| | Phantom of The Keys
 by Tom Baroch
he one thing I REALLY wanted to do on my vacation in the Florida Keys this year was to swim with dolphins. I did a little research on places to go and had a little trouble deciding, because the 3-4 places that offered that opportunity all looked basically the same. I ended up asking the manager of the hotel which program he thought was best. He told me about Dolphins Plus, a place in Key Largo that had several options available. With that recommendation, plus the fact that they have a disability program, it became an easy decision. I was born with Spina Bifida (I do walk unaided with mild mobility issues) and while I don’t usually sign up for many specific disability programs, I tend to support businesses that actively cater to people with disabilities. I took his advice and had him sign me up for a swim the next day.
I arrived at Dolphins Plus in Key Largo 45minutes before my scheduled class and swim and checked out the property and the gift shop. Our program started on time with 7 people wanting to swim and 2 people who just wanted to observe the dolphins and swimmers. We were told that we should expect to be there for about 2 hours, with around an hour of lecture on dolphins in general, some time to change and 45 minutes in the water.
We sat outside under a nice grass hut, sheltered from the 85-degree Florida heat. Wendy, our main instructor, provided us with a well thought out and interesting presentation about the facility, the dolphins and their characteristics and finally, how we should go about swimming with the dolphins. She kept the presentation fun and interesting, as did the dolphins that were playing in the water behind us. There was also a Sea Lion (they have 2 on-site) making noise right below our area.
Then it was time for us to split up into small groups and swim with the dolphins. I chose to go with the Natural Swim, which is the option that provides the best way to see and interact with the dolphins in their usual environment. We slid off the dock quietly, aided by our instructor and started swimming. I had some minor difficulty getting used to the flippers, but Wendy calmed me down a little, gave me some good snorkeling tips and sent me on my way. We swam around, making noises and sounds to attract the dolphins. As this is also a research facility, the instructors and biologists on staff study the interaction between the swimmers and try using different techniques to arouse the dolphin’s curiosity.
Occasionally, a single dolphin or all 3 in the enclosure (a large, wire-fenced area that lead to the open water of Key Largo) would pass by within several feet and look up or over at me. I was able, once or twice, to make a noise or small movement to get the dolphins to swing back quickly or circle around me for a curious look. Because of the small group, we got to spend a little over 45 minutes in the water. It was truly a great experience.
Dolphins Plus is located in Key Largo, a little over an hour South of Miami on Highway 1 and has several programs available for a variety of ages and abilities, including a great disability program. If you are in the area, give them a call. It is truly one of those experiences you should not turn down if you have the chance.
Visit the Dolphins Plus website at: http://www.pennekamp.com/dolphins-plus/index.html
Tom lives in Denver, CO, was born with Spina Bifida and is on the board of the Colorado Spina Bifida Association- www.coloradospinabifida.org. He loves to travel and experience local cultures and cuisines. He was an Executive Chef in healthcare and corporate dining service facilities for more than 10 years. Tom currently works for a national insurance company and owns "For All Your On-Line Shopping Needs". You can visit his online mall at www.tbarmarketing.starmax.cc/site/mall/links/ or you can email Tom at Tbar1@rocketmail.com | |
