Dolphin Swimming

Carnival in Cozumel 2010

// January 20th, 2010 // No Comments » // Cozumel, Locations

Put on your glittery feathered masks and get ready to dance the night away, Carnival (more commonly known as “Carnaval”) is returning to Cozumel!  The history of Carnaval is quite ancient, going back to pagan times as a celebration in honor of the Greek wine god Dionysus. Carnaval has evolved over time, fusing the pagan rites with Catholic traditions, celebrating the days leading up to Lent, letting loose before the period of abstinence.   The Carnaval celebration in Cozumel is thought to be one of the oldest in Mexico, having started back in 1876, and the fiestas just get bigger and better each year.  Thousands of travellers flock to this island paradise to kick up their heels, dance and sing and welcome the King and Queen of Carnaval.

This year’s festivities kick off with pre-Carnaval events on the weekend of January 23rd/24th and January 30/31 with presentations of the candidates for King and Queen of Carnaval and music and dancing for everyone with some fantastic live bands including “La Sonora de Margarita Band” and “Banda Cuzamil”.  The vote for King and Queen takes place on Saturday February 6th and the winners will be announced at a big bash on Sunday February 7th in Parque Quintana Roo.

Wednesday February 10th welcomes the official start to Carnaval with the opening ceremonies and the grand coronation of the King and Queen of 2010 .  From February 10-17, it’s non-stop party, with activities programmed every day.  Costume contests for all ages (there’s even a pet costume contest!), dance competitions, food, music and of course parades, the vivid colors of Carnaval will fill the streets of Cozumel.

The grand closing night of Carnaval brings one of Mexico’s most famous and celebrated artists to the stage in Cozumel.  The incredible Alejandra Guzman will be performing a concert that will surely be the highlight of this year’s festivities.  Alejandra Guzman is known as “The Queen of Rock” in Latin America and has been a huge star since the 1980’s, her participation in Carnaval Cozumel makes this the hottest party in Mexico! This is a show that is not to be missed, February 16th in Parque Andres Quintana Roo, open to the public for all to enjoy.

We at Dolphin Discovery Cozumel wish everyone a very festive and safe Carnaval season, we hope to see you at the party!

For details of specific events, please visit Cozumel Insider for their fantastic calendar of Carnaval Cozumel 2010.

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!

Tortola Dolphin Discovery

// January 7th, 2010 // No 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).

Grand Cayman Events January 2010

// January 5th, 2010 // No Comments » // Grand Cayman, Locations

January is a great time for a Caribbean escape and Grand Cayman is an excellent choice for anyone looking for sun, sand and tropical temperatures.  This month the island is proud to be the host for a couple of great events, if you are going to be in Grand Cayman be sure to check these out!

The Taste of Cayman Food and Wine Festival is in its 22nd year and just keeps getting bigger and better.  The event has become so successful that the island has deemed January to be “culinary  month”.  January 9-16th, 2010 more than 30 vendors will participate in the festival and the event promises to please your taste buds with samples from the finest chefs and restaurants and over two dozen wineries.  Children will love the special kid-sized events with face painting and jewelery making.  Grown-ups may sip a mojito or glass of champagne, enjoy the fireworks and live music, indulge in divine dishes and perhaps even win a great prize in the raffles, this event promises to be spectacular!

January in Grand Cayman is a scuba diver’s delight!  Each year the International Scuba Diver’s Hall of Fame hosts a dinner and induction ceremony for new honorees in the field of scuba.  People inducted into the hall of fame are the movers and shakers in the dive world, educators, photographers, researchers, explorers and more.  The event kicks off on Friday January 29th with the International Underwater Film Festival, featuring some of the finest underwater photography from around the world.  Saturday January 30th the newest hall of fame members will be inducted and honored with a dinner and ceremony.  This year’s inductees include Dr. Eugenie Clark (also known as “the shark lady”), Wyland, Nick Icorn and Francis Toribiong, each having dedicated their lives to the field of scuba and marine life.   We at Dolphin Discovery congratulate the inductees and thank them for their continuing efforts in the scuba industry and the underwater world.

Dolphin Discovery is proud to be a part of a great community in Grand Cayman and we wish the best of luck and much success to the organizers of these fine events and thank them for their contributions to the island.

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!

Puerto Vallarta Tours

// December 28th, 2009 // No Comments » // Locations, Vallarta

One of Dolphin Discovery’s favourite destinations is Puerto Vallarta on the Pacific Coast of Mexico.  Located on beautiful Banderas Bay, Puerto Vallarta’s life as a resort town started in the early 1960’s after Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton filmed the romantic movie “Night of the Iguana” on its beautiful shores.  The film stirred great interest from tourists and the Mexican government began to invest in the airport, highways and utilities of the area to support the growth of this now international tourist destination.  Since the 1960’s, Puerto Vallarta has continued to grow and today is one of the most popular resort towns in the world for people seeking sun, sand, and surf, relaxation and adventure.   There are so many options for fun in the sun, here are some of our top recommendations for tours and activities in this Pacific Coast paradise.

Canopy River-  Thrill your senses in the jungle outside Puerto Vallarta with this adventurous tour that will get your adrenaline pumping.  Fly over the trees between the mountains of the Sierra Madre on over 2 kms of zip lines, 600 feet in the air with the longest line being over a 1/4 of a mile!  This tour is great for the whole family, children as young as 7 years old can feel the exhiliration of flying in a safe and friendly environment.

