I have a few questions regarding Discovery coveand generally regarding swimming with dolphins.

I would love to have the opportunity to swim with the dolphins while we are in orlando in December. discovery cove looks like the nearset place to do this but the prices are a bit steep $200 if swimming and $110 if not. Has anybody any experience of discovery cove - if so how did you find it - is it worth the money?

We are however also looking at going to clearwater and miami/the keys at some point during our visit - it is more recommenable to swim with the dolphins there? if so can anybody recommend anywehere to me where the are well organised and cheaper than discovery cove?

I would prefer to swim with captive dolphins or at least trained dolphins as i have heard that wild dolphins can be quite agressive.

I would be grateful if anyone could give me any advice/shares their experiences.

Thanks!

You might get some flames for this one from the Ethical Treatment Of Dolphins group. I just saw this place on TV tonight on the Travel Channel. It was featured on a show about Sea World Florida ( DC was on at the end of the program). Although the price is steep I do think it seems nicer/less crowded than some of the other places. Although we did not swim with the dolphins we did check out the Dolphin Research Center in the Keys(one of a few places in the keys that offer this). If I recall the prices to swim with them are somwhere around 80 dollars or more per person. Definitly cheaper and also a neat place to visit but probably not as nice or has as many activities as Discovery Cove has. DC had snorkeling activities onsite and other things to do. If you are interested, I have some photos of the Dolphin Research Center on webshots under my Florida Keys album.

http://community.webshots.com/user/lenleigh

There was a previous thread going here, where people said it was definetly worth it.

$ 200 to swim with a dolphin? Brad Pitt maybe, but a dolphin? NO WAY!

What would Brad Pitt be wearing? Hmmmmm maybe "are" is right

Here's your 'flame' post.
I urge you to read "What's wrong with Discovery Cove" below:

http://www.dolphinproject.org/subdetail.cfm?menu_id=537&submenu_id=1987

If you really love dolphins, WHY would you want to participate in such a horrid industry?

Here are some FACTS about captive dolphins:
The average lifespan of a dolphin in the wild is 45 years, yet half of all captured dolphins die within their first two years of captivity. The survivors last an average of only five years. Every seven years, half of all dolphins in captivity die from capture shock, pneumonia, intestinal disease, ulcers, chlorine poisoning, and other stress related illnesses. Some even commit suicide. Yes, dolphins can and DO commit sucicide. They hold their breath until they sufficate. It's deliberate. To the cpative dolphin industry, these facts are accepted as routine operating expenses.
Marine parks subject their mammals to hunger so they will perform for food. Jumping through hoops, tailwalking and ball playing are trained behaviors that do not occur in the wild.
Dolphins in captivity tend to develope sterotypical behaviors (swimming in a repetitive circle pattern, with eyes closed and in silence) because of boredom and confinement.
As for dolphins in the wild being 'agressive' that would only be if they didn't want to be there with you, in which case they wouldn't be! Any dolphin in captivity does not want to be there with you either, but they have been trained that if they don't do 'what's expected' they will not be fed. They are extremely intelligent creatures and it does not take long for them to learn this.
Please, please think about all this before you decide to participate in an industry that tortures and kills dolphins only for your amusement.
Thanks

I cannot give you feedback on Discovery Cove; however, I can tell you that the program at DRC is excellent.

Here is a link to their website and the work/research/programs that they do.

http://www.dolphins.org/

They are located on Grassy Key (in the northern portion of the keys) I have done the Swim program at DRC and was impressed. They are a not-for-profit organization that does research, dolphin rescue and manatee rescue.

S

WRONG Sheli. I've recently read "To Free A Dolphin" by Richard O'Berry. If anyone would know about this park he would, and apparently, their so called 'research' is a joke. They're mainly into marketing themselves and collecting money.
What they tell 'the public' is for their own benifit and not to benifit their dolphins.
Read the book. Learn about this organization and many others 'myths'.

"Dolphin"

I can only give information on what I know. I have been there and that is what I have experienced.

