Dolphin Swimming

Celebrating 10 Years of Manatee Rescue Programs at Dolphin Discovery

// November 16th, 2011 // View Comments // Cancun / Isla Mujeres, Cozumel, News, Riviera Maya, Sea Life

Manatee Family Dolphin Discovery Riviera Maya

Dolphin Discovery is celebrating another incredible milestone in our continuing efforts to protect and conserve endangered  marine animals. It was ten years ago that our team of biologists first participated in the rescue of manatees in Mexico. In 2001, Dolphin Discovery was invited to the state of Tabasco where a group of manatees were living in very poor conditions in a polluted lake. The animals were suffering horribly, extremely malnourished and in desperate need of assistance. Manatees are an endangered species and it was with a sense of urgency that the Dolphin Discovery team joined authorities from the federal government in the rescue operation. The delicate mission was successful, the biologists rescued “Romeo and Juliet”, and brought them back to the Dolphin Discovery facilities in Puerto Aventuras, Riviera Maya for rehabilitation and medical care.

“The Story of Tuuch” a moving video of the rescue of a baby manatee
(”Tuuch” has since been renamed Roberto & is enjoying a fine life in the Riviera Maya)

Since then, Romeo and Juliet have not only survived, but have thrived in their new home. The couple has created a beautiful family through the Dolphin Discovery breeding program, becoming parents to three offspring (as well as fostering the rescued baby “Roberto” and taking him in as their own). The manatee family at Dolphin Discovery has grown over the years through other rescue operations, a testament to the skill and care of our team of biologists and scientists, led by Dr. Roberto Sanchez and their dedication to the preservation of this endangered species.

If you are in Cancun this week, join us in Parque las Palapas downtown for a celebration of our ten years of caring for these noble creatures. November 17, 18 and 19th from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm you can meet members of our team and enjoy activities for the whole family.

We invite you to meet our manatee friends in the Riviera Maya, Cozumel and Isla Mujeres in our unique manatee encounter programs, learn about these gentle giants and even give them a little kiss, it is an experience you will never forget.

Dolphin Discovery 2010 Year in Review

// December 17th, 2010 // View Comments // About Dolphins, Cancun / Isla Mujeres, Cozumel, Dolphins for kids, Grand Cayman, Locations, News, Riviera Maya, Sea Life, Tortola, Vallarta, costa maya

It’s that time of year again, the season to join with family and friends and celebrate the holidays, reflect on the year past and look forward to what the new year will bring.  2010 was a busy year for Dolphin Discovery, new ventures, new friends and a whole lot of smiling faces.  Let’s have a look at some of the highlights of 2010…

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Cozumel Welcomes Sea Lions!

Dolphin Discovery Cozumel was thrilled to welcome sea lions into the family this  year, with their feisty characters and silly antics, the sea lion program is a delightful addition to Chankanaab Park.  Pingo and Karla make us laugh every day, and little baby Taco has a huge personality!

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Miss Caribbean World Pageant Tortola

Dolphin Discovery Tortola is a truly beautiful place, but the participants in the Miss Caribbean World Pageant made it gorgeous!  These lovely ladies from all over the Caribbean took time out of their busy schedule to join us for a swim with dolphins in Tortola, we thank them for their visit and offer congratulations once again to winner Marcia Baptiste of Dominica!

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“Por la Libre” Open Water Race

Dolphin Discovery was pleased to be a sponsor of the 10 km open water swim race from Cancun to Isla Mujeres.  More than 500 international athletes hit the water in Cancun and made the ocean crossing to the finish line at Garrafon Park.  Seventeen year old Fernando Betanzos finished first, with an incredible time of 1 hour and 33 minutes!  Televisa Verde made this event extra special by donating 6000 mangrove plants to revitalize the Nichupte Lagoon.