Kayak and Snorkel Tour-  This full day adventure brings you to the beautiful beach of Playa de Banderas to explore the bay by kayak and discover the underwater world with a snorkel and mask.  The journey starts in Boca de Tomatlan where you will find your kayaks waiting.  Paddle your way to Colomitos, a beautiful cove for snorkeling and encountering a variety of beautiful marine life.  The whole family can enjoy this ocean experience, children as young as 5 years old are invited to join in the fun.

Tequila Tour-  Take a journey through the beautiful countryside of the state of Jalisco, through mountains and by volcanoes, colonial cities and small pueblos.  The town of Tequila is the birthplace of the liquor of the same name, often considered to be a symbol of Mexico and only made in the state of Jalisco outside of Puerto Vallarta.  This full day tour allows you to explore this historic area, visiting ruins, the town of Tequila and a tequila factory and farm.  A learning experience for all, you’ll discover the history of tequila, the methods for farming and harvesting the blue agave plants and the process for creating one of the most distinct beverages in the world in addition to learning the history of the region itself.  You will enjoy traditional Mexican food and of course, some tastings of this nectar of the agave plant!

Sunset Horseback Ride-  Imagine yourself riding along the shores of the Pacific, through rivers and mountains up to a beautiful waterfall.  This romantic tour brings you down a torch-lined path to a ranch in the hills where you will savor a BBQ dinner and enjoy an authentic Mexican lasso and dance show.  An unforgettable evening to enjoy with your loved ones, escape the hustle bustle of life and revel in the peace of nature.

Swim with dolphins-  Of course this is our favourite recommendation, the highlight of any trip to Puerto Vallarta.  Join Dolphin Discovery for an up close and personal visit with our amazing marine mammals at Aquaventuras Park.  The Dolphin Royal Swim offers you excitement and speed, while the Dolphin Encounter is great for the youngest members of the family.  Our programs offer education about our marine mammals and an opportunity to give a dolphin a kiss and a hug or fly through the water being propelled by these powerful creatures.  Don’t forget about our Sea Lion Discovery program, these friendly and intelligent animals offer a delightful experience for the whole family.

These are just a few recommendations for things to do in Puerto Vallarta, the possibilities are endless!  Whatever your tastes, whatever your desires, there is an amazing adventure waiting for you in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.  We wish you happy planning and a fantastic vacation!

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.

Shopping in Cancun

// December 15th, 2009 // No Comments » // Cancun / Isla Mujeres

As we approach the holidays, shopping seems to be on everyone’s mind.  Have you been naughty or nice?  What’s Santa got in his bag for you this year?  What on earth do we buy Aunt Millie and Uncle Bart?  If you’re going to be in Cancun for the holidays (lucky you!), or any time of year really, here are some ideas for your shopping excursions.

image courtesy cancun.travel

For those who have been really really nice this year, we recommend a trip to Luxury Avenue in Plaza Kukulcan.  Here you’ll find some of the finest jewels, perfumes, accessories and fashion designers in the world.  From Cartier to Ferragamo, Montblanc to Fendi, discover the perfect gift for that very nice person on your list.  Ultrajewels offers some beautiful sparklers, why not pick up a diamond ring or a sapphire necklace for the love of your life?  Or, why wait, splurge on that gorgeous tennis bracelet for yourself, you deserve it!  Plaza Kukulcan is located in the hotel zone of Cancun at km 13, across from the restaurant “La Destilleria” and beside the Barcelo Tucancun Hotel.  Plaza Kukulcan has a children’s play area where you can leave the kids while you shop for baubles, there are several restaurants where you can build your shopping strength with a good meal, a bowling alley and even a video gaming casino called PlayCity.  Once you’ve filled your sack with goodies, make your way upstairs to Chocolate City to reward yourself for all your hard work with a hot fudge sundae or two.  Other fine shopping plazas in Cancun include Plaza la Isla, Plaza Flamingo, Plaza Forum and Plaza Caracol in the hotel zone and Plaza las Americas, Paseo Cancun and Gran Plaza downtown.  Endless shopping is yours if that is what makes your heart go pit a pat!

If diamond rings and Coach bags are not in this year’s budget, you will not be left out of the shopping fun.  Head to one of the many markets in Cancun where bargains abound.  The Coral Negro Flea Market is conveniently located in the hotel zone near the party center, around km 8.5.  Here you’ll find souvenirs galore!  From t-shirts to hammocks to handmade carvings and locally produced art, you’ll find something for everyone on your list.  Markets are the place to bargain, negotiate with the vendors and find a price that suits your budget.  Enjoy the banter of the vendors, they’ll do what they can to get you into their shops, calling “Cheaper than Walmart” and various other pitches to grab your attention and make you smile.  The markets are the best places to get some beautiful Mexican silver, be sure to look for the stamp of “.925″ on the jewelry to know that it’s the real deal.  For those looking for an adventure outside of the hotel zone, Market 28 downtown is a must!  Larger than Coral Negro but with similar items, a visit to Market 28 gives you a peek at life outside the hotel zone.  Be sure to visit El Cejas restaurant in the center of Market 28 for some great seafood at fabulous prices!

Of course, if you are in Cancun, the best present you can give your family is a day at Dolphin Discovery with our amazing dolphins, sea lions and manatees.  Treat yourself and your family to the experience of a lifetime with memories that will last longer than anything else you’ll find in your stocking.  Contact us today for an easy shopping experience, no lines, no fighting for parking and your family will thank you for such a unique gift!  Book now for our special 15% off Christmas rates at our Cancun-Isla Mujeres location until December 31, 2009!