Swim with Dolphins at Marineland in Florida
Conservation Center’s Porpoise Programs Make a Great Family Vacation
Dec 31, 2008
Just south of St. Augustine, Florida on U.S. Highway A1A, and adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean, is the world’s first oceanarium and marine park. Opened in 1938 as an underwater filming studio, Marineland became a favorite Florida tourist attraction in the 1940s, with visitors coming to look through portholes in the park’s two huge steel tanks to see marine life in natural habitats.
Later in the 1950s and 1960s, shows featuring dolphins and other marine mammals drew visitors and the facility became a leading dolphin research and training center. The first successful breeding of Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins was at Marineland and one of those calves, Nellie, born in 1953, still lives at Marineland as the world’s oldest dolphin in captivity.
After 70 years, Marineland recently completed a major reconstruction of its facilities and has been “reporpoised” for interactive dolphin encounters and education. The Marineland Dolphin Conservation Center has a new 1.3 million gallon habitat filled with filtered sea water and offers a variety of programs ranging from poolside touch and feel to a full deep water immersion for ages 3 to adult.
Swim With Dolphins Programs
All programs include an educational component so participants will understand basic encounter etiquette, dolphin anatomy and behavior and the challenges dolphins face in the wild.
- Flippers & Fins – Touch and learn about Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins from poolside in this 15 minute program for ages 3 to adult.
- Dolphin Designs – Help dolphins paint a picture in this 15 minute poolside art class for ages 5 to adult.
- Seafari – Meet dolphins in shallow water in this 45 minute program for ages 6 to adult.
- Discover Dolphins – Ages 5 to adult may work with a trainer and meet dolphins in shallow water in this 50 minute program.
- The Immersion – Ages 5 to adult can play with dolphins in shallow water and swim with dolphins in deep water in this 75 minute program.
- The Quest – Bring three friends or family members or join three other Marineland guests ages 13 to adult to play and swim with dolphins in deep water along with professional trainers in this 90 minute program.
- Trainer For a Day – Prepare food, observe and track behaviors and find out first hand what it takes to be a dolphin trainer in this 6 hour program for ages 13 to adult.
- Marineland’s S.E.A. Camp – “Seaside Eco Adventures” is the name of this four day summer camp for kids ages 7 to 12, where science, outdoor activities, ecosystem explorations, beach time and dolphin interaction combine for learning and fun.
In 2008, the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta gave Marineland $1.5 million for a new dolphin research, rescue and rehabilitation center for sick and stranded marine mammals, including whales and manatees. The center is scheduled to open in 2009. In exchange, Marineland will loan the Georgia Aquarium up to four of their 14 resident dolphins in a “breeding loan program.”
Marineland Dolphin Conservation Center is located at 9600 Oceanshore Boulevard, St. Augustine, Florida and is open daily from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM year round. General admission is $6.00 for adults and $3.00 for children ages 3 through 12 and allows visitors to view the dolphins through 6 by 10-foot acrylic windows as they swim. For more information and program prices, call 888-279-9194 or visit Marineland.net.
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