Dolphins have always attracted humans’ attention with their grin, their social behavior, their acrobatics and their natural curiosity. In fact, the most popular dolphin specie is the bottlenose dolphin.

Why bottlenose dolphins? Well, being the specie with the largest population in the world and the fact that their habitat is spread around in all oceans and seas, it is the most likely to be captured and sent to aquariums and zoos.

When you are watching a show performed by dolphins and supervised by a dolphin trainer, people have the idea that these marine mammals could not hurt a fly. While a well trained dolphin is not as intimidating as a close encounter with a 230 kg wild animal is a totally different experience.

What can you expect when you swim with dolphins? Well, after making arrangement with a place such as Ocho Rios in Jamaica or at the Secret garden and dolphin habitat at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas, for a fee that ranges around $230 Cdn or if you wish to push it a little you can become a trainer for a day at the Mirage for $500 US.

If you choose to swim with dolphins, you can expect to attend an informative session on how to proceed while swimming with dolphins. Then you will be fitted with a lifejacket and will enter the water, either a pool or a cove depending on the place. Then a dolphin or two will swim by your side to allow you to pet them. Guided by the dolphin trainer, they will perform a series of tricks such as clapping, synchronized jumping, etc.

Then you will be pulled while holding the dorsal fin of a dolphin, which will pull you around. You may also become the happy recipient of a friendly kiss on the cheek. The dolphins will also push you around the pool, on your stomach, with the tip of their snouts on the bottom part of your feet. Your feet may be a bit sore after the ride; it will seem trivial compared to the pleasure of the ride.

If on the other hand, you wish to become a dolphin trainer for a day by participating to the program at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas, your experience will be different. First, you will attend an informative session. You will also be fitted in a trainer’s attire.

Although you may have to get wet, you will focus on the training and caring for these marine mammals. You will be responsible for some feedings, teaching tricks and practicing routines, learning the sign language that represents instructions for dolphins. At the end of the day, you will also receive a certificate.

It does not matter if you choose to swim with dolphins or if you decide to become a dolphin trainer for a day, either way, it will be the experience of a lifetime. Other places can offer these services such as Miami and other Florida cities, Mexico, areas in the Caribbean and Southern cities in the United States of America.