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Manatee Madness in Riviera Maya

Our little family of manatees in Puerto Aventuras had a fantastic 2010.  In June we had a big first birthday celebration for our rescued manatee “Robert”, with a fruit and vegetable birthday cake and a visit from local school children.  In September we welcomed the newest member of the manatee family as Julieta gave birth to a bouncing baby boy,  another success for our reproduction program!

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Merlin the iPad Dolphin

One of the biggest news stories of the year was the release of the iPad and our smart-as-a-whip dolphin Merlin was one of the first to give the tablet a whirl and make his own headlines.  Researchers from “Speak Dolphin” introduced the touch-screen device to Merlin in an effort to bridge communications with our dolphin friends and learn more about these incredible creatures.  The fame has not gone to Merlin’s head, he is as down to earth (down to sea?) as he has always been, a vital part of our Riviera Maya crew.

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“Dive with Dolphins Cozumel”

Dolphin Discovery Cozumel introduced a unique new program this year, “Dive with Dolphins” invites our guests to join dolphins under the sea and discover a whole new way to play.  Chankanaab Park and Cozumel are paradise to scuba divers all over the world, what better way to explore the underwater home of the dolphins?  This was one of my personal highlights of the year, donning the mask and tank and playing with Titan near the ocean floor was a truly phenomenal experience.

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Cruisers Delight, Dolphin Discovery Costa Maya

November 2010 we celebrated the grand opening of our newest dolphinarium in the cruise ship port of Costa Maya near the town of Mahahual.   Located about 400 kms south of Cancun, Costa Maya is a HOT destination for cruise ships!  Dolphin Discovery is excited about our new venture and we look forward to welcoming new friends from the cruising community in 2011 and the years to come.

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This is just a taste of some of the great experiences we’ve had at Dolphin Discovery this year, I could write all day about new births and visiting celebrities and the numerous charity and community events that we were honored to be a part of.  I would like to thank every member of the Dolphin Discovery team for all their hard work and smiles, let’s do it again next year!

To all of you, our guests, we thank you for making 2010 a special year and we wish you a happy and safe holiday season and a new year full of love, life, happiness and success.  Dolphin hugs and kisses to everyone, see you in 2011!

Garrafon Park Isla Mujeres

// September 16th, 2010 // View Comments // Cancun / Isla Mujeres, Locations

Standing atop a rocky cliff, feeling the ocean breeze on my face, I leap…..a scream, then a laugh as I speed down the zipline over the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Isla Mujeres at Garrafon Park.  I leap again, flying over the snorkelers flippering their way across the reef, the water so clear that even from the height of the zipline I can see the schools of fish darting in and out of the coral.  I land on the shore with a huge smile, take off my helmet and harness and get ready for the next part of my adventure.

Garrafon Park is located on the small island of Isla Mujeres, a short ferry ride from the mainland city of Cancun.  With lush green areas, a reef teeming with tropical fish and incredible views, it’s a beautiful place to spend a day.  Guests may choose to pass the hours swinging in a hammock with a cold drink in hand or they can fill the day with action… snorkeling, kayaking, biking, ziplining, exploring the sculpture garden and Mayan ruins at Punta Sur and swimming with dolphins.

I’m definitely a woman of action, so after my zipline ride I don my mask and fins and hit the water.  The reef is home to a plethora of sea life, big beautiful angel fish, schools of sergeant majors and French grunts, needlefish, parrot fish and even a friendly barracuda.  The shallow waters close to shore make this an ideal spot, whether you are a first time snorkeler or a veteran, it’s a great way to discover the underwater world.

Ready for more excitement after snorkeling, I took a little spin in a kayak, went for a walk on the seaside path and had a swim in the infinity pool.  I’d worked up quite an appetite so I made my way to the restaurant to refuel.  I’m pleasantly surprised by just how good the food is!  Lots of choices, salads, fish, pasta, chicken, Mexican specialties and of course, hot dogs and hamburgers.  I try to keep myself away from the dessert table, but end up devouring a piece of tres leches cake (the diet can restart tomorrow, right?).  I sip my special “Garrafon Lemonade”, gaze at the view and realize that I am truly in paradise and the day is not over yet!

