Geography #2: Honduras, Dolphin Kisses, and 5 Dolphin Experiences

Dolphins Play in Roatan, Honduras; Photo by Krenda

Highly intelligent, social, and playful, it's no wonder kids love dolphins.  Dolphins live in groups, playing and hunting fish and squid together.  Dolphins mostly live in shallow areas of tropical and temperate oceans.  They are mammals, so they need to come to the surface of the water to breath.  It is such a joy to see a dolphin dive out of the water or make synchronized moves with other dolphins.

Kids tend to be most familiar with the bottlenose dolphin, one of the dolphins in the whale family.  Chinese River Dolphin, Indus River Dolphin, and Killer Whale have endangered status.  We donate to the Defenders of Wildlife, a BBB Accredited Charity.  According to the Defenders of Wildlife, dolphins use echolocation to find prey, ie they locate objects by reflecting sound.  Bats also use echolocation.  Did you know that dolphins can hear frequencies 10 times the upper limit of adult humans?  Dolphins have well-developed sense of touch, but not smell.

Anthony's Key Resort

If your kids want to touch a dolphin, consider splurging on a dolphin encounter.  We gave our kids a dolphin experience at Anthony's Key Resort in Roatan, Honduras.  The dolphins are very friendly and the trainers teach the kids about the dolphins.  Bottlenose dolphins tend to only be 8 feet in length and weigh 440-660 lbs.  Despite their weight, they are highly agile and move with grace.  If you go direct the Dolphin Encounter costs $89 or Dolphin action swim for $139.  We may have paid more by booking through the cruise line.  Prices always vary and change, so look up the websites.

You don't need to travel to Honduras to touch a dolphin.  Here's five dolphin experiences in the United States:

1.  Miami Seaquarium, Key Biscayne, FL, Dolphin Encounter ($165, age 5-9 $125, observer $53), 30 minutes includes shake hands, share a kiss, and try out training signals, it does not include swimming, options Dolphin Odyssey with dorsal pull start at $110, Seal Swim start at $110, Penguin Encounter start at $105, Trainer for a Day $495, general admission ($46, age 3-9 $36)

2. Sea World San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas Dolphin Encounter ($194), entrance fee $69 + Swimming with the dolphins (or beluga or sea lions) $125 at Discovery Points Dolphin Lagoon, must be 48 inches or taller

3.  Dolphin Research Center, Marathon, FL ($199+reservation fee) Dolphin Encounter includes 20-25 minute swim/dorsal pull for age 5 and up, paying adult must accompany child age 5-7, alternatives Meet the Dolphin (touch at dock) $50, Paint with a Dolphin ($65), Play with the Dolphin at dock ($85), Dolphin Splash ($139), Trainer for the Day ($695), general admission ($28 adult, $23 age 4-12) includes educational theater, accredited by Alliance of Marine mammal Parks & Aquariums

4.  Dolphin Quest Big Island, Hawaii ($265) for Encounter Deluxe for age five and up, options include Sunrise Dolphin Kayak $169, Underwater Adventure ($350), dolphins swim in four acre saltwater lagoon, accredited by Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums and American Human Conservation certification

5. Discovery Cove, Orlando, FL ($390) dolphin swim and day resort $390 includes 30 minute dolphin swim; day resort ($280) + shark swim ($99) or ray feeding ($59)

A lower cost option than being in the water with the dolphins is looking for dolphins from a boat.  Take a trip from either US coast:

1) Captain Dave's Dolphin and Whale Safari, Dana Point Harbor, CA ($65 adult, age 1-12 $45), 2.5 hour boat ride, claims to tour in area with more dolphins per square mile than anywhere else and potential to see four types of dolphins

2) Dolphin Explorer, Marco Island, FL ($64 adult, $45 children), ride on a 30 foot catamaran in the Gulf of Mexico, Eco-Tour and cruise begins at 9AM and 1PM

We took this excursion as part of a Royal Caribbean cruise on the Navigator of the Sea.  The cruise began in Galveston, Texas and traveled to Roatan, Honduras, Belize, and Cozumel, Mexico.  A former Procter & Gamble co-worker and friend of mine recognized the resort.  In her case, they flew to Belize and stayed at Anthony's Key Resort.  Either way, you will certainly create a lifetime memory.