According to State Symbols USA, Mississippi named the bottlenose dolphin its official water mammal in 1974. However, the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the Deep Horizon oil spill in 2010 has severely limited traditional opportunities for swimming with dolphins in Mississippi. Nevertheless, some unique rescue-related opportunities still exist, and there is hope that more traveler-friendly options will be available in the future.
Visit the Tampa Bay area in Florida and befriend a dolphin with interactions such as rubs, kisses and hugs. Facilities in the surrounding area allow you to experience swimming with dolphins and learning about their behaviors an...
The Norfolk Silver Dolphins is a Norfolk, Virginia, swim team. The city's aquatic division manages the team. The team provides area children with the chance to participate on a local swim team. This team is open to swimmers age...
Too much interaction can damage a dolphin's ability to thrive in its natural habitat, and swimming with or feeding dolphins is illegal under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. However, opportunities on the Texas Gulf Coa...
The movie "Flipper" was based on a dolphin in the Florida Keys, but wild dolphins have no apparent inclination to frolic with humans. For human-marine mammal interaction, research and educational facilities offer dolphin swims ...
The sessions occur in one of the lagoons in Discovery Cove, part of the SeaWorld theme park. Start with a swim with the beautiful, smart creatures. Then extend your outdoor adventure to a full-day with more recreational activit...
Visitors to the Miami area who are seeking a swim with dolphins are in luck. After all, the area -- one of the hottest spots for tourists in the United States -- features an array of places in which locals and tourists alike ca...
The intelligence and exuberence of these creatures, as well as their gentle nature, has led to the creation of opportunities for humans to swim with them. Most dolphin-swim programs/excusions take place around Kona, on the west...
Several species are known the world over, and in the southern United States, Florida specifically, these creatures are studied up close by marine biologists and animal behaviorists. You have the opportunity to swim with dolphin...
Swimming with dolphins gives you a real-live encounter with a wild marine mammal that lives in the ocean depths--something most people rarely get to do in the wild. Make your reservations well in advance when planning a vacatio...
You can take boat tours through the bay that will allow you to watch the dolphins from a respectful distance. Swimming in the area is discouraged. If you're willing to travel a bit, you can take a day trip from Sarasota and fin...
Ample ocean adventures are available throughout the Hawaiian islands. When in the islands, locals and visitors have many opportunities to swim with dolphins. The island waters have schools of Pacific bottlenose dolphins feeding...
If you are planning a vacation to Orlando, Florida, make sure to set aside a day to swim with the dolphins. Your group of friends or family can swim with dolphins in an aquarium setting at Sea World or at Disney's Epcot park. E...
With its prime location in Florida's panhandle, Destin allows visitors access to the white sand Gulf Coast beaches. This area is a home to local bottle-nosed dolphins. While swimming with dolphins in the wild is illegal, visito...
Because they like to swim inshore in warm waters, they're often easy to spot from the coastline. There are a good number of dolphin-watching cruises available for visitors to Ocean City. Dolphins typically swim in groups of up ...
Sea World, however, is the only tourist hot spot that offers a singular animal interaction: a dolphin swim. The Dolphin Interaction program invites participants to swim with and learn about dolphins. In addition, Sea World offe...
There's just something about the way they gracefully navigate the water, their friendly smiling faces, and their impressive intelligence that draws people to dolphins. Many dream of the chance for a swim with these magnificent...
Surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the water is a comfortable temperature year-round, for people and marine life, like dolphins. Not only is swimming a terrific form of exercise for your health and fitness, but swimming with dolp...
You may think you are swimming with the dolphins, but in reality, these playful creatures of the deep are allowing you into their pool while they circle and leap and swim around you. There are many places in the Hawaiian Island...
Bottle-nose dolphins are found in oceans worldwide except in polar oceans in either hemisphere. Dolphins are considered highly social, gentle and playful animals, and swimming with them is a popular activity for vacationers and...
Its many beaches and sunny weather are two of Florida's most famous attractions. But for a truly authentic Florida experience, you should try swimming with dolphins. These smart marine mammals are native to the state's crystal-...
Even though Orlando has no oceans, natural reefs or beaches, swimming with dolphins is still possible at this vacation destination. Discovery Cove is a theme park devoted solely to animal interactions and swimming with dolphins...
Deep-water dolphins can be twice as big. Dolphins are social and humans can often interact with them, although contact should only be attempted with trained supervision. In Texas, you are not allowed to actually swim with dolph...
Miami may be known for its beaches and nightlife, but another great activity this city has to offer is the opportunity to swim with dolphins. There are limited locations in Miami and many other locations to enjoy these animals ...
Taking one vacation a year to travel and explore new places can be challenging on a budget, but swimming with dolphins is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. If you know your next Florida destination ahead of time, swimming with t...
With its beautiful beaches, wonderfully warm weather and delicious dining, Hawaii is one of the world's most popular island getaways. Of all the activities that Hawaii has to offer, swimming with dolphins can usually be found a...
Hawaii remains one of the top ocean destinations for tourists from around the world. Hawaii has large populations of Pacific bottlenose dolphins swimming the deep waters and channels around the islands. There are many opportuni...
Swimming with the dolphins in the wild is illegal and can be harmful for humans and dolphins. The wild dolphins are not trained and can attack should the feel they are in danger. Humans, not knowing how to handle the animals, c...
Human beings have been fascinated by dolphins for centuries. Dolphins are gentle creatures that interact well with humans and children especially enjoy swimming with a dolphin.
The Atlantic bottlenose dolphin lives, among other places, in the warm waters surrounding the Florida Keys. Swimming with these dolphins as part of a Florida Keys vacation is a common pastime; from small children to retirees, d...
The opportunity to step into the dolphin's own environment and come face-to-face with such beautiful and intelligent creatures is a popular vacation treat. There are several companies that offer swimming with dolphins as part o...
While the majority of visitors come to Vegas for the nightlife, gambling, shows, dining, and shopping, there are many attractions for those looking to steer clear of smoky casinos and "adult" entertainment. One of the more uniq...
Capture an autistic child's attention and imagination by swimming with dolphins in Florida. Many resorts, non-profit organizations and commercial tourist operations offer the opportunity for autistic children to enjoy a dolphin...
The city boasts plenty of opportunities for shopping and dining, but also offers the unique and very special opportunity to interact with nature as one of the premier whale and dolphin-watching areas on the West Coast. Visit La...
The best option for swimming with dolphins in the San Diego area is through SeaWorld San Diego's Dolphin Interaction Program. Other than SeaWorld, San Diego visitors' only choice is chartering boats for tours of the ocean. None...
Just off the coast of Destin, Florida--in the panhandle about 45 miles east of Pensacola--you can find pods of bottle-nosed dolphins. These marine mammals have real personality. But if you want to swim with the dolphins, you ma...
Dolphins are naturally affectionate toward humans and are especially protective of those with physical disabilities. Whether you desire a dolphin swim for recreational or healing purposes, you can easily accomplish this with a ...
Dolphin-assisted therapy remains controversial because studies have not yet reached conclusions that it truly works. It is a therapy that began in the 1970s as a possible treatment for depression and later for mentally ill and ...
