Swimming With Dolphins

[GLITTER24KT]

I am going to the Western Carribean on the Century on July 31, 2004. I would like to know about the excursions for swimming with the dolphins. Has anybody went on this excursion and how was it? Thanks....

 

[papillons4u]

we did not swim with the dolphins but had the dolphin encounter and it was great! We did not have enough time to do the swim or we sure would have!

 

Joyce

 

[lougee1043]

we too did the enounter--its a wonderful experience but you dont actually spend more then 4-6 min total as an individual hands on with a dolphin -- the rest of the time you are watching other people have their 4-6 min

 

lougee1043

 

 

Since we last sailed on the Oosterdam

<img src=http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&prgb=2325FF&cdt=2004;03;28;08;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800>

 

til our next cruise on the Galaxy

<img src=http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&prgb=2325FF&cdt=2005;03;21;18;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800>

 

9/87 HAL - Noordham

10/92 HAL - Westerdam

4/01 HAL - Zaandam

5/02 HAL - Maasdam

8/02 HAL - Zaandam

3/03 HAL -Statendam

cancelled due to surgeries

12/03 HAL - Statendam replacement cruise

3/04 HAL Oosterdam

3/05 Celebrity Galaxy

[sweetair]

i did both the encounter(tried to do swim but sold out twice) and the actual swim By far the swim was much better and well worth the money(to me).

 

i made the arrangements before i got on the cruise to ensure i would get a spot. It was fairly easy. We found out the exact day we were arriving in cozumel and then booked it online They had to fax us the authorization to sign and fax back. 1 hitch in our plans...we arrived the day before we were expected but dolphin discovery accommodated us anyway.

 

if i recall its a $10 cab ride to chankanaab park and $10 per person to enter the park. I think the swim was $110 per person.

 

try and make your appointed swim time around 11-1.

have a great time

*sweet*

 

[lougee1043]

sweetair

i used to live at 23rd and bell ---where are you

 

ps- if you book on line it is cheaper then thru the cruise line

 

lougee1043

 

 

Since we last sailed on the Oosterdam

<img src=http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&prgb=2325FF&cdt=2004;03;28;08;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800>

 

til our next cruise on the Galaxy

<img src=http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&prgb=2325FF&cdt=2005;03;21;18;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800>

 

9/87 HAL - Noordham

10/92 HAL - Westerdam

4/01 HAL - Zaandam

5/02 HAL - Maasdam

8/02 HAL - Zaandam

3/03 HAL -Statendam

cancelled due to surgeries

12/03 HAL - Statendam replacement cruise

3/04 HAL Oosterdam

3/05 Celebrity Galaxy

[aquaholic]

Does anyone worry about promoting animal abuse when giving business to these "Swim with Dolphins" operations? There are many reports of abuse and also of middlemen capturing thousands of dolphins in hopes of selling them to these companies but they end up selling only a few and then killing the rest! These beautiful animals are at least as intelligent as dogs and possibly more intelligent than we really know. I hope people really think about the impact of their tourist dollars that go to support this growth industry.

[newtocc]

Never did the dolphins thing, but I did try, the Swimming with Piranhas, it was really cool, I hardly ever got bit, but the wifester got chewed up big time, it was so funny!

 

This ship 10/91

That ship 11/95

Whatever ship 12/98

here a ship 13/99

there a ship 14/00

everywhere

a

ship ship 15/05

 

[GLITTER24KT]

To Aquaholic,

 

I did not know about the treatment and abuse of the lovely creatures. I am a animal lover and I consider myself a mother to my two dogs, not their owner. I will not do the dolphin encounter, no way, no how. I will not support any animal or mammal abuse.

Thanks, Aquaholic information. Sparkle

 

[lougee1043]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by newtocc:

Never did the dolphins thing, but I did try, the Swimming with Piranhas, it was really cool, I hardly ever got bit,<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

did you book this tour thru the cruise line or directly on line with www.piranhasareus.com

 

lougee1043

 

 

Since we last sailed on the Oosterdam

<img src=http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&prgb=2325FF&cdt=2004;03;28;08;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800>

 

til our next cruise on the Galaxy

<img src=http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&prgb=2325FF&cdt=2005;03;21;18;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800>

 

9/87 HAL - Noordham

10/92 HAL - Westerdam

4/01 HAL - Zaandam

5/02 HAL - Maasdam

8/02 HAL - Zaandam

3/03 HAL -Statendam

cancelled due to surgeries

12/03 HAL - Statendam replacement cruise

3/04 HAL Oosterdam

3/05 Celebrity Galaxy

[newtocc]

lougee, are you stealing my material, I thought I was the only one that posted fake links!

