin Research Center

We were so excited!

We were trained and educated for an hour or more before we got into the water. They offered safety vests, but we opted not to do that. We were divided into groups. Only 2 people per dock allowed in the water at a time. I think there were 3 docks.

The trainers were awesome. They instructed us every step of the way. Each one of us entered the water to receive a kiss from a dolphin, shake hands with a dolphin, swim out and let the dolphins bring us in (that is the most fun of all!) We would grab the fins when the dolphins came up on each side of us and the dolphins would pull us back to the dock!!

My husband is legally blind. When instructed to do so, he swam out, and the dolphins came up on each side of him to pick him up. He was reaching for the fins, but not connecting. The patient wonderful dolphins continued to stay in position, moving as if to try and help him "find" their fins! I will never forget that sight! Yes, he did "find" the fins, and had a wonderful swim back in. His first remark was, "Let's do that again!"

We did a copy-cat trick, too. We could get in the water and choose our "trick". I can only remember that I chose to spin around in the water. And the dolphin did the same!

PHOTO: Kathie and Tanner

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Dolphin Research Center

Dolphin Research Center, Florida Keys.

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Dolphin Swim at the Dolphin Research Center

Swim with the dolphins at the Dolphin Research Center on Grassy Key in the Florida Keys. It's part of the Dolphin Encounter program - very cool!

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and the trainer says "Swim out in that direction - the dolphins will come get you!"

This entire experience was so much fun! Dolphin Research Center is focused on the care of the animals. The animals live in a lagoon, a natural habitat. On this dolphin swim, you actually are able to communicate with the animals -- much more so than more "touristy" swims. Descriptive words are difficult -- the experience is awesome, spiritual, and fun! Be warned -- the time goes by much much too fast!

Read all about dolphins!

Dolphins and Sharks: Magic Tree House Research Guide (A Stepping Stone Book(TM))

by: Mary Pope Osborne, Natalie Pope Boyce

Amazon Price: $4.99 (as of 07/11/2009)

Whales & Dolphins (Smithsonian Handbooks)

by: Mark Carwardine

Amazon Price: $13.60 (as of 07/11/2009)

Dolphin Adventure:: A True Story

by: Wayne Grover

Amazon Price: $4.99 (as of 07/11/2009)

More information about dolphins!

HowStuffWorks "Dolphins": Dolphins are marine mammals. Learn more about dolphins at HowStuffWorks.

Where is Dolphin Research Center? How do I make reservations?

What should I wear? What is the best time of year to go?

The DRC website will answer all of your questions in detail- costs, reservations, what to wear. The link is in the section below this paragraph.

DRC is in Marathon, FL in the Florida Keys. Marathon is my favorite spot in all of Florida. It is midway down the Florida Keys. Marathon caters to fishermen and lovers of the sea. It does not have that touristy carnival atmosphere. People are friendly there and very aware of the environment.

Marathon Florida

Home of Dolphin Research Center

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Links to Dolphin Research Center and Marathon!

Have a wonderful trip!

Swim with the dolphins at Dolphin Research Center Marathon FL, Dolphin and Sea Lion Research: Great family fun, meet and swim with dolphins & observe sea lions. Spend an hour or stay all day, fun-filled, exciting programs demonstrating these amazing animals
Marathon Key Florida Keys Official Tourism Site Heart of the Florida Keys: Marathon is the heart of the Florida Keys. Boasts great tarpon fishing, coral reefs and wrecks for scuba diving, relaxing waterfront resorts and marinas. Marathon has many camping facilities and parks to discover. Annually there are many art festivals and the 7-mile bridge run. Some of the best kept
Dolphin Research Center - Reviews and Ratings of Sights in the Upper and Middle Keys - New York Times Travel: Reviews and ratings of Dolphin Research Center in the Upper and Middle Keys from The New York Times.

Set your goal in pictures!

Start today! Yes, you can swim with the dolphins!

