Dolphin Swimming

ABC Animal Training Workshop 2010

// March 9th, 2010 // No Comments » // Locations, News, Riviera Maya

Dolphin Discovery is pleased to announce the dates for the 2010 ABC Animal Training Workshop in our Puerto Aventuras facility.  If you’ve ever dreamed of being a dolphin trainer, here’s your chance to learn from the best in paradise!

What is the ABC Animal Training Workshop?

This five day animal training course is cutting edge,  designed to give you the skills you need to be a successful dolphin trainer.  The workshop is led by Shelley Wood, an expert in the field of animal training.  Shelley has been working as a dolphin trainer since 1990 and is currently the Corporate Trainer Educator for Dolphin Discovery and the owner of ABC Animal Training Systems.  Shelley holds bachelor of science degrees in Biology and Wildlife Management and is on the board of directors for IMATA (International Marine Animal Trainers Assocation).  Her expertise ensures the highest level of instruction while her vibrant personality guarantees you’ll have fun while you learn.

The 2010 ABC Animal Training Workshop is being held at Dolphin Discovery Puerto Aventuras in the Riviera Maya, Mexico from May 31 to June 4th.  The deadline for registration is April 15th, but book early to guarantee your spot!  Participants in the program receive personalized, small group training as they learn to understand the science and application of operant conditioning.  The program includes 5 days of training at the Dolphin Discovery Puerto Aventuras location, the ABC Animal Training Packet (2 DVD set, study guide, reinforcement pouch and training clicker), hands-on training with a variety of marine animals, a swim with dolphins experience and behind the scenes access to Dolphin Discovery.  Gain skills, build your resume and develop relationships with experts in the world of animal training, this is an exciting opportunity!

The program offers two levels, the basic course is $1000 USD and the advanced workshop is $1100.  In order to particpate in the advanced workshop, you must have completed the basic course and have one year experience working in the field of marine animal training.  Participants of the program must make their own travel arrangements, the Catalonia Riviera Maya resort is recommended for it’s location and price.  Puerto Aventuras is located south of Cancun and Playa del Carmen, you will need to arrange transportation from the airport.  Please remember that you will need to have a valid passport to travel to Mexico!

For more information and to register for the workshop, please visit the ABC Animal Training website or contact Shelley Wood.

Isla Mujeres All Inclusive

// February 24th, 2010 // No Comments » // Cancun / Isla Mujeres, Discounts, Locations, News

Dolphin Discovery Isla Mujeres

Dolphin Discovery is pleased to bring you a new way to visit and swim with dolphins on Isla Mujeres.  Our all inclusive day is THE best way to enjoy the paradise of this island in the Mexican Caribbean.  So, why is it perfect for you and your family?  Let us tell you!

What’s included in “all inclusive”?

1.  Round trip ferry from Cancun to Isla Mujeres departing from El Embarcadero in the hotel zone.

2.  Continental breakfast, open bar and all you can eat buffet.

3.  Swimming with manatees.

4.  Snorkeling with manta rays.

5.  Snorkeling with sharks!  (Yes, sharks, but don’t be frightened, we feed them first).

6.  Kayaking.

7.  Use of bicycles to tour Isla Mujeres on your own.

8.  Tour of downtown Isla Mujeres.

9.  Free time to enjoy our pool and beach club with spectacular views of the Caribbean Sea and Cancun (with icy cold drinks in hand!)

10.  Swimming with the dolphins of course!  The all inclusive package is available for the Royal Swim, Swim Adventure and Dolphin Encounter programs.  Our programs bring you the ultimate experience, small groups (10 or less!) mean lots of personal interaction with your dolphin friends.

Sleek Dolphin Discovery Ferry Boat

Isla Mujeres (”island of women”) is an island located off the coast of Cancun, known for its laid-back atmosphere, beautiful beaches and extraordinary views.  Our new, sleek and modern ferry will get you to the island in about 20 minutes where you’ll be greeted by our dolphin family and friendly staff.  Dolphin swims are scheduled throughout the day, 10:30 AM, 12:15 PM, 2:15 PM, and 3:30 PM.  Your small group will be given an orientation and education time before your swim, you’ll learn about these incredible creatures and how to get the most out of your dolphin experience.  All guests are provided with lifejackets, mandatory for everyone!  You’ll enter the dolphin enclosure in the ocean (all natural environment), stand on a platform in the water and begin your experience of a lifetime!  Each swim with dolphin program brings you different behaviours, the “Dolphin Encounter” is perfect for all ages and swimming abilities while those looking for an adrenaline rush will be thrilled by the “Royal Swim“.  At the end of the program guests will be invited to view photos and videos of their encounters, available for purchase as a reminder of an incredible day.

