We spent a week on a Caribbean island over the holidays, and interacting with two dolphins was just about the best part of the trip. Now, let me say right up front that I have very mixed feelings about keeping such intelligent animals in captivity, but this operation seemed to be better run than others we've seen. They were in a very large fenced-off part of the ocean, not in a concrete pool. They are a mating pair and the female is pregnant, so I don't think they can be too stressed. One cannot help falling in love with these creatures, so I'm hoping that everyone who visits will be supportive of efforts to protect dolphins in the wild.
Anyway, we started off by introducing ourselves and taking a look at their teeth.
Then they gave us a little ride......
After that we got some kisses.......
And then we got the most amazing ride. They tell you to float on your face and keep your legs stiff. The dolphins swim up behind you, put their noses on your feet, and push you forward and then up and out of the water. Awesome. They will let you down gently, but my foot slipped off and I made a big splash.
Finally, we got some more kisses.
