Another vote for Hilton Waikoloa. ^

Avoid the La Grunta Hotel; their dolphin encounter leaves a lot to be desired: http://www.fox.com/kingofthehill/episodes/0306.htm

Everything rahmanbar says is true. You can go to dolphinquest.org for more information. I didn't realize that they also have a location on Oahu and one in Bermuda.

I did this one and its predecessor in Key Largo. You will really swim with the dophins here including having them push you by your feet, taking a fin ride etc. Most of the big operations have very little contact with a dolphin. In each case one person had two dolphins to interact with and never more than two customers in at a time.

http://www.dolphinscove.com/

msv

My 6-yr old daughter did it with DolphinQuest on Hawaii's Big Island and loved it.

Picture

• Monkey Mia (the dolphin(s) there actually swim up to you standing in the water off the beach)
• Sorrento (MEL)
• Cabo

I know of several places (eg FL, CA) but don't know the specifics (ie names).

Please tell me about those. (hint, hint)

I did one nearby Nassau in the Bahamas, where the ferry launches right across the road from the Atlantis hotel. The fee was around $80 per adult and something less for kids.
The ferry takes you out to a private island about 20 minutes away. The enclosures are such that the dolphins can jump over the tops at high tide to get to open ocean if they so choose. As the guide explained, the fences are to keep sharks out, and the dolphins are quite content being well fed.

Actually, the Key Largo, FL location is Dolphin's Plus http://www.dolphinsplus.com/index.html, Dolphins Cove is in the Everglades, but the same company. I've done the experience in Key Largo, and found it to be everything shown on their web site. It was a really great experience. Their primary focus is on conservation and education, you spend quite a bit of time learning about these amazing creatures. Highly recommended, prices look to be about $165-175 per person, about a two hour session.

Good luck!

It sounds like a tue dolphins' paradise. So how did he claim the dolphin ended up there? - in fact the bulk of these wild animals are caught to be exploited for your cash.

The Mirage, Las Vegas will let you play dolphin keeper for a day for a purple chip ($500).

Yes, I looked up the wrong link. The original site was in one of the canals that bisect the keys and it was pretty dreary. It was originally set up to help handicapped kids. The new location is very nice in a cove. I have seen many other operations in my travels and liked the way this place only allowed a few people at a time.

Puerto Aventuras on the Mayan Riviera in Mexico (1 hr from Cancun) has a swim-with-the-dolphins type thing. http://www.dolphindiscovery.com/ We took my nieces there last week and they LOVED it!!

Don't forget next time to Orlando, part of the Sea World/Busch Gardens family

http://www.discoverycove.com