Chill at the Dolphin Discovery Isla Mujeres Beach Club

Before or after your swim with dolphins program, you’ll be able to swim with manatees, snorkel with manta rays and sharks and laugh with our silly sea lions.  Enjoy the delicious buffet, take advantage of the open bars, chill in the pool, enjoy the beach club, take a kayak for a spin or run through the fountains.  Guests are invited to use a bicycle to tour around the small island, checking out the nearby turtle farm, the panoramic views from Punta Sur’s lighthouse, the crashing waves and shell collecting of the east side of the island and the most amazing beach at Playa Norte.  Head into downtown Isla Mujeres to discover local artisans, souvenir shops and tasty restaurants with local fare (try the Tikinxic fish, its’ a specialty of the region!)

Dolphin Love

This is definitely the best way to spend a day with your family while visiting Cancun, new experiences, free time to relax and a grand adventure for all.  The all-inclusive program at Dolphin Discovery Isla Mujeres leaves you worry-free, everything you need for the perfect day is included.  The only thing missing now is you, contact our bilingual service representatives now to reserve your spot!

For more photos, please check out our Dolphin Discovery Flickr page.  You can also join Dolphin Discovery on Facebook and follow us on Twitter, we love to hear from our fans!

Carnival Isla Mujeres 2010

// February 5th, 2010 // No Comments » // Cancun / Isla Mujeres, Locations, News

The island of Isla Mujeres may be small, but the fiesta is going to be huge for Carnival!  Cities around the world hold celebrations in the days leading up to Lent to eat, drink and be merry before the days of abstinence begin.  With parades, outrageous costumes and masks, the sharing of beads and of course enormous amounts of food and drink, Carnival is certainly a spectacle to behold.  Carnival, Carnaval, Mardi Gras, no matter what you call it, it’s a great party!

Celebrations of Carnival on Isla Mujeres begin February 12, 2010 with music, dancing and the coronation of the King and Queen of Carnival.  The party starts at 10 pm in the main town square, put on your sparkles, bring your beads and dance all night with the live bands!  The first parade of Carnival 2010 starts at 4:00 pm on Saturday February 13th on the malecon (boardwalk), bring your cameras, this will be a fantastic spectacle.  Saturday night brings the children’s dance competition at 8:00 pm and the second night of dancing and live Cuban music at 10:00 pm.  The second parade of the festival starts on Sunday February 14th at 4:00 pm and you won’t want to miss the contests for best costumes, 8:00 for children, 10:00 pm for adults and the night continues with more live music and dancing.   We know you’ll still have energy to keep the fiesta rolling, join the throngs at Playa Posada del Mar on Monday February 15th at 1:00 for a huge beach party with more live music before the third parade rolls on at 4:00 pm.  Monday night at 10:00, head back to the town square for an evening of regional entertainment and comedy.  The final day of Carnival on Isla Mujeres 2010 is Tuesday, February 16th, offering activities throughout the day and ending with the traditional burning of Juan Carnaval, signifying the end of the party and the start of the Lenten season.

If you are going to be on the island for Carnival, we invite you to have a little party with our Isla Mujeres dolphins!  They’ll shake a tail fin and give you a kiss (though they prefer fishy treats to beads).   Cancun visitors can get a taste of Carnival on the “Caribbean Carnaval Cruise“, a night of exciting Carnival-style entertainment, food and drink.  After whooping it up all night long, you might want a day to relax and there is no better place than Garrafon.  Pull up  a hammock, float in the infinity pool or go for a snorkel, regenerate your body and soul in this tranquil tropical paradise.

Viva la fiesta, viva Isla Mujeres, viva Carnival!

