Dolphin Swimming

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!

Dolphin Discovery- Mother’s Day Specials

// May 4th, 2010 // View Comments // Cancun / Isla Mujeres, Cozumel, Discounts, Grand Cayman, Locations, Riviera Maya, Tortola, Vallarta

Mexico is a country known for its devotion to the family, and no family member is more revered than “Mama”.  Every year on May 10th the entire country pays homage to matriarchs with the annual “Dia de las Madres” or “Mother’s Day” celebrations.  Young children create cards and gifts and adult children bring flowers and treat their mothers to very special dinners and parties.  The traditional song “Las Mananitas” is sung, often as a serenade outside of mother’s house with mariachis for accompaniment.   “Mama” is the center of attention and the whole family shows her their appreciation on this very special day.  Mothers have been honoured throughout the ages around the world, but the first official “Dia de las Madres” in Mexico wasn’t celebrated until May 10th, 1922 as a result of the petitions by  Rafael Alducin Bedolla, founder of the newspaper “Excelsior”.  We thank him for bringing us such a special day and we thank moms everywhere for all that they do!

Dolphin Discovery would like to show moms just how special they are by offering a 20% discount to mothers on all our swim with dolphins programs in all our locations for the entire month of May!  Guests swimming with their mom get an additional 10% off their own swims too!  Treat your mom to an experience she’ll never forget, book now!  Lots of love to moms everywhere from all our dolphins!

Miss Caribbean World 2010 at Dolphin Discovery Tortola

// March 30th, 2010 // View Comments // Locations, News, Tortola

Dolphin Discovery Tortola would like to offer our congratulations to Marcia Baptiste of Dominica, the winner of the Miss Caribbean World Pageant 2010!  Miss Baptiste earned her crown on Sunday March 28, the second consecutive year for Dominica to hold the title.  Outstanding women from 15 Caribbean countries competed in Tortola, sharing their beauty, charm and intelligence with an appreciative crowd.  Congratulations also go to first runner up Dannyele Teneel Leslie from Barbados and second runner-up (and Miss Congeniality!)  Jeuel-Marie Green-Thompson, Miss Trinidad & Tobago.  Tough competition with such fabulous Caribbean women, kudos to all the competitors.

It wasn’t all work for the Miss Caribbean World contestants, they were able to take some time out of their busy schedule to enjoy the island paradise of Tortola.  Dolphin Discovery Tortola was thrilled to host the contestants as they swam with dolphins, shared fishy kisses and got a speedy ride from their new dolphin friends.  It surely was an experience they’ll never forget (and neither will the dolphins or the trainers!).  Congratulations to the organizers of the pageant and to all the women who represented the Caribbean with charm and grace, we thank you for joining us at Dolphin Discovery and we will welcome you back with open flippers anytime!

For more photos of these gorgeous women swimming with dolphins, please visit our Dolphin Discovery Flickr set.

From Puerto Rico to Tortola

// March 10th, 2010 // View Comments // Locations, Tortola

Ahhh, the island life!  For many people living in Puerto Rico, a trip to the British Virgin Islands makes a great little getaway, close to home but far enough away to be an adventure.  The tiny island of Tortola is a mere 60 miles/96 kilometers from Puerto Rico and is easily reached by air in about 30 minutes, the flights soaring up to 8000 ft with some spectacular aerial views of the nearby islands.  There are both commercial and charter flights from San Juan, Puerto Rico to Tortola, the main carriers being Fly BVI, Cape Air, American Airlines and American Eagle airlines, prices can be found for less than $200 USD.  Hotels in Tortola are available for every budget, from ritzy private villas to more affordable cottages.  A favourite of Tortola visitors, the “Sugar Mill Hotel” offers boutique accomodations and intimate luxury on a perfect beach. “Frenchmans” offers the luxury of a large resort while maintaining a community feel with its charming cottages.  Bed and breakfasts dot the island,  a popular choice for travellers from Puerto Rico to share the sun-filled days with family.

Once in Tortola, guests will discover the incredible beaches of the island. Cane Garden Bay is the most popular spot with tourists while those looking for something a little more remote will love the adventure of finding Smuggler’s Cove.  Sage Mountain Park is the site of the largest mountain in the US and British Virgin Islands, great for a hike and stunning views.  Scuba diving and snorkeling are “must do’s” on the island, and sailing has become the hottest activity in Tortola.  Tortola is the center of the yachting and sailing community in the Caribbean, the conditions of water and wind are ideal for boats of all sizes!  Of course, the highlight of any trip to the island is a visit to Dolphin Discovery Tortola.  Join us for the experience of a lifetime, meet our dolphins face to face for a little kiss, a dance and an adrenaline rush as they push you through the water at high speed! The Dolphin Discovery Swim Tortola is ideal for the whole family while those looking for something more daring will love the Tortola Dolphin Royal Swim.  Adventure awaits with our dolphin friends!

This is a special invitation to Puerto Rico travellers, join us in Tortola to swim with dolphins, we’d love to have you and the dolphins are ready to give you a big fishy kiss.  We’ve got great deals on swimming with dolphins in Tortola, contact us today to book an adventure you’ll never forget.

