Best Place to swim with Dolphins

[lvprettyplcs]

We are headed back to Playa for the 2nd time in June. This time complete with the kids ages 6 & 10. We are looking for lots of kid friendly places to go thats fun for all of us. The kids have expressed interest in swimming with dolphins. Any suggestions? Also any must do's as far as excursions? Last time we fished with Edy Pena & drank ourselves silly.. Not so sure we can pull that off with the kiddo

[james]

The Caribbean, with luck.

Otherwise it is a questionable activity.

[lvprettyplcs]

Originally Posted by james

The Caribbean, with luck.

Otherwise it is a questionable activity.

Thanks James.. We are also interested in other excursions, things to see/do. Thinking about the Fat Cat or something like that.

[Paw'boy]

Originally Posted by lvprettyplcs

Thanks James.. We are also interested in other excursions, things to see/do. Thinking about the Fat Cat or something like that.

PA has both activities and one of the best dolphin facilities.

[snappysammy]

recently went to PA with a friend and his nephew
the facility there was really quite nice, the staff looked very capable
they also had sea lions and manatees

[Trev]

Xel-ha also has swimming with dolphins.

[tdiaz]

We are going to do the Xel-ha thing with kids, 11, 7, 6...it is all inclusive with food/drinks, and a great place to snorkel. The dolphin swim is an add on, but it looks like a nice facility.

[Jwright]

we just got back today and my wife and I went to dolphin discovery and thought it was very nice.

[Houston]

Dolphin Discovery on Isla Mujeres was fabulous!

[lvprettyplcs]

Thanks guys! We have been online today lookin at Xel-Ha. Looks pretty nice with lots to do

[D33RHUNT3R]

Originally Posted by lvprettyplcs

Thanks guys! We have been online today lookin at Xel-Ha. Looks pretty nice with lots to do

Xel-Ha Great place to snorkel,eat, drink and get some rays..We saw Baracuda,Rays and all kinds of other fish,very clean park nice loungers and hammocks, the Dolphin part looked nice But we didn't do the swim..

We did just return from Hawaii where we went on a Wild Dolphin Swim.. We had a pod of about 20 spinner dolphins swimming under and around us while we were snorkeling.. .. that was Spectacular..

[SharonD]

Originally Posted by james

The Caribbean, with luck.

Otherwise it is a questionable activity.

So sad, s/he obviously doesn't care. Please read Behind the Dolphin Smile by Richard O'Barry who trained captive dolphins for many years. Don't just take my word.

[Anna Banana]

agree, and if you go to Punta Allen ( Sian Kaan biosphere) you have the chance to see ( from a boat) dolphins swim free, just as it should be.
You can't swim with them though, in the wild they are not trained to give us kisses
But its way more heartwarming than see them mechanically repeat the same moves for all their lives, as in the delphinariums.

Its not 100% guaranteed that you will see them , but your kids will enjoy the day and remember them as they should be. Free.

Originally Posted by james

The Caribbean, with luck.

Otherwise it is a questionable activity.

[WaterRat]

Originally Posted by james

The Caribbean, with luck.

Otherwise it is a questionable activity.

Originally Posted by SharonD

So sad, s/he obviously doesn't care. Please read Behind the Dolphin Smile by Richard O'Barry who trained captive dolphins for many years. Don't just take my word.

Originally Posted by Anna Banana

agree, and if you go to Punta Allen ( Sian Kaan biosphere) you have the chance to see ( from a boat) dolphins swim free, just as it should be.
You can't swim with them though, in the wild they are not trained to give us kisses
But its way more heartwarming than see them mechanically repeat the same moves for all their lives, as in the delphinariums.

Its not 100% guaranteed that you will see them , but your kids will enjoy the day and remember them as they should be. Free.

Thank you all for your posts. I have to step aside on this subject. I get too pissy, even for me.

To the original poster: Please do a little research on dolphins, particularly with regard to their natural habitat, traveling routines, and territory. Then compare that to the environment that they're placed in so that people can swim with them. If that isn't enough to cure you of your desire to swim with them; supporting their captivity, then I am sorry for both of us.

[Paw'boy]

Originally Posted by D33RHUNT3R

Xel-Ha Great place to snorkel,eat, drink and get some rays..We saw Baracuda,Rays and all kinds of other fish,very clean park nice loungers and hammocks, the Dolphin part looked nice But we didn't do the swim..

We did just return from Hawaii where we went on a Wild Dolphin Swim.. We had a pod of about 20 spinner dolphins swimming under and around us while we were snorkeling.. .. that was Spectacular..

My sister and her family just did that as well, she said it was amazing.

Originally Posted by SharonD

So sad, s/he obviously doesn't care. Please read Behind the Dolphin Smile by Richard O'Barry who trained captive dolphins for many years. Don't just take my word.

Originally Posted by Anna Banana

agree, and if you go to Punta Allen ( Sian Kaan biosphere) you have the chance to see ( from a boat) dolphins swim free, just as it should be.
You can't swim with them though, in the wild they are not trained to give us kisses
But its way more heartwarming than see them mechanically repeat the same moves for all their lives, as in the delphinariums.

Its not 100% guaranteed that you will see them , but your kids will enjoy the day and remember them as they should be. Free.

Originally Posted by WaterRat

Thank you all for your posts. I have to step aside on this subject. I get too pissy, even for me.

To the original poster: Please do a little research on dolphins, particularly with regard to their natural habitat, traveling routines, and territory. Then compare that to the environment that they're placed in so that people can swim with them. If that isn't enough to cure you of your desire to swim with them; supporting their captivity, then I am sorry for both of us.

Look, I agree with you all on this subject but the facilities are here to stay and that is that. I know, you will all say but if people don't support them then they would not exist, not gonna happen. These op are going on vacation and asked a question and there have been some positive answers on where to go. Everytime this subject comes up the bleeding hearts (I am one as well) have to chime in on how bad this is, blah, blah, blah.

Just start a thread on Off topic to discus the negatives on this and let people plan their vacation and ask questions without getting lambasted, jeez....

We ALL shit on this earth in one way or another on a daily basis, by just being part of the human race.

If you want to skewer me, start another thread elsewhere, but remember, I agree.