I gather my belongings, grab a taxi and make my way to Dolphin Discovery full of anticipation.  It’s time to swim with dolphins!  Our guide gives us an orientation session, teaching us about bottlenose dolphins and how to interact with them.  We’re a small group, only ten people, and we’re all eager to get in the water.  The friendly trainer brings us to the dock, we carefully climb down the stairs and we meet our dolphins and fall in love!  We shake their hands, kiss them and they take us for a ride with their dorsal fins.  Then the highlight of the day, the foot push!  The adrenaline flows as the two dolphins propel us through the water by pushing the bottoms of our feet, I get right up out of the water and can’t help but laugh out loud.  Truly the experience of a lifetime!

I had a most amazing day, and you can too with the Royal Garrafon and Dolphin Royal Swim package.  This is an all inclusive trip, no worries, no stress, all your activities, food, drinks and equipment are included so you can enjoy your day to the fullest.  Contact our bilingual Dolphin Discovery customer service representatives and book your best vacation day ever!

Isla Mujeres: Destination Paradise

// August 5th, 2010 // View Comments // Cancun / Isla Mujeres, Locations

photo courtesy www.isla-mujeres.com.mx

Laid back island life, coral reefs, stunning vistas,and gorgeous beaches, Isla Mujeres is a true paradise in every sense of the word.  This tiny island off the coast of Cancun has a long history, going back to when it was a sacred sanctuary named “Ekab”, a place for the Maya people to honour Ixchel, the goddess of the moon and fertility.  When the Spanish arrived in the 16th century, they named the island “Isla Mujeres” or “Island of Women” after discovering numerous clay figures and imagery of the Mayan goddess.  In later years, Isla (as it’s affectionately known) became a refuge for pirates, including Henry Morgan and Jean Lafitte.  The island’s most famous pirate was Fermin Antonio Mundaca, who left Spain and settled on Isla Mujeres in 1858.  Mundaca fell in love with a much younger local woman and tried to woo her with his riches, but the young woman refused his advances.  Legend states that Mundaca slowly went insane and died alone, leaving his large estate on Isla Mujeres to tell his tale for years to come.  Modern day visitors can visit the grounds and ruins of the “Hacienda Mundaca” and walk the gardens of this old pirate land.  For many  years Isla Mujeres was a peaceful fishing village, sparsely inhabited and undeveloped until the tourism industry began to bring more and more travellers seeking relaxation to her shores.

Punta Sur Isla Mujeres

Today Isla Mujeres is a popular destination for travellers and a top day trip for visitors to Cancun and the Riviera Maya.  The island is still a functioning fishing village, making it an ideal place to find some of the freshest, tastiest seafood in the Mexican Caribbean.  While the island has grown to keep up with the demands for hotels and amenities, it still retains its small town charm.  Getting around the island means golf carts, mopeds or taxis, self guided golf cart tours are a great way to see the island.  “Downtown”is a few cozy streets that were built for walking, with intimate restaurants and local artisans selling their wares.  The famous “Playa Norte” (”North Beach”) is by far one of the best beaches in Quintana Roo, soft white sands, palm trees and calm, crystal clear waters that offer the perfect place to float and forget the daily stresses.  Beach bars offer lounge chairs and umbrellas and waiter service on the sand, everything at your fingertips to enjoy a relaxing day (or week or month).  Visit “Punta Sur” (”South Point”) for some of the most spectacular scenery on the island, perch on the rocky cliffs, listening to the waves crashing on shore as you admire the huge iguanas that populate the rocks and the multitude of blues of the Caribbean Sea.  Garrafon Park, on the west side of the island, is an ideal place to spend a day snorkeling, kayaking, zip lining or just hanging out in a hammock under a palm tree.  The turtle sanctuary on Isla Mujeres allows visitors to get up close and personal with sea turtles and learn more about marine animal preservation and conservation.