Now, if you would like to lend some credibility to your statements, you may want to post a real name instead of hiding behind "Dolphin" I don't doubt that your argument has merits. I am sure you have read many books. However, since Linzi asked for a place in the Keys, I lifed up DRC as a possibility.

S

Sheli,
Fine. My name is Alison Lambert and I live in Austin, Tx., okay?
I'm sure Linzi appreciates your suggestion, I am only saying that just because you 'experienced' this park in the Keys does NOT mean it's right or that they are telling you, the public, the truth.
I was not trying to flame you. Sorry.

Linzi, I just topped my thread Florida Keys trip report for another poster. There is a report on our swim at DRC. I also found the facility to be very well run and truely about the dolphins. Have a wonderful time!

By the way, I've also read some scientific papers...including "Scientific Challenges to Current Husbandry and Management Practices At Dolphin Holding Facilites.
You too can read these at
//whales7.tripd.com/policies/levasseur/
levass1a.html

I SURE wish more people would read up on this subjuect before they decide it's okay to shell out a bunch of money to an industry killing and tortuirng dolphins...including DRC. I believe you'd all change your tunes if you really love dolphins and decide NOT to participate.

www.dolphinproject.org

I just have a hard time beleiving they are complelty evil when they are non-profits and they are trying to "educate" the public about these creatures. How is this any different then zoos or turtle/manatee rehabs? They all offer you a chance to see and learn about what humans are doing to these animals and I don't think that is bad. Dolphins are smart animals and from what I have read enjoy stimulation(ie;activities/stunts). Just making my point as you made yours dolphin.

I'm not saying the DRC is completely evil. I'm sure that the DRC is doing some great research. What I am opposed to is the fact that their dolphins are still trained by food depravation, for one thing. What does learing tricks by food depravation have to do with "Research"? What a crock. And they sure as heck don't have to let a bunch of humans get in the water and play with them. This kind of inertaction will never enable a dolphin to be released.
As I think it's great they take in sick or injured animals, they are still opposed to KEEPING dolphins who are excellent candidates to be released back into the wild, and in fact one of their dolphins, 'Molly' was just such a candidate, but DRC was opposed to release.
That's wrong. When a dolphins CAN be released, it should be.

Solphin, I think you should do your research before you start slandering. DRC does not train by starvation for starters. Did you even read my post that I topped or are you only interested in your own skued opinions?

I think its fantastic to have a cause, better to actually inform others- just make sure you have all your facts straight.

Wendy

Wendy,
I don't know what post you're talking about that you topped. I'll stand by what I said. It's not I that don't have the facts straight.

Just my 2 cents... I know nothing about Discovery Cove or DRC. But I noticed the remark "...I just have a hard time beleiving they are complelty evil when they are non-profits and they..."

Please don't think that an organization is free of guilt because they are "non profit". They can still be motivatied by money and be "non profit". There are lots of agencies out there where the CEO and staff make 6 or even 7 figure incomes and work for "non-profits".

Discovery Cove is a beautifully maintained "relaxing" park. The general admission gets you the gear, beach access, lovely caf lunch, aviary, lazy river ride, and snorkeling with tropical fish and rays - PLUS a separate full day at SeaWorld. Definitely worth it. Swimming with the dolphins is interesting, and I'm glad I did it once, but wouldn't pay for it again. It's more of an educational encounter than free swim. But it's wonderful to see these magnificent - and powerful - creatures up close.

For information from people who have been to Discovery Cove, go to www.disboards.com and scroll down to the SeaWorld/Discovery Cove forums.

Lisa-

I agree with you about the non-profit comment. I was refering to Dolphin saying they "mainly market themselves and collect money". I am sure there are some non-profits getting away with illegal actions but I mostly see the admission fee (at a place like DRC) going to food/medical care and such.

I would also find it hard to beleive a place like DRC starves their dolphins, we saw them being fed quite often. If anything, they probably get a better diet in a place like that then in the wild.