Marineland Dolphin Adventure, previously known as Marineland of Florida, is dubbed the world's oldest oceanarium. The original idea was to create an oceanarium that could be used to film marine life. When the doors of Marine Studios — the first name of the facility — opened in 1938, it was an instant hit with the public and by the 1950s drew hundreds of thousands of visitors.
Today, the facility boasts modern equipment and highly-trained staff. At this oceanarium, visitors can enjoy encounters with dolphins and turtles, and also view tiger sharks and other marine animals. The facility also offers educational programs, field trips, summer camps, and outreach programs. Here's some more information on this oceanarium.
Dolphin Swim Programs
For dolphin-lovers, there surely cannot be a bigger treat than getting a chance to play with dolphins in the water. The oceanarium offers three dolphin swim programs:
- Royal Swim: This unique program offers visitors the opportunity of experiencing a "foot push," which entails being lifted from the water by dolphins pushing you from the soles of your feet.
- Swim Adventurer: During this swimming adventure, you get to hold onto the pectoral flippers of a dolphin for a communal swim, and also get the chance to just play around with these amazing animals in the water.
- Dolphin Encounter: This program caters to all ages, and offers visitors the opportunity of interacting with dolphins in shallow water. Participants do not need to be swimmers for this program, as it takes place on an underwater platform.
Interactive Programs
Apart from swimming with the dolphins, the facility also offers other interactive programs where you can get to know these fabulous creatures, as well as other marine animals, a bit better:
- Dolphin Trainer for a Day: If you've always wondered what it feels like to be a dolphin trainer, sign up for this program and become a dolphin trainer for the day. The program starts off with a guided tour, after which participants become involved in the daily activities of trainers. These include preparing meals and feeding animals, attending lectures, and the observation and tracking of animal behavior.
- Dolphin Designs: During this interactive program, participants select three colors, which a dolphin uses to paint a canvas that you hold over the water.
- Tortoise Time: This program allows participants to get to know tortoises a bit better. During this 25-minute encounter, you can feed these animals and interact with them.
Educational Facilities
The oceanarium offers various educational facilities that the public can use to learn about dolphins, sharks, sea turtles, and other marine animals. Participants who decide to take a self-guided tour through the oceanarium can visit education stations that display marine biofacts, attend formal classroom lessons on topics like conservation, anatomy & adaptations, and ecosystems, and can also listen to various captivating talks throughout the day.
These are only a few of the activities and programs that you can enjoy at this wonderful oceanarium. If you're wondering what to do on the next sunny day, head out to Marineland Dolphin Adventure to get to know amazing marine animals up close.
