In Port Lucaya the Underwater Explorers Society has a store and dive shop. From this location they arrange snorkel and dive excursions. They also handle the Dolphin Experience program, offering hands on dolphin experience where dolphins provide demonstrations of skill while trainers provide a wealth of information about dolphins. Then they allow persons to stand in waist deep water and pet a dolphin with its trainer nearby. This does require advance reservations so if this is something you what to do book it when you arrive or before you arrive. To reach UNEXSO by phone 809-373-1250 this was the number I used for our reservation.
The program I would like to tell you about is a once in a lifetime opportunity that UNEXSO offers with the dolphins called the Assistant Trainer Program. Let me start by saying this is an expensive activity, a little over three hundred dollars each when we did it, but inflation may have changed that. However, it is truly a once in a lifetime experience you will never forget and talk about often. This program only allows four persons per day to participate, and they must be over sixteen years old. I do not know if they ever make exceptions on age and numbers of participants (like a family of five), but I feel it never hurts to ask the worst they can say is no.
We booked our program many months in advance and given instructions on what to bring with us and where to go for pick up for Sanctuary Bay. We were picked up by a small boat and from Port Lucaya then whisked up the coastline to Sanctuary Bay. We were given Assistant trainer shirts to wear for the day and keep as our souvenir.
Once at Sanctuary Bay we were given information about safety and all of the dolphins in their care. Then we were each assigned a dolphin to care for that day. We were instructed as to how many pounds of fish to feed at each meal, each fish placed directly into the dolphin’s mouth to ensure the dolphin received the proper amount. When feeding the dolphin the trainer instructed us to use mannerisms the dolphins were trained for as a feed and train type of meal for the dolphin. We were then given a bucket and told to weigh our fish out for the first feeding of the day. Walking the narrow walkways between the dolphins made the dolphins get very excited since they knew it was time for food. As I walked passed the dolphins area carrying my bucket of fish the dolphins were walking on their tails and jumping out of the water and making all kinds of noises hoping to get a fish tossed their way.
Sitting on the platform my assigned dolphin, Kayla, it was so incredible to feel her rubbery skin and have her perform a private show for me. Kayla was the dolphin in the movie "Zeus and Roxanne", and Sanctuary Bay is the dolphin habitat shown in the movie. After feeding time we helped the trainers take two of the dolphins out for open water training in the ocean. They practice this for people that book diving with the dolphin programs, the time out in the water makes the dolphins feel comfortable performing their behaviors in the ocean. Since they live in a protected bay even the dolphins get a little scared of things in the big blue sea. After lunch the guest for the dolphin experience program arrive and we assisted the trainers with the guests and the fish supply used for rewards. Then once the visitors left it was dolphin feeding time again.
After being there about eight hours came my favorite part of the day, we put on wet suits and got in with the dolphins. We had dolphins swim with us holding their fins, and even laying on the dolphins’ stomach. We had a wonderful time with the dolphins and we will never forget our fabulous day at Sanctuary Bay it was truly fabulous experience to remember.
But, whether you choose to the affordable Dolphin experience or the dolphin experience on steroids like I did the experience will be unforgettable.