Tortola Dolphin Discovery

// January 7th, 2010 // View Comments // Locations, Tortola

With its white sand beaches, beautiful mountains and friendly people, Tortola is a popular destination for tourists seeking to get away from it all and it is a delightful port for Caribbean cruise ships.  Tortola is the largest island in the British Virgin Islands and has a long history since its discovery by Christoper Columbus in 1493.  It’s the perfect spot for anyone who loves a good pirate tale, Tortola was the hideaway of many of history’s famous pirateers.  The treasures of Tortola are bountiful, with incredible snorkeling and scuba diving, hiking in Sage Mountain Park, enjoying the local West Indian cuisine or simply soaking up the Caribbean sun, Tortola is the perfect destination for a tropical vacation.

Dolphin Discovery Tortola is one of the most popular actitivies on the island, a chance to get up close and personal with our friendly dolphins.  Feel the rush of adrenaline as you are pushed full speed through the water by a dolphin and enjoy a wet fishy kiss from your new marine friend.  If you are visiting the nearby islands of St. Thomas or St. John, Dolphin Discovery is pleased to offer you ferry service to Tortola to experience our swim with dolphins programs.  Dolphin Discovery Tortola is located in Prospect Reef Park, a natural environment on the turquoise Caribbean Sea with views of the lush green mountains.  We have programs for the whole family, young children will love the Dolphin Discovery Swim Tortola where they will be able to kiss, hug and shake hands with a dolphin, sing a song with them and spend free time with these gentle creatures from the safety of a platform in the water.  For those of you looking for speed and adrenaline, the Dolphin Discovery Royal Swim Tortola is the program for you.  This is the most dynamic program, with a kiss and a hug, the “dorsal tow” (holding on to the fins of the dolphins while they speed through the water) and the famous “foot push”, a day you will never forget awaits.

Bring the whole family and make Dolphin Discovery Tortola the most unforgettable day of your British Virgin Islands adventure.  Live the experience of a lifetime!

(See more photos in our Dolphin Discovery Tortola Flickr set).

NAGE AVEC LES DAUPHINS À DOLPHIN DISCOVERY!

// October 6th, 2009 // View Comments // Cancun / Isla Mujeres, Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Locations, Riviera Maya, Tortola, Vallarta

Si tu souhaites nager avec les dauphins, mais la meilleure option pour vivre cette expérience est à Dolphin Discovery. Situé dans Mexique: Puerto Aventuras-Riviera Maya, Cancún-Isla Mujeres, Cozumel, Sea Life Park Vallarta et dans des Caraibes: Gran Caïman et Tortola.

À Dolphin Discovery, tu pourras caresser la peau des dauphins. Tu pourras jouer avec eux dans l’eau et écouter leurs sons. Tu pourras donner et recevoir des bisous et voir les dauphins dans leur environnement. Ton nouvel ami te salueront, te chanteront et tu pourras danser avec lui.

Les entraîneurs sont des professionnels, ils se consacrent à vous offrir la meilleure expérience avec les dauphins. Nager avec les dauphins à Dolphin Discovery, c’est plonger dans un monde d’émotions dans un environnement naturel.

Nager avec les dauphins est une expérience unique et merveilleuse que tu ne peux pas rater! Une expérience nouvelle que tu n’oublieras jamais.

Nous t’invitons à savoir plus des nos merveilleux programmes de nage avec dauphins:

-Dolphin Royal Swim
-Dolphin Swim Adventure
-Dolphin Encounter
-Sea Life Discovery Plus
-Dolphin Discovery Swim
-Dolphin´s Lovers Swim

L´Expérience de ta Vie à Dolphin Discovery!

Tortola, the island of european heart and caribbean soul

// January 26th, 2009 // View Comments // Locations, Tortola

BVI - Tortola

The British Overseas Territories are fourteen territories that are under the sovereignty of the United Kingdom, but are not part of the United Kingdom itself. Consisting of the main islands of Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke, along with over fifty other smaller islands -approximately fifteen of the islands are inhabited and cays- the British Virgin Islands is one of the British territories located in the Caribbean to the east of Puerto Rico.The capitlal, Road Town is situated in Tortola.

The Arawaks inhabited the islands until the fifteenth century when they were displaced by the more aggressive Caribs, a tribe from the Lesser Antilles islands, after whom the Caribbean Sea is named.

Columbus came upon the entire string of Virgin Islands on his second voyage to the New World, in 1493 and named them after the 11,000 virgins of 4th century martyr St. Ursula. Tortola is the largest and most populated of the British Virgin Islands. The local belief is that the name was originally given to the island by Christopher Columbus, meaning “land of the Turtle Dove“.

Air travel is the only way to access the British Virgins Islands, however, long-distance direct flights are unavailable. Connections are readily available through Puerto Rico and Antigua. Some travelers opt to fly directly into St. Thomas and then travel to Tortola by ferry.

Tortola history took on a distinct European flavor in the 17th century when the British established a permanent plantation colony on Tortola and the surrounding islands. The sugar industry dominated Tortola history over the next 150 years, faltering only in the mid 1800s with the abolition of slavery.

Tortola is governed by a British-appointed leader, but many of the island’s affairs remain controlled from London. Financial services are the main source of income to the island. The hugely popular International Business Companies Act, passed in the early 1980s, led to huge growth in government revenue. Even though the British Virgin Islands are under the British flag, the U.S. dollar is the official currency. The island is home to many offshore companies that do business worldwide.

Dolphin Discovery | Tortola, BVI