Heroes in Haiti- “Los Topos” of Mexico

// January 26th, 2010 // 2 Comments » // News

Los Topos of Mexico after the dramatic rescue of Ena Zizi in Haiti

The events in Haiti have horrified the world, the images are heartbreaking and the tragedy overwhelming.  In the midst of the horror, we’ve seen glimmers of hope and uplifting stories of survival and heroism.  Rescue and relief teams from around the world have converged on this tiny island nation to do what they can to save lives and rebuild the country.  The famous “Los Topos” (”The Moles”) of Mexico are one of the most elite earthquake rescue teams in the world, an organization created after the devastating earthquake in Mexico City in 1985. The group “Los Topos” is comprised of volunteers from all over Mexico who leave their day jobs at a moment’s notice to travel the world to assist in rescue efforts in disaster areas with their expertise in disaster relief and recovery.  They travel on their own financial resources or from private donations and risk their lives to do all they can to assist in tragic circumstances.  “Los Topos” have contributed to rescue efforts in 22 countries since 1985, and have never lost a member of their team.  They are heroes in the true sense of the word, risking everything they have to help others in need.  “Los Topos” have been in Haiti since January 14th and have rescued at least 15 people who were trapped under the rubble with the help of two rescue dogs, Rex and Sombra.  Los Topos successfully rescued 69 year old Ena Zizi after eight days of being trapped, a moment of hope and joy in a terrible time.

Horacio Sanchez in Indonesia after the tsunami

Dolphin Discovery is very proud of one our own staff members, Horacio Sanchez, Health and Safety Manager for Grupo Discovery in Cancun, who departed for Haiti on January 22 with “Los Topos”.  Horacio has been a member of “Los Topos” since 1999 and has contributed to rescue efforts in many countries affected by disaster.  He has received official recognition for his work, being honored by the governments of Turkey, Taiwan, Salvador, India, and Indonesia and receiving many awards for his heroism.  Horacio Sanchez is an expert in his field, trained in medical trauma in disaster situations, earthquake rescue and coordination of relief efforts.  We at Dolphin Discovery wish Horacio all the best in Haiti, we know that he is part of a great team that will bring relief to the people of this devastated country.  We thank Horacio for all his selfless efforts and we send our gratitude to all members of “Los Topos” for their valiant work around the world, please be safe and healthy in your journeys.

“Los Topos” rely on donations, if you wish to contribute to the team, please visit Los Topos website and do what you can to help.

"Los Topos" of Mexico in Indonesia after the tsunami

Dolphin Discovery Cozumel Welcomes Sea Lions!

// January 13th, 2010 // No Comments » // Cozumel, Locations, News

Dolphin Discovery Cozumel is very pleased to have some new residents, sea lions have come to our island paradise!  Our sea lion guests have a beautiful new home and are ready to put on a great show, swim with you and even give you a fishy little kiss.  The dolphins and manatees in Cozumel are happy to have new friends with them and give them a big welcoming hug and squeal.  Join us in Cozumel for our Sea Lion Discovery program, laugh, smile and frolic with these friendly creatures in the beautiful Chankanaab Park.

Sea lions are part of the “pinniped” family, “pinniped” meaning “wing foot”, a great way to describe their flippers.  They are carnivorous marine mammals who spend much of their time in the water hunting for food, but they also like to relax on the shore and soak up the sun.  Male sea lions are called “bulls”, females are “cows” and the bulls like to create harems of females during mating season to create their legacy of baby sea lions called “pups”.  A group of sea lions is called a “colony” and they love to hang out close together and are frequently seen at play on rocky shores.  Baby sea lions are born on land but are ready to swim within a few weeks of birth.  The whiskers of the sea lion are much like those of cats, very sensitive and necessary for finding their way through a sometimes dark ocean.  Sea lions eat fish and invertebrates such as octopus and will eat as much as seven to sixteen kilograms or fifteen to thirty five pounds each day!  Sea lions are incredibly intelligent animals and can be trained to perform a variety of actions and interact with humans, they’ve been delighting humans for years with their antics.

Dolphin Discovery Cozumel is excited to announce our schedule of sea lion activities.  Join us for two shows daily, the first at 12:00 pm and the second at 2:30 pm.  We offer two times daily for swimming and interacting with sea lions in our Sea Lion Discovery program, 10:30 am and 1:00 pm. Contact our bilingual customer service representatives to book your Sea Lion Discovery experience today!

For more photos check out our Dolphin Discovery Cozumel Flickr page. Join us on Facebook at our Dolphin Discovery Fan Page and share your experiences and photos with us!

Happy New Year from Dolphin Discovery

// December 31st, 2009 // No Comments » // News

From all of us at Dolphin Discovery, we would like to wish you a very happy new year and a prosperous new decade. May 2010 bring you joy and peace and may all your dreams come true!