 

This ship 10/91

That ship 11/95

Whatever ship 12/98

here a ship 13/99

there a ship 14/00

everywhere

a

ship ship 15/05

 

[Randyk47]

Well, we did the swim with the dolphins and it was great. I'm very sensitive to how aninmals are treated and I saw nothing that would indicate the dolphins were given anything but the best care. The operation we went to only has a few swims a day with each dolphin so as not to harm or exhaust the dolphin. It was great and I'd say go. See our homepage for some pictures of us with the dolphin.

 

www.geocities.com/theklugspage/

 

Until Galaxy

[aquaholic]

Just consider the fact that dolphins have a home range of 60 square miles in the wild. Do you think they're happy in the small enclosures where they're doomed to spend the rest of their lives? They also don't live as long in captivity as they do in the wild unlike other zoo animals. I think the more people know about this industry the better. Also don't forget about all the dolphins that are killed when not selected to live in captivity. It's not just rescued dolphins that end up in these facilities, especially those not in the US. This industry is not well regulated outside the US, if at all. Sorry if I'm a little passionate about this, but these creatures are so beautiful and highly intelligent. I'm just a concerned animal lover.

[cruise freak]

We did the dolphin swim last September at Cozumel. We booked with Sherri at www.cozumelinsider.com. It truly was a chance of a lifetime and we really enjoyed it. We bought the video and pictures. Go for it.

 

 Till the Big Z

 Till Infinity and Beyond

 

[seabreezer]

I agree with Aquaholic on this issue. Does everything, even wildlife, have to be exploited in the name of entertainment? I would be much more content with observing these beautiful creatures, undisturbed if possible, in the wild.

[ldparker]

Wild dolphin encounters/swims are also available from some ports. These are usually offered by research groups or universities. I am considering an excursion next November out of Puerto Vallarta through a company called "wildlife encounters". The dolphins are wild and in the open ocean. The opportunity to swim with them is hit or miss depending on the day and the attitude of the dolphins. To me, this encounter would be very special.

 

David

[sweetair]

lougee,

sorry i havent answered earlier Having a tough time with these new boards...i live very close to bell blvd and the LIE.

*sweet*

[Alexborngal]

Wild dolphin encounters/swims are also available from some ports. These are usually offered by research groups or universities. I am considering an excursion next November out of Puerto Vallarta through a company called "wildlife encounters". The dolphins are wild and in the open ocean. The opportunity to swim with them is hit or miss depending on the day and the attitude of the dolphins. To me, this encounter would be very special.

 

David

 

I had the most incredible experience of my life in Kona. I swam with the dolphins in the ocean. Booked the trip through onespiritonelove.com. We went on a boat far out in the ocean and saw the dolphins after their usual all night feeding. The boat stopped in front of them. We got out and they swam around us and past us. The boat went ahead of them again - three times. The final time the boat stopped in their "neighborhood" - shallow water and we swam around in awe with the dolphins spinning and diving around us. They were spinner dolphins and spotted dolphins. I totally recommend the experience. It was $170 for 5 hours - there were 10 of us on a boat which can carry 20. The captain had equipment. Sodas and water, sandwiches and snacks were plentiful all day.

[BrendaJ]

We did the Lanai Wild Dolphin and Snorkel Adventure in Maui and it was great. It is run by the Pacific Whale Foundation, and these people are all about conservation and respect for the animals.

You don't get in the water with the dolphins, but the boat goes to an area where there are lots of spinner and bottle-nosed dolphins, and the dophins seem to love the boats; they surrounded our boat, swimming along side, and jumping and spinning - it was a sight to behold. Our guide estimated there were about 300 dolphins around us that day. Later, our boat was being used to hide behind by a mother humpback and her baby, while males were chasing her; we were incredibly close to the whales and it was an awesome experience. The snorkelling earlier in the day was also terrific, led by a very informative guide.

Although this excursion does not allow you to touch and swim with the dolphins, at least you know that no animals are being captured or harmed while you get to see them. I must say that was the most memerable and enjoyable excursion I have ever experienced.

Brenda

[lisiamc]

Wild dolphin encounters/swims are also available from some ports. These are usually offered by research groups or universities. I am considering an excursion next November out of Puerto Vallarta through a company called "wildlife encounters". The dolphins are wild and in the open ocean. The opportunity to swim with them is hit or miss depending on the day and the attitude of the dolphins. To me, this encounter would be very special.

 

David

 

I like the idea of the dolphin having the choice whether to interact with us humans or not. I would much prefer this to a set-up where the dolphins are captive.

 

Lisa