One way to make any trip to Key West even more amazing? Swim with dolphins in Key West! There are beautiful bottlenose dolphins in the Florida Keys, and these five locations will set you up for an incredible dolphin encounter with these fascinating creatures.
Key West has a vibrant aquatic ecosystem, including thousands of dolphins that call the Atlantic Ocean home. While it’s not legal to swim with wild dolphins in Florida under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) of 1972, there are many facilities that offer swimming with dolphins in Key West. The dolphins at these locations were either born at the facility or rescued and deemed unfit to return to the wild.
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The dolphins you can swim with are marine mammal ambassadors, helping to educate the public about the beauty of bottlenose dolphins and the amazing wildlife of the Florida Keys!
If you’re ready to make a splash with a new dolphin friend, here are our top five picks for the best place to encounter or swim with dolphins in the Florida Keys and around Key West!
1) Book A Boat Tour And See Dolphins In Their Natural Habitat
Of course, if your heart does long to meet dolphins up close, there are several wonderful facilities that make up the best places to swim with them.
Plus, you can still see wild dolphins on our exciting sandbar tours in their natural habitat. Our trips are perfect for non swimmers and families with small children who want to observe these beautiful creatures in the wild without getting wet.
Join us for a memorable journey as we take you on a private sandbar tour, where you can witness these incredible creatures up close. Don’t miss out on this opportunity and book your tour today!
2) Theater Of The Sea
The Theater of the Sea is the best place to catch a dolphin show before jumping in the pool for a swim! In addition to a dolphin swim, you can also book a visit to paint with a dolphin and keep your one-of-a-kind masterpiece as a souvenir!
The dolphin swim packages include shallow water meet-and-greets as well as deep water encounters, where you can snorkel and dive underwater with the dolphins! Programs also include a bottomless boat ride and access to a relaxing lagoon-style beach.
Through their dolphin swims and encounters, visitors get a new appreciation for the sea and our environment. Build a bond with the help of a skilled dolphin trainer, and get a better understanding of these magnificent sea creatures.
The premier dolphin theater in Islamorada is also a great place to do many other fun activities, like:
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Meet a sea lion
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Watch a sea lion show
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Swim with sharks
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Swim with rays
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Meet sea turtles
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Meet and feed parrots
Pro tip: Theater of the Sea is the perfect outing for families with kids. Your children will absolutely love the dolphin shows and the chance to interact with other wildlife. It’s an experience that will create lasting memories for the whole family!
3) Dolphins Plus Bayside
For a heartfelt dolphin interaction, this attraction is perfect for the whole family. The dolphins here live in natural salt water from the Gulf of Mexico (Bayside) in Key Largo, Florida.
When you book a trip to swim with dolphins, you can enjoy a chance to learn more about the dolphins as you hear about their behaviors and natural habitat. The passionate trainers who oversee the swims are sure to pack in as much knowledge as they can, so you leave feeling like you’ve truly learned more about the animals. During your visit, you’ll get to learn more about how dolphins think and act, including shallow water behaviors, like belly rubs and hand kisses.
You can choose from a deep water or shallow water dolphin encounter, paint with a dolphin, or even choose the new dolphin dockside experience, which is great for non swimmers and young children to get up close and personal with a dolphin without having to enter the water! It’s a great experience that provides enrichment and joy, all from the comfort of the dock with a life jacket.
Shake a dolphin’s fin, give them belly rubs and learn some hand signals before trying them out with a real dolphin trainer!
4) Dolphin Connection
Dolphins have a special way of connecting with people, and this program is all about making that bond easy for you. When you book a swim with them, you can expect exciting encounters like a dolphin discovery in deep water, a trainer-for-a-day program, paint add-ons, educational presentations, and much more.
The team is passionate about sharing the beauty, joy and wonder of these amazing animals with everyone who visits. The ocean-fed habitat is perfect for getting up close with friendly dolphins, and there are plenty of photo opportunities included!
Swimming with dolphins in the Florida Keys can be a life-changing experience. Here are some things you can expect at Dolphin Connection:
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Dolphin interaction in deep or shallow water, or a dockside visit
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Chance to book your own private platform
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Mimicries and foot push swims with two dolphins
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Paint add-ons and souvenir artwork
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Dolphin hugs and kisses
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Knowledgeable trainers who guide you through the experience
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Customizable packages for children 7 and up
Pro tip: Reservation are required, so be sure to book online and build your dolphin adventure!
5) Dolphin Research Center In Marathon, Florida
Located in Marathon, FL, the Dolphin Research Center is an animal sanctuary that offers amazing programs to help you make a dolphin friend. You can book the Ultimate Trainer for a Day package, which includes all-day access to the sanctuary plus an extra admission for a child 10+ or a parent/guardian/observer.
The Researcher Experience puts you in the shoes of a marine biologist, where you spend half the day with the sanctuary’s research team learning and tending to dolphins and sea lions.
The epic Family Dolphin Splash is a wonderful experience for children 4 and up. An adult who is 18 and older can also hold a child 3 or older on their hip during the encounter. Guests with physical or cognitive disabilities are welcome but encouraged to contact the facility first to make appropriate accommodations.
Book Our Boat Tours To Encounter With Dolphins In Key West
At Key West Boat Trips, we’re always eager to connect visitors with the wonderful marine life and natural beauty of Key West. When you go on your first dolphin encounter, you won’t believe how incredible you feel.
Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity! Book your tickets online for any of our boat tour experiences. Our friendly staff will assist you in selecting the perfect program to make the most of your visit.
Click here to discover more about our exciting boat tours in the Florida Key