If you’ve always dreamed of swimming with dolphins, we hope that you will join us in 2010 and allow Dolphin Discovery to help you make that dream a reality!  Our dolphins, sea lions and manatees look forward to seeing you in 2010 and to giving you a big fishy kiss.  Feliz año nuevo, bonne année, ein gutes neues Jahr, buon anno, a gut yohr, however you like to say it, Happy New Year!

Dolphin Discovery Honored at the 2009 IMATA Awards

// December 18th, 2009 // No Comments » // News

Dolphin Discovery is a proud member of IMATA (International Marine Animal Trainers Association) and we are thrilled to have participated in the 2009 conference in Atlanta, Georgia.  We would like to extend our congratulations to the Dolphin Discovery team for winning five awards in recognition of our continued commitment to providing the highest levels of care and conservation of marine animals.

1st place- Teamwork Award to Alejandro Mata and the Dolphin Discovery staff
1st place- Best Poster Presentation to Edgar Urbina and Manuel Garduno for the work on “Operant Conditioning Gave a Second Chance for Luna to be a Good Mother”
1st place- First Time Presenter Award to Daniel Nyselius for “Tube In or Not Tube In? That Is The Question – Challenges and Success of Voluntary Stomach Intubation in West Antillean Manatees”
2nd place- Education and Conservation Award to Alejandro Mata for “The Story of Tuuch – The Rescue and Rehabilitation of a Two Day Old Orphaned West Antillean Manatee”
1st place- Husbandry Training Award to Daniel Nyselius for “Tube In or Not Tube In? That Is The Question – Challenges and Success of Voluntary Stomach Intubation in West Antillean Manatees”

We would like to recognize the efforts of all Dolphin Discovery staff and extend thanks and congratulations to the team members who made such impactful presentations at the IMATA Conference.  Gracias and congrats to Edgar Urbina, Manuel Garduno, Alejandro Mata, Daniel Nyselius, Silvio Becerra, Roberto Sanchez, Alfonso Delgado, Shelley Woord, Arturo Romero and Reness Arreoa.  Their continued commitment to education, conservation and protection of marine animals is astounding and we are proud to have such a fantastic team.

Thank you all for your support of Dolphin Discovery in 2009, we are looking forward to a fantastic 2010 and wish all of you the best in the new year and new decade.

Swim With Manatees in Cozumel

// December 10th, 2009 // 6 Comments » // Cozumel, Locations, News

It’s a mermaid!  It’s a walrus!  No, it’s a manatee, the slow and graceful elephant of the sea.  Once thought by sailors to be mermaids, these gentle giants can grow as long as 13ft/4m and weigh up to 1300 lbs/600 kgs!  These graceful swimmers usually move pretty slowly, but can manage speeds up to 15 mph/24 kmh in short bursts.  Much like dolphins, manatees are mammals and need to come to the surface of the water every 3 or 4 minutes to breathe fresh air.  Manatees are herbivores, eating as much as one tenth of their body weight in sea plants on a daily basis, the equivalent of 200 heads of lettuce.  Sometimes referred to as sea cows, the manatee has no natural enemy and is a peaceful creature.  Unfortunately because they move so slowly, they often can not get out of the way of fast moving boats and can suffer injuries from propellers. Manatees are generally solitary creatures, only seeking company when they are looking to breed.  Calves are born underwater and pushed to the surface by their mother for air.  They weigh about 70 lbs/30 kg at birth and can often swim on their own within an hour of entering the world.  Baby manatees stay with their mothers for up to two and a half years, learning to eat sea plants after a few months but continuing to drink their mother’s milk.  Manatees communicate with clicks and chirping sounds and can be heard “squealing” when at play.

Dolphin Discovery offers you a unique opportunity to swim with these incredible creatures in our Cozumel facility.  We offer the only swim with manatees program in the Caribbean, a once in a lifetime chance to get up close and personal with a manatee, share a kiss and even feed them their lunch.  Manatees are an endangered species and are in need of protection and the help of humans to survive. Dolphin Discovery is proud to have expert veterinarians onsite to provide the utmost care to these special beings, performing rescues and managing a breeding program to ensure the continuation of the species.  Book your Manatee Encounter program in Cozumel now to create memories of a lifetime.