California travel expert Veronica Hill of http://www.CaliforniaTravelExpert.com goes on a swim with dolphins in this episode of „California Travel Tips.”
If you’ve always wanted to swim with dolphins, 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
