Swim with the dolphins at Atlantis' Dolphin Cay

By Samantha Chapnick

The highlight of my trip to Atlantis in the Bahamas was the chance to interact with the resident dolphins, some of which
were rescued from the Hurricane Katrina tragedy.

Dolphin Cay is more like a
sanctuary than an amusement park or zoo — the handlers have real bonds
with the animals, as I witnessed first hand. They also happen to have a
great sense of humor and a gentle way with the guests.

After following
my handler’s lead as to how to feed, kiss, and sign to the dolphin, I
did what came naturally as a dog lover. I started petting the dolphin’s
belly, and the dolphin seemed quite excited. The handler gently started
laughing and tried several times to begin saying something, but each
time was laughing too hard. Finally, he blurted out that perhaps I
should focus on her head instead: apparently I was playing with her in
a way she would only expect from male dolphins.

The very youngest
children can experience a dolphin interaction (accompanied by a
parent) at Atlantis. After an orientation and suiting up, the family spends 30
minutes waist-high with the dolphins playing. Some people might
appreciate getting to spend the rest of the day hanging out at the
small beach overlooking the enclosure (normally $25/per person).

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Samantha Chapnick is a New York writer who scours international destinations looking for what hasn’t been found.

Tagged: Caribbean