Dolphins Plus in Key Largo a Fun and Educational Experience

A dolphin and marine mammal research and education facility that's also open to the general public, Dolphins Plus in Key Largo is located about an hour south of Miami on a canal adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean. The facility offers the opportunity for guests to interact with dolphins and sea lions in a setting that provides up close and personal interaction between the animals and their human visitors.

There are two aspects to Dolphins Plus - recreational and educational. Dolphin and sea lion swims are open to any visitor ages 8 and up (with some exceptions) who wish to spend time with the facility's docile creatures, many of which were rescued and rehabilitated. Interactions are not limited to shallow water encounters; guests actually enter the dolphins' (or sea lions') habitat for a more realistic experience.

Structured Dolphin Swims happen in 10-15 feet of water and begin with an informative and detailed briefing. Each swimmer participating in the program completes a series of behaviors with the dolphin. There is no swimming with the dolphins in this particular program. However, those who wish to swim or snorkel with these gentle creatures can choose the Natural Dolphin Swims which include the use of snorkeling gear and the opportunity to swim alongside the dolphins and dive under the water with them. Swimmers must be at least 8 for this experience and must be comfortable in deep water.

The Cuddle with Castaways program happens in waist-deep water and is appropriate for non-swimmers. Interaction takes place with an animal rescued by the conservancy and will include plenty of hands-on time with the animal. The minimum age for this experience is 10.

The Sea Lion Encounter includes a detailed briefing about the California Sea Lion and a chance to complete a series of trained behaviors with the chosen sea lion of the day. Participants include one-on-one interaction and only two individuals are registered for each session, making this a very sought-after program that requires advanced planning.

Educationally, Dolphins Plus provides a number of programs that combine class instruction with dolphin encounters. Guests are invited to be a marine biologist for a day or to participate in workshops that help unlock the mysteries of dolphin communication. Visitors may also spend a full day with one of the many dolphin trainers at the Dolphins Plus facility.

On a more grand scale, college students and college graduates with an interest in marine biology can spend four to six weeks as an intern at Dolphins Plus. Academic credit is available to participants.

Prices for each experience vary and dolphin and lion swims are by appointment only. Reservations must be made by telephone and are not available online.