Blue Lagoon Dolphin Encounter

Ready for a once in a lifetime experience? Swim with the Dolphins!

The Swim with the Dolphins session lasts approximately 30-minutes and allows you to touch, kiss, feed and hula with the dolphins in one of the beautiful natural pools. Enjoy the breathtaking "foot push" -- a spine tingling ride where dolphins propel you through the water.

Your program begins with a fun orientation, briefly covering the natural history of dolphins, animal training techniques, ocean conservation and Watchable Wildlife Guidelines.

Once in the water in your lifejacket, experience the joy of a dolphin kiss and fall in love with their gentleness as you hug a dolphin in your arms. Dance and sing with our stars then marvel at the dolphin's strength as you are propelled across the water in the finale behavior --- the footpush! In this program, trainers focus on allowing everyone to enjoy a high degree of interaction with the dolphins, and at the same time, teach you about these amazing animals.

Our professional photo & video staff will be capturing your encounter on film so that you will have a chance to take home incredible souvenirs of your once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Visitors to our beautiful Island for a dolphin experience can also stop by and visit one of the sea lions. The six mammals (five females and one male) came to us after surviving Hurricane Katrina in Gulfport, Mississippi. Since then they have happily adapted to their new all natural habitat.

PLEASE NOTE: In the Close Encounter with Dolphins in Nassau, Bahamas, guests interact with the dolphins from a platform submerged three feet underwater. From the platform, they can touch, kiss, dance and hug a dolphin up close; the Close Encounters with Dolphins Program has less interaction time and fewer behaviors than the "Swim With the Dolphins Tour". Please check here to order our Close Encounter with Dolphins in Nassau, Bahamas Program.

OBSERVER PROGRAM:
For those shy about getting in the water, there's the Observer Program, which allows visitors to simply watch the programs and enjoy the spectacular natural marine environment of this uniquely Bahamian facility. Down at the program areas, you can enjoy watching the programs and take the opportunity to take your own photos or videos from the public dock areas. However, be advised: we cannot guarantee an unobstructed view of all dolphin interactions & Observers are not allowed on the platforms at any time. Sorry...no exceptions.

RESTRICTIONS:

~ Children ages 1 to 5 and pregnant ladies are not permitted to participate in the swim program. Children ages 1 to 3 can be admitted free, as observers, as long as they are accompanied by a paying adult observer.
~ Guests age 6 to 12 must be accompanied by a responsible, paying adult with a ticket for the swim. Parent or guardian must be at least 18 years of age.
~ Guests age 13 to 17 must be accompanied by an adult (with any paid ticket) to sign the liability waiver. Guests must have the ability to swim to participate.
~ Guest must have the ability to go up and down ladders to access platform.
~ For your safety, pregnant women are not allowed in the "Swim With Dolphins" Program but may enter the Close Encounter with Dolphins in Nassau, Bahamas.
~ For your safety, guests age 5 or younger are not allowed in swim program & may observe for free if attended on the dock by a responsible parent or guardian with an observer ticket.
~ Right is reserved, under certain circumstances, to omit specific behaviors or interactions from the program.
~ Alcoholic beverages are not allowed on the property.
~ Motorized Powerchairs and Non-collapsible wheelchairs are not allowed.
~ Right is reserved to refuse service to any guest under the influence of alcohol or any illegal drugs.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

~~ What's the difference between the 'Close Encounter' and 'Swim-With-The-Dolphins programs? br> ~ In the 'Swim,' you are completely immersed in water with life jackets (for easier interactions with the dolphins). In the 'Encounter Program' you interact with dolphins from a special waist-deep platform. The 'Swim' has additional behaviors and more interaction time than the 'Encounter'.

~~ Can I participate in the programs if I am pregnant?
~ You can participate in the Encounter, but not in the Swim.

~~ Do I need to be a swimmer?
~ You will be wearing a life-vest in the Swim Program. However, we strongly recommend that you have at least basic swimming skills.

~~ Do you operate during bad weather?
~ We operate rain or shine.

~~ What is the water temperature?
~ Water temperatures ranges from 72 F (22 C) in the winter to 85 F (30 C) in the summer

~~ Are there lockers, changing areas and showers?
~ Yes.PLEASE NOTE THAT WE CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY LOST, DAMAGED OR MISPLACED PERSONAL EFFECTS.

~~ Are there food and beverages available?
~ We have a snack shop which sells sandwiches, salads, water, sodas, sweets etc.

~~ Do you sell souvenirs?
~ Yes, we have a well-stocked gift shop selling such items as t-shirts, books, jewelry, etc.