Dolphin Discovery Isla Mujeres

Dolphin Discovery is thrilled to be a part of this island community.  Getting to Isla is easy on our quick ferry from the hotel zone, our modern boats will bring you to the island in about 15 minutes.  Our Isla Mujeres location has over 10000 square feet of natural ocean area for our family of dolphins, sea lions and manatees to frolic with fish and guests.  Visitors to Dolphin Discovery Isla Mujeres are invited to enjoy our seaside pool, hang out in our hammock garden, have a few drinks at the palapa bar and enjoy a delicious buffet lunch as part of their day.  Guests may also take tours of the island, snorkeling trips to the reef, or a jaunt down the road to Garrafon Park.  Leave your worries behind on your all inclusive day at Dolphin Discovery Isla Mujeres, enjoy the sun and sea and live the experience of a lifetime in paradise!

Sea Lion Facts

// July 19th, 2010 // View Comments // Cancun / Isla Mujeres, Cozumel, Riviera Maya, Sea Life, Vallarta

Everyone loves sea lions, aside from being so handsome, they seem to have a great sense of humour, always making us laugh.  So, what do you know about sea lions?  Let’s have a look at some facts….

–Sea lions are found all over the world, from the Arctic to New Zealand, usually found along rocky coasts where there are rich food sources such as sardines, herring, capelin and squid.

–Sea lions can be distinguished from seals by their visible external ear flaps.

–Sea lions are “pinnipeds’, meaning they have “winged feet”.

–Sea lions are amphibious, they live on both land and water.

–Sea lions are “marine mammals”, meaning they do not lay eggs but do in fact carry and give birth to their young.  Males are “bulls”, females are “cows” and babies are called “pups”.

–Sea lions have a lifespan of 10-15 years in the wild, but in a healthy zoological environment can live 25-35 years.

–Sea lion mamas gestate for 10-12 months.  Their pups are born on land and will nurse from their mother from 4-12 months.

–Sea lions are warm blooded, covered in a layer of fat to protect them from cold temperatures.

–Sea lions breathe air, but can remain under water for up to 40 minutes if hunting for food, accomplished by squeezing their nostrils shut tight.

–Sea lions are very communal, usually living in large colonies of up to 1000, with smaller communities appearing within the group.

–Sea lions aren’t lazy, but they sure do love to hang around on the rocks and bask in the sun.

–Sea lions are intelligent and easy to train, the military has been training them for years for rescue operations in the sea.

–The biggest dangers to sea lions are fishermen, pollution and climate change.  Their predators are killer whales and sharks, though they can swim faster than both they can be taken by surprise.

Dolphin Discovery invites you to get up close and personal with these sweet creatures, our sea lion friends can be found in the following destinations:

Sea Lions Isla Mujeres

Sea Lions Cozumel

Sea Lions Riviera Maya

Sea Lions Puerto Vallarta

Get a hug, a fishy kiss and you will most definitely walk away smiling from your Sea Lion Encounter with Dolphin Discovery!

Please remember to keep our oceans and beaches clean, plastic bags, six-pack rings, garbage of all kinds is very damaging to the sea lions and their environment.  Do what you can to protect our precious marine life, go for a walk on the beach and pick up trash, educate your children, spread the word that if we each do our small part, all earth’s creatures will have a brighter future.

“Por la Libre 2010″ a Huge Success

// June 2nd, 2010 // View Comments // Cancun / Isla Mujeres, Locations, News

Por la Libre- The Race Begins

Saturday May 29th, 6:30 am and it is already hot in Cancun.  There is excitement and tension in the air as more than 500 anxious athletes await the start of the 10 km open water race from Cancun to Isla Mujeres.  This is the fifth annual “Por la Libre” and it’s a gorgeous day for it, sunshine, no wind, no waves, just crystal clear turquoise waters and blue skies.  The swimmers hit the water at Punta Cancun and the race begins, with a flotilla of boats, kayaks and jet skis following along to ensure the safety of the athletes and to cheer them on to the finish at Garrafon Park on Isla Mujeres.

