Best Places to Swim with Dolphins in the World – Make a Bucket List

For many people one of the top items on their bucket list is swimming with dolphins. So here at Make a Bucket List we bring you the top places to swim with dolphins in the world.

Florida Keys, Florida

Dolphin Cove is a marine education and dolphin swim facility located in sunny Key Largo, Florida, where you can swim with dolphins in their natural lagoon open to the Florida Bay. Swimming with the dolphins at Dolphin Cove is like no other dolphin encounter. This experience is available to the public throughout the year and is a great addition to your Florida vacation. Meet and interact with the dolphins in Dolphin Coves hands-on Structured and Shallow Water by either swimming with them or Snorkelling alongside.

Further information and prices can be found on their site by clicking here.

Oahu, Hawaii

If you are bound for the Hawaiian Islands and can drag yourself away from the beach, a magical Pacific Ocean dolphin experience awaits you with Wildside Specialty Tours. Setting sail from Waianae Boat Harbor, the tour boats take a maximum of 16 passengers for either a four-hour morning tour or a three-hour evening cruise. All cruises can combine a variety of marine life encounters (including spinner dolphins, turtles and/or whales) with snorkeling, swimming or just wildlife viewing. The price is $95 per person plus tax, with a 15% discount for a group of five or more people (children are the same price as adults). Private charters are also available and all tours include snacks, beverages and use of the snorkel gear provided.

For more information please click here. Or visit our Oahu Hawaii guide for more amazing things to do on one of the most amazing islands on the planet.

Nassau, Bahamas

Going to the Bahamas? Looking for the dolphin experience in a travel guide? Dolphin Encounters is one of the top tourist attractions in the Bahamas and is owned and operated by a local family.

In the Dolphin Encounter Program, each guest can expect a unique experience that brings you closer to an Atlantic Bottlenose dolphin than you ever dreamed possible! Not only will you see the bottlenose dolphin habitat, but you will learn important information about dolphins and the ocean too.

Your program begins with a fun, interactive, orientation briefly covering the natural history of dolphins, animal training techniques, ocean conservation and Watchable Wildlife Guidelines.

On the Dolphin Encounter float, you will stand on a waist-deep submerged platform and experience a heart-warming kiss, a hug, a dance and opportunities to rub down the dolphin. Your dolphin trainer will combine elements of hands-on contact, education, fun, laughter, and adventure to make this an unforgettable experience. While you enjoy your Dolphin Encounter and learn about the dolphin habitat you will also be in the midst of one of the finest natural attractions in the Bahamas.

The professional photo and video staff will be capturing your encounter so that you will have a chance to take home incredible souvenirs of your once-in-a-lifetime experience.

For more information about this experience please click here.

Drake Bay, Costa Rica

Swim with dolphins in the marine heaven that is found in Drake Bay off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Considered to be one of the most cetacean-rich areas in the world, the marine life here is abundant with pods of pan-tropic spotted, bottlenose, spinner and common dolphins as well as humpback, pilot, sperm and blue whales, giant manta rays, sea turtles and more.

The  Drake Bay Wilderness Resort runs dolphin interaction tours as well as Whale and Dolphin Watch Packages. The four-day with three-night package includes two-day whale and dolphin watch trips, boat transportation to and from Drake Bay Airport, hotel lodging, three home-cooked meals each day and tours.

For more information please click here.

Kaikoura, New Zealand

The South Pacific Ocean may be a little chillier, but with marine life in abundance, you may be willing to overlook the temperature fluctuation to experience the Southern Hemisphere dolphins. Dolphin Encounter runs specialized dolphin boat tours every day of the year (weather permitting) from Kaikoura, located on New Zealand’s South Island, some 110 miles from Christchurch. Although dusky dolphins are most prolific in these waters, the dolphin tours often encounter other marine mammals such as Orcas (killer whales), pilot whales, New Zealand Fur Seals, and Hector’s Dolphins. Three-hour tours include guided commentary and the boats are fitted with hot showers and covered areas for protection against the elements. Boats take 13 swimmers and up to 20 watchers, with November to April being the busy tourist season.

For more information please click here.

Hopefully this will give you a few ideas!! Happy bucket list completing!!!!