The Swim with the Dolphins program at the Dolphin Center in Nuevo Vallarta was a fabulous experience. Several years ago, I had done a dolphin encounter program in Bermuda – but this experience far outranked that one.
The program begins with all of the participants sitting on stools in a sheltered area next to the dolphin pool. One of our hosts introduced all of the dolphins to the group and told us their names, ages, sex, etc. (Although there was only one male dolphin, there were two baby dolphins and several more of the dolphins were pregnant!). We then put on headsets and listened to an audio presentation about the evolution of dolphins while watching them swim around in the dolphin pool. We also had the opportunity to observe the group from the dolphin encounter having their time with the dolphins.
Afterwards, we all had a quick outdoor shower to remove any sunscreen or lotions from our skin, and were advised to remove any watches, rings, etc., that might scratch the dolphins. We were all given life vests to wear, and the group was then split into two smaller groups and placed on either side of the pool. Each smaller group (of, I think, 12 people maximum) had three dolphins to themselves. We all jumped into the water with the dolphins and spent probably around 20 minutes just stroking and rubbing the dolphins while they swam slowly around us. The dolphins then did some tricks in the water for us, and we each had our pictures taken in couples or singles while dolphins "kissed us." The highlight of the program was when each of us got to be pulled along by the dolphins in the water. (The dolphins were on their back, and we had to hook our hands on their fins while they swam backwards through the water, pulling us the length of the pool). At the end, all of the participants lined up at the end of the pool while the six dolphins did some finale tricks.
I loved the entire experience. The only drawback was that the water was saltwater, so it stung my eyes when the dolphins were splashing around. Plus, it was probably not the cleanest water in the world. However, that was a small price to pay for one of the highlights of my trip. After showering off and changing, we were able to view the video of our experience. They offered both VHS tapes ($36) and DVD ($42) for sale. They also offered the photos from the dolphin "kiss" for sale.
On the day that we participated (me, my husband, my sister, and her husband), there were only adults participating. While the website says that children can participate, I think that the size of the dolphins might be intimidating for many children. Plus, there's the problem of stinging eyes from the saltwater. However, I’m sure that for an older or adventurous child, it would be an absolute thrill.