Por la Libre 2010 Finish Line at Garrafon Park

As the swimmers make their crossing, supporters head to Garrafon and the organizational teams take their places at the finish line.  The recovery area is set up with refreshments, the massage tables are in place and the offical time keepers are ready to receive the finishers.  The radios start to buzz as the first swimmer is seen approaching the island, the excitement mounts and the cameras start clicking!  First out of the water with an incredible time of 1 hour and 33 minutes is 17 year old Fernando Betanzos, a proud moment for this incredible young athlete.  Finishing first overall for the women’s category is Alejandra Merizalde with a great time of 1 hour and 43 minutes, another young swimmer from the 15-19 year old group.

Fernando Betanzos first to the finish line

It was an exciting day to be at Garrafon, the swimmers were greeted with rounds of applause as they exited the water and crossed the mat.  Racers and their fans enjoyed the shady hammock garden, lounged in the pool and sated their appetites with icy cold drinks and a tasty lunch.  Many took advantage of the calm waters to snorkel the reef and go for a spin in the kayaks on this beautiful day.

Televisa Verde presenting mangrove plants

“Por la Libre 2010″ is pleased to announce that for the first time the race was done to benefit a great cause.  Televisa Verde donated 6000 mangrove plants in the names of the first 200 registered swimmers, with the goal of revitalizing the Nichupte Lagoon which suffered serious damage during Hurricane Wilma in 2005.  Dolphin Discovery and Garrafon Park are proud to be sponsors and we would like to congratulate all the athletes and give thanks to Televisa Verde for their contribution to the ecology of Cancun. Thanks and special congratulations to Rafa and Carmen from Starc Producciones for organizing this great event, let’s do it again soon!

Por la Libre Official Results

More Por la Libre 2010 photos on Flickr

Interview with a Dolphin Trainer

// May 31st, 2010 // View Comments // About Dolphins, Cancun / Isla Mujeres, News, Riviera Maya

Dolphin Discovery’s trainers are used to hearing “You’ve got the best job in the world!” from guests and this week I had the pleasure of sitting down with one of our trainers to find out if indeed that is the case.  Alex Mata invited me to experience life as a trainer for a morning and was gracious enough to sit down with me and tell me about himself and his life as a marine animal trainer.

Alex Mata is the Corporate Educative Trainer for Dolphin Discovery.  He’s originally from Spain and began his career in Europe before coming to Dolphin Discovery in Mexico six years ago.  He chose Dolphin Discovery for its outstanding corporate training department with over 100 educational courses, an ideal place to develop and grow in his career. He now works alongside expert veterinarians and biologists who push everyone to be better trainers and better people, something that sets Dolphin Discovery apart from other organizations in the world. With his expertise, knowledge and true passion for the animals and the organization, he is now in a position to train the trainers and realize his dream of devoting his life to marine animals.

We asked our fans and followers on Facebook and Twitter to post their questions for Alex, here’s what we discovered.

1.  How do you become a dolphin trainer?  What makes a good dolphin trainer?

First and foremost, being a dolphin trainer is not a job, it is a career and a calling.  It is not necessary to have a degree, though it is beneficial to have studied marine biology, veterinary medicine or psychology.  Trainers must have excellent swimming skills, a love for dolphins, the ability to speak English, a great personality for customer service and most importantly, passion.  It takes about three years to obtain the title of “Trainer”, with hours spent in educational courses, 1 1/2 years as an apprentice and 1 1/2 years as an assistant.  Dolphin Discovery has approximately 100 different educational courses and trainers are required to constantly be expanding their knowledge and improving their skills.  Long days, hard work, sleepless nights, hot sun and pouring rain, the work isn’t always easy but for those who truly love what they do, it’s always a pleasure.

