We Swam With Dolphins!

I have been dying to share this with you…

My daughter and I got to swim with dolphins!

We were invited to participate in the Dolphin Discovery program at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo. Since ‘Swim with dolphins’ was on my bucket list and my water-loving daughter has a special fondness for dolphins, we were absolutely thrilled!

Dolphin Discovery Classroom

Did you know that Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is the only place in Northern California where you can get in the water with bottlenose dolphins?

But before you get into the water, you must learn the ropes.

This is where it all begins. The Dolphin Discovery Classroom is between the parking lot and Six Flag’s main entrance. We were quickly checked in and and then given a very informative program. It was interactive and kid-friendly, really helping us all to learn a lot about dolphins. The instructor made us all feel welcome and was very engaging. We received our own dolphin books, then learned about the physiology and social lives of dolphins. We passed around a cast model of a dolphin’s jaw and learned how dolphins breathe, sleep, swim, give birth, and raise young. The instructor outlined the important safety rules such as “Do not touch the dolphin’s eyes, blowhole, or mouth.”

Meet the dolphins

When we walked into the pool area we were instantly caught off guard by dolphins swimming and jumping right in front of us! My daughter and I started giggling with excitement – this was real! We were about to get into the water WITH them!

Well, hello to you too, adorable dolphins!

Get ready to join them in the water

We were led to the changing rooms where we were given wetsuits and booties (the staff has the correct sizes ready since they take your height, weight, and shoes size when you register). My daughter and I arrived in our swimsuits so that it would be quick to gear up. We put our change of clothes and other belongings in a locker before heading out to the water.

Up close and personal

There were eight participants in our group and we were divided in half. Each group was assigned a trainer and since there were just four of us, the experience was very personal. First we got to greet, touch, and examine the dolphin.  Everything we spoke about in the classroom was brought to life here. Did you know dolphins feel like rubber? That they have belly buttons? It was interesting to find out that they breathe only from their blowhole and not at all through their mouth!

The Grand Finale

It all led up to this – the dorsal fin swim – a chance to take a ride around the pool with a real, live dolphin! When it was our turn, we were instructed to drop down into the water, put our right arm out and use it to grab on when the dolphin came swimming by. The instructor told us to relax and let our bodies naturally be guided by the dolphin. I was so nervous about slipping off, so I held on super tight and everything was fine. Well, not just fine…AWESOME! What a rush!

When it was time for the photographer to capture fun shots at the end, each of us had the opportunity to feed, high five, kiss, and “dance” with a dolphin!

Yep, I danced with a dolphin and my daughter received a quite memorable kiss!

What an amazing experience! My daughter and I feel very lucky to have had the chance to do this and still feel giddy when we share the story with friends.

This is a spectacular way to surprise the dolphin-lover in your life or treat someone special to a one-of-a-kind memory! It was fun to meet the other members of our group and feel everyone’s excitement. There was a mother with her two daughters that, like me, saw this as a cool bonding experience. A couple of newlyweds were anticipating a unique adventure. There was college student in our group whose family had surprised her with Dolphin Discovery as a birthday gift! I believe we all walked away with fabulous new memories!

 

Details

What: Dolphin Discovery
Where: Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, Vallejo, CA
Age: Must be 6 years or older and at least 48″ (kids 11 years and under must be accompanied by a paid adult participant or observer.)
Phone number: 707-556-5274
Cost: $134.99 and up, options available for Dolphin Discovery plus park admission. 1 Kodak Photo is included with your package. Gift Certificates available – great gift idea!

 

[Disclosure: I was provided with complimentary admission to the park and the dolphin program to facilitate this review, which contains 100% my honest opinion.]