~~ Do you sell photos and videos?
~ Our onsite photo/video lab sells great personalized pictures of your interactions with the dolphins. They come in a variety of styles ranging from keychains to complete photo albums. Also available is a video of your Encounter or Swim, which includes a pre-recorded section with highlights of Paradise Island, Nassau/Bay Street, and Blue lagoon Island. International video conversion is available.

~~ Will there be other people in our program?
~ The maximum allowed in each "Swim" is ten persons and the maximum for the 'Encounter' is 30 persons. The actual number of participants depends on the demand.

~~ How deep is the water in the "Swim With the Dolphins" program and do you provide wet suits and life vests when it is cold?
~ The water is 10-25 feet deep in the 'Swim'. Wet suits (shorty type) are available at no cost, while life vests are mandatory in the swim program which help participants interact more freely with the dolphins by eliminating the need to tread water.

~~ Can paid participants bring friends or relatives to watch their dolphin programs?
~ You can observe our programs by making a reservation as an OBSERVER. There is a fee. Observers must remain on the dockside and are not allowed on the platform.

~~ Do you accept physically challenged or handicapped persons in your programs?
~ Our facility is wheelchair accessible and caters to the physically challenged. However, the wheelchair must be collapsible (no motor-powered chairs). Blue Lagoon Island is wheelchair accessible with a number of ramps on the island. The facility has highly qualified and helpful staff members who can assist special guests on and off the boat. We also have a special chair used in the Encounter program to assist handicapped guests into the water. When making a reservation, it is important to write in on the NOTES section of reservation or to let the representative know the details of the disability. The dolphins are trained to interact with each person regardless of his or her size, shape, gender, or abilities.

~~ How long is the boat ride?
~ The boat ride to the Island is approximately 20-25 minutes and is included in the price.

~~ What size are your boats?
~ Our custom-built catamarans range from 53ft. to 61ft. They are registered with the Government of The Bahamas and inspected on a regular basis.

~~ Are there life jackets and restrooms on the boats?
~ Yes.

WHAT TO BRING:

~~ What should I bring to the island? -- You should bring a towel, sunscreen, change of clothing, jacket or windbreaker for the boat ride (during the winter time) and cash/credit card for souvenirs.
~~ Can I bring a camera and/or video recorder? -- Yes, you can take cameras and video recorders, but please be aware that the dolphins will splash and we will not be responsible for any damage to your equipment. We provide personalized photo and video services onsite!

MISSION:

Our mission is to provide the general public and concerned dolphin lovers the opportunity to see their dreams come true. We see the evidence of this every day as we watch the faces of our guests when they meet one of our dolphins for the very first time. A more subtle answer to this question lies in the opportunity with which we as the dolphins' caretakers are provided. Through our educational lectures and the intimate contact with the dolphins that our guests receive, we are able to teach people how special the dolphins are. Ultimately, because of this knowledge, we hope that everyone will become even more committed to conservation issues involving not only dolphins but all marine mammals and their environment.

All of the training that is done with the dolphins is accomplished using a positive reinforcement system. The training fulfills a variety of purposes. Not only is it used to perfect behaviors that the guests experience during their encounter, the training also serves as exercise, stimulating them mentally and physically, and allows them structured time for play, socialization and learning. We firmly believe the success of our program is a direct result of the relationships that are built between the trainers and the dolphins.

The training program is designed to be one-on-one, in other words one trainer to one dolphin. The trainers spend quality time throughout the day with each of the dolphins in order to build a relationship of trust. Many of the behaviors that the dolphins learn will be seen during the program, but some of them are trained just for fun - both for the dolphins...and their trainers! One of the most important aspects of the training program deals with the behaviors we call husbandry behaviors.

This particular training allows the dolphins to voluntarily participate in physical exams which daily include checking their eyes, mouth, blowhole, fins, body and tail. It also promotes voluntary collection of blood, respiratory and fecal samples for routine medical profiles as well as ultrasound exams for monitoring pregnancies in females.

We hope that each of our guests will take home some very special memories after their dolphin encounter. We also hope that they will have gained just a bit of insight as to why we are dedicated to educating people about these wonderful animals. We would like to leave each guest with a reminder that their experience was only possible because of the specific training that our dolphins have received. We do not condone interactions with wild dolphins because they have no understanding or experience with humans attempting such interactions. Such attempts could possibly be harmful to their social structure. We ask that with your new found knowledge you support us in this position.

This tour does offer hotel pick-up. Rates are per person, are in US Dollars and include all taxes. Please reserve online or call 888-317-1580 for reservations or more information.