2.  Do you love the dolphins?  What’s the best experience you’ve had at Dolphin Discovery?

Alex smiled when I asked these questions and replied quickly to the first with an “Of course, absolutely!”.  For the second question he pondered for a moment and then replied “Swimming with ten baby dolphins at the same time in Puerto Aventuras”.  He described the ten babies as super playful, swimming circles around him, vocalizing loudly and teasing him into joining in their games.

3.  How do you communicate with the dolphins?  Can you tell if a dolphin is happy/sad/angry?

Since humans have yet to be able to translate the language of dolphins, the trainers communicate with them through body language, hand gestures and whistles.  The dolphins regard the whistle as a “reward”, for them it means “Good job!” and they love to hear it.  Dolphins express their emotions through their own body language and vocalizations, each in their own way.  Once a trainer gets to know a particular dolphin, they can see when they are feeling excited or are getting frustrated, if they are eager to play or if they prefer to be left alone.

4.  What’s the worst part of the job?

Being in Cancun during hurricane season adds extra pressure to the staff to work together, think quickly and stay calm as they move the animals to a safe environment.  The dolphins come first, as a dolphin trainer at Dolphin Discovery you are commited to the animals and in an emergency they are the number one priority.

5.  After feeding fish to the dolphins all day, do you still enjoy eating fish?

“Ummmm, no, I don’t eat fish anymore.”

6.  What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

It seems Alex’s home life is not that much different from his work life.  He lives in Cancun with his girlfriend (also an animal trainer, specializing in birds) and their 2 dogs, a chameleon, an iguana, a cockatoo, a macaw and 3 toucans and spends his days off hanging at home with the animals.

So, is it the best job in the world?  It sure seems that way!  Alex spoke enthusiastically about his “family” at Dolphin Discovery, he eagerly answered even my most basic questions and he patiently walked me through the routines of the day.  It was an honor for me to spend time with someone so knowledgeable and so obviously in love with dolphins (and manatees and sea lions and stingrays and sharks and animals in general!)  I learned so much and am inspired by his passion, thank you so very much Alex, can we do it again soon?

Stingray Facts

// May 13th, 2010 // View Comments // Cancun / Isla Mujeres, Grand Cayman, Locations, Sea Life

Stingrays are fascinating creatures, as they float and fly through the oceans they appear almost bird-like in their motions.  We at Dolphin Discovery love all marine animals and would like to share a few fun stingray facts with you…..

- Stingrays are found in shallow waters in warm climates

- There are about 70 species of stingrays in the world

- There is no evidence of evolution in stingrays, ancient fossilized remains appear to be identical to the stingray of today

- Stingrays can live in salt water or brackish waters (where salt water and fresh water meet)

- Stingrays are related to sharks (some folks call them “flattened sharks”), unfortunately while sharks may be family, they are also the biggest predators of stingrays

-Stingrays often take on the colour of their environment for defense

- Stingrays spend a lot of time motionless, partially buried under sand

- Stingrays are usually docile and harmless, though they will use their barbed tails in defense (usually if they are stepped on)

- Stingray venom was used as an anaesthetic in ancient Greece

- Stingrays may be as small as a few inches or up to 5 to 7 feet long

- Stingrays have no bones, they are primarily made of cartilage

- Stingrays are carnivores, hunting their prey (small fish, crabs, shrimp) at night

- Stingrays use their sense of smell and special electro-receptors to hunt their prey

- Stingray mamas give birth to two to ten stingray “pups” per year

- Stingrays have a lifespan of 15 to 25 years

Dolphin Discovery is thrilled to offer our guests the opportunity to interact with these beautiful marine creatures.  Participants in the Grand Cayman Royal Swim receive a bonus swim with stingray experience, where you’ll be invited to stroke and hold the stingrays and our trainers will teach you everything you want to know about them.  Guests in our Cancun-Isla Mujeres dolphinarium have the chance to snorkel in the sea with stingrays, a phenomenal experience!  We hope you learn to love stingrays as much as we do, join us at Dolphin Discovery!

–Stingray photo courtesy Barry Peters