Day: October 2, 2014

The Atlantis resort boasts a dolphin habitat called, creatively, Dolphin Bay.   It offers the opportunity for a variety of experinces ranging from watching dolphins to swimming with them in shallow water all the way up to deep water encounters.   We opted for the shallow water since Kai and Nora were too young for the deep water.

We were a little bit hesitant about the dolphin program with memories of depressing and exploitive “tiger zoos” in Asia where poorly kept animals are made to do silly tricks.   This program, in contrast, was very well run and professionally managed.   Based on how much we paid for the professionally taken photos below the only people being exploited were the visitors – so that was good.   Sort of.

Anyway, we had a great time with the dolphins; enjoy the pics!

Ben and Central the Dolphin

We had plenty of chances to feel the dolphin's skin as he would swim past.

Family shot with "Central"

Crystal and the Dolphin

Kai gets his turn with Central

Nora gives Central a kiss

Crystal dancing with Central.

Nora pets our dolphin, Central.

Kai gives Central a congradulatory pet.

Kai lifts the ring that Central retrieved.

Central bringing back a ring.

He was more rubbery and less slippery that I was expecting.a

The trainer has some fun getting the dolphin to splash us. Of course it was over 100 degrees and humid but the water was chilled so, other than the salt in the eyes, it was very welcome.

Ben trains the dolphin to retrieve a ring. It was almost as if Central had practiced this move.