How to Set Goals with Pictures: This lens will teach you how to set your goals and dreams in a different way! Using pictures from magazines and cut-out words, you can create a picture of your goal/dream. It's fun, it's easy, it's effective! You certainly need to give this technique a try -- make at least one page and see what happ

Dolphin Research Center - Meet the dolphins!

The Dolphins of the Dolphin Research Center

Meet some of the dolphins at the Dolphin Research Center on Grassy Key, Marathon, FL. These gentle creatures are filled with joy, wisdom and unconditional love to guide and teach us.

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Marathon Travel information

Beautiful Dolphin Video

Dolphins Blow Bubble Air Rings

When you spend your life in the water, I guess you tend to develop a good intuition for its subtleties. Dolphins have been observed to create bubble rings by exhaling air carefully in the middle of the vortices caused by the motion of their fins through the water, among other techniques. Besides being nice to look at (and a neat demonstration of fluid mechanics), this phenomenon also might throw some light on dolphin cognition, since the skill to create the rings is a bit subtle and tends to be taught from one dolphin to the next via careful observation and practice. I'm also intrigued by the report that they seem to be using sonar to locate the vortex in the water, since that would be a fairly amazing bit of audio analysis. This was filmed and edited by chiajungchi, who also has a YouTube site. Thanks for allowing me to post it as well, chiajungchi!

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More Dolphin Adventures

Dolphin Encounter with Captain Chad

When we arrived at Seabrook Island, SC, for a family weekend, our son announced that we were all in for a big surprise the next day! We were all told to be up, awake, alert and dressed by 7:30 a.m. Imagine our surprise when we discovered we were goi...

Update! Debnet and Poddys at Dolphin Research Center!

May, 2009

What fun! I just got a note from Deb - she and Tony had also been to DRC and loved it! She offered to let me add their story and pics to this lens! Aren't Squidoo friends just the most wonderful ever? ! Thank you, Deb!

Note and Pictures from Deb

Thank you, Deb!! What fun to add your great pictures!

The lad with us is Daniel. He supplements his income from DRC by being a
waiter at an Italian restaurant that is next door to the place we
stayed... Lime Tree resort... can't remember the name of the restaurant
though but very nice it is too! We went to the restaurant for a meal and
Daniel waited our table. He was lovely and very chatty. Daniel encouraged
us to go to DRC after we mentioned going to Seaworld (or whatever it's
called). I'm so glad we went to DRC. Daniel gave us some 'special
treatment' and that made our visit even more wonderful. What a fantastic
place.

Deb and Tony at DRC!

Deb and Talon say hello!

Tony and Talon

Deb, Tony and Talon at DRC

Talon in a big big flip!

Talon at Dolphin Research Center, Marathon, Florida! Beautiful!

Daniel, DRC Staffer

Daniel, hospitable host at DRC!

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Thank you for your visit! I hope you enjoyed our story!

We certainly enjoyed our adventure!

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clouda9 wrote...

The story you have shared here is so beautiful and inspiring. Thank you so much!

Posted July 07, 2009

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OhMe wrote...

Congratulations. This lens is our number one lens in our South Carolina Group.

Posted June 24, 2009

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Posted June 22, 2009

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Suzie-Shine wrote...

Oh, yes please, I'd love to swim with dolphins. I suppose though I do have reservations about dolphins being kept in captivity. They are such wonderful creatures. Super lens.
Suzie

Posted June 21, 2009

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Green-Molly wrote...

I absolutely love dolphins! This is something to put on my list of things to do with my grandson!

Posted June 20, 2009

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Momtothezoo wrote...

Thanks Joan...Dolphins are facinating...I'm not crazy about water but I think I would enjoy being in the water with them...they are beautiful!

Posted June 16, 2009

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tduenas05 wrote...

Awesome! My daughter wants to do this so bad! It will give me something to really shoot for by the time she is 16...