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Swim with Dolphins on Your Florida
Vacation
By Mark Whichard
The dolphin is a species with very high
intelligence. Some people think that they are even more
intelligent than humans! But let’s leave that debate for the
scientists. One thing that is sure is that dolphins enjoy
contact with humans and humans enjoy contact with dolphins.
While you are in Florida you can either swim or wade with
dolphins by taking a special getaway tour to the Florida
Keys.
If you are staying in Orlando you can
schedule a two day tour that departs from Orlando. If you
are a good swimmer and comfortable in water that is over
your head then you might want to try the dolphin swim tour
organized by Florida Dolphin Tours. They conduct two day
tours in which your contact with dolphins is guaranteed.
Here is how it works. It is a two day
and one night excursion and transportation to and from the
Keys is included in the tour. Pick up is scheduled at some
of the big hotels and motels in the greater Orlando area.
Your swim with dolphins will take place
either on the first afternoon of the tour or on the next
morning. The dolphin swim takes place in an ocean water
lagoon that is 15 feet deep. A floatation vest must be worn
during the swim, no matter how good a swimmer you are.
The program lasts about two hours and
begins with an educational briefing about the general nature
of dolphins as well as information about the particular
dolphins that you are going to meet.
After the educational briefing two
people at a time enter the water along with two trained
dolphins and usually the dolphins will greet you with
kisses, handshakes, water fights and similar playful
behavior.
On the next day you are treated to an
Everglades adventure tour in a swift airboat ride that will
bring you in close contact with alligators. After the boat
ride you will see an alligator and snake handling show. If
you are brave you can hold an alligator or some snakes. The
tour ends with a visit to Miami’s Bayside shopping center
where you can visit fashionable shops and restaurants.
If you are a non-swimmer you can still
enjoy an encounter with the friendly dolphins. Florida
Dolphin Tours introduced a dolphin wading encounter program
during 2009. This program is similar to the deeper water
dolphin encounters. Two people enter the water and meet two
trained dolphins, who will greet you with a wide range of
playful greetings. You will also learn how to make signals
to the dolphins which will prompt them to sing and dance!
All of this takes place in waist deep water and no swimming
is required.
The tours, which include transportation
and accommodations, begin at around $200 for adults and $99
for children aged 3-6. The program is offered throughout the
year, seven days a week. It is advisable to book in advance
in order to insure that all participants make contact with
the dolphins. You can get more details or make your
reservations by calling Florida Dolphin tours at
(407) 352-5151
Mark Whichard
is an Orlando tourism expert and writes frequently about
attractions in and around Orlando. Mark and his wife Susan
are the proprietors of Quality Villa Rentals Orlando. You
can get great deals on Orlando vacation homes and villa rentals
at this website http://www.qualityvillarentals.com
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