Vaca 2020 - Day 12 - Swimming With The Dolphins

On this fine day, we were off to Marineland Dolphin Adventure in St. Augustine, FL.  for a swim with a couple of dolphins.  

My wife, my sister Dianne and myself swam with dolphins back in 2004 at Discovery Cove in Orlando and still have very fond memories of that, so when Mama was planning vacation and found this little place, it seemed like something that we wanted to have the boys experience now, and if they find it amazing, maybe they'll take their own families there sometime down the road...  

This experience was a LOT different than our 2004 trip and I would say that the dolphin time was 1000 times better!  The thing that made Discovery Cove better was the snorkeling around the pools with tropical fish, the ray pools and so on.  

Lets get on with some pictures.

This is the Google.com/maps aerial view of the Marineland park and the pool that we're going to be in for the next hour.

We were there about 35 minutes early, so we walked around the tanks (out of the first picture to the South) and headed over to the dolphin area as we had no idea how anything was supposed to work.  The dolphin statue had mist shooting out of it's mouth to keep the waiting peeps cool.

Rob struck up a little closer friendship with the statue after reluctantly agreeing to have his pic taken. 

While waiting our turn to receive instructions on how everything is going to work, we watched the trainers playing with the dolphins.  It was obvious how much these workers loved the dolphins that they work with everyday, similar to how the backwoods dude at the swamp boat tour loved his gators and was sad they have to build up the trust again after the Covid21 - 2.

So we have obviously received our instructions and our flotation devices and are in the tank with this pair of lovely Cetacea.  After learning about the critters, they announce that one of the fams can get in the pool with the dolphins.  The instructions were to pretty much lay on the water with your arms out in front of you like Superman flying and the dolphins will "fly" you back to the perch that we're standing on (about knee deep). The dolphins put their noses on the arch of your feet and push you back...  realy quickly!!!   Well I can assure you that I was NOT going to be the first person in the water.  I'm no a fan of water much less any critter other than dogs.  We three boys decided to offer up mom first.  LOL!   This is the start of her short journey back.

Picking up steam...

By this point, you feel like the dolphins are going to slam yourself and them into the concrete wall of the tank.  You are MOVING!!!

The big splash happens when you begin to slow down, and thusly, sinking.

And then everything starts to settle down again.  This is where the boys started getting excited and I was wondering what the h3!! I'd gotten myself into again...  lol!

I don't remember exactly what happened here, but Caleb was starting to get used to being around the varmints and enjoying himself mightily!

They had the dolphins all come up to shake hands/fins with each of us.

And do tricks.

The second "ride" that you get is where you lay on the top of the water with your arms out, sort of in a 'T' formation and the dolphins swim by you and line up the dorsal fin with your hands and blast off back towards the platform.  Caleb went first with this one.  

The tow ropes attached to both critters, now it's off to the races!

Safe to say, he's having fun!

This was another bit of learning about dolphins in general.  The trainers (one of which is slightly visible in this pic) had the dolphins swim by normally to feel the texture of their backs and then swim by again upside down to feel the underbellies, along with a few other tricks.

Rob's turn for the dorsal twin trip!

Salt water up the nose isn't all that pleasant...

Salt water in an eye or two as well...

These dolphins wondered what the heck they signed up for when they started swimming myself, the Incredible Bulk, back to "shore"...

I had to laugh a bit when you realize how fast you "think" you're going!

The dolphins survived their first go-round with me!

Robby getting his time with his new buddy.

All four of in the tank now for the dolphins to come out and do tricks for all of us.

They had each boy give commands to the varmints for tricks.  When you debate doing something like this due to the cost, and then see pictures like this, it makes it worth it!  Not one of us is guaranteed a tomorrow so go do fun stuff and make memories that will outlast us all!!!

The dolphins both tried to flee when they saw me swimming back out, knowing that dealing with me was definitely above their pay grade, but realizing that they were indeed contained by thick concrete walls, they eventually saddled up and shoved me back to safety.

Note that I do not get anywhere near the air that Caleb will get a few pics down from this!

Caleb up for the Superman flight!

Picking up speed.

Getting there...

LIFT OFF!!!

 

...and crash landing.

Mama for the last and final cruise.  

Clearly enjoying her second ride!

One of the critters hamming it up on our behalf.

My rotund self getting some dolphin love!

Rob bringing it home and nearing the end of our time with his own Superman flight.

Good form.

Sticking the landing.

If you have a chance to have this experience with your kiddos, I would highly recommend it!!  I was a bit doubtful at first but you can tell from the smiles in the pics that they're having a great time.  And better yet, when they walked by and saw me writing this blog post, they both got excited to see the pictures and were wicked excited all over again!  

Can't beat that!