Dolphin Research Center — Attraction in Marathon

WOULD NOT RECOMMEND!

1. Made reservations for the Dolphin Experience for 10:30am. Unfortunately, my GPS took me 15 minutes in the wrong direction. I called to let them know we would be arriving at 10:33am and asked if my kids would still be allowed to do the experience or should we reschedule? The lady took my info and said she would give my info to reservations and hung up. I called back, spoke with someone else, again explained we would be there at 10:33am and asked if we could still participate or need to reschedule? and she said reservations would call me back. Not knowing whether my kids were getting in or not, not knowing if i can reschedule, not knowing if I'll be out almost $500, I got there as fast as I could and then there was a wait in the lobby. Finally, it's our turn and I explain our situation and I'm told, that's why we have you come 1/2 hr before your time, so you have plenty of time to get here and get ready. NO ONE COULD TELL ME THAT ON THE PHONE?!?!?! Oh, and nobody called me back!

2. Dolphin experience was lacking! For $225 per person, I was expecting a lot more than the lackluster experience. I have done dolphin experience elsewhere and unfortunately was expecting something similar. There were 2 dolphin encounters and 1 family splash all going on together in same small area. It was distracting as all 3 trainers were doing different things with their dolphins and all blowing their whistles in the small enclosed area at the same time. The dorsal pull was beyond disappointing, literally 7 seconds in the smallest circle the dolphin could make.

3. Photos - paid $30 for 2 photos from the experience because I could not get any good photos from my viewing area. Then as we were leaving the room where we order the photos, my daughter started to open the door to leave, she realized I was not walking out yet and came back inside. She literally cracked the door open. The woman working there yelled at my daughter to not leave the door open because mosquitos get in there. She cracked the door open! People actually going in and out open the door much wider and it stays open for longer.

There really wasn't much to do after the dolphin experience. We were looking at dolphins in the other enclosures and then noticed a board with the schedule for the day on it. We missed the sea lions because it was before we arrived, we missed the manatees, because it was happening after the dolphin experience because we were hanging out looking at the other dolphins and hadn't seen the schedule yet. I don't remember the exact name of the activities, but something to do with sea lions and manatees. If you do go, find out the schedule for the day, but I would highly recommend looking for a dolphin...

Very Disappointing Experience! We drove over 3 hours from and back to Miami on the same day of our flight, excited to give our kids what we thought would be an unforgettable, magical dolphin experience. Unfortunately, it turned out to be the exact opposite.

We booked the Dolphin Splash session and paid $450 for three people, since adults are required to be in the water with their child — you can’t simply watch from the deck. The session was supposed to last 20 minutes, but we soon realized that two other families were part of the same session. It was not private as we expected.

You’re also not allowed to bring your phone or camera near the deck, so the only photos you can get are taken by their photographer at $20 per picture — another disappointment.

But the real issue was the condition of the water. It was extremely dirty and murky, with a terrible smell. You couldn’t see anything below the surface — only the parts of your body and the dolphins that were above the water. It felt completely unsanitary, but since the tickets were non-refundable, we had no choice but to continue.

We ended up sharing the 20-minute session with the other families, taking brief turns interacting with the dolphins in this unpleasant environment.

Overall, this was a huge disappointment — a waste of time and money. I would not recommend this experience to anyone.

Update, This is and update to Reply on your response , Thanks for the reply but regarding that your team is there to help making choices, we did ask on the front desk if each of us will have his own 20minute session or all three of us will be in the same session together because after all it is 3 tickets and they said that we will be together in the same session and didn’t mention that other families will be there too!! About the deck being cleaned.. absolutely no!! The stairs we were so slippery that one lady from the other family slipped on her way down and they caught her even my kid slipped on his way down it looked like it haven’t been scrapped in years!! The trainer her self suggested to just sit down on the deck and jump in water instead of using the stairs!! I understand that water is part of the ecosystem but the minimum amount of maintenance and cleaning is supposed to take place for the sake of guests’ and Dolphins’ safety as well. Before the session they brought a broom and tried to scrap some of the algae off the stairs and the underwater deck but it was so much that they couldn’t.. about the photographer if it was for the safety of guests and dolphins then it should be included in the package not to be sold by picture !! Also no one told us it was for a separate fee...

My time at The Dolphin Research Centre in Marathon, Florida, went beyond admiration and delved into the realm of profound connection. Spending an entire day as ‘Ultimate Trainer Experience ’ was not just an activity for me ; it was a moving experience that etched itself into the core of my being.

From the moment I stepped foot into the centre, I was enveloped in a world where passion for marine life and dedication to conservation was at the core of the teams values. The opportunity to immerse myself in the daily operations of caring for these majestic mammals was a privilege!

Hand on heart, I can attest that besides my wedding day, this experience ranks as one of the most memorable and moving of my life. I simply could not stop smiling.

The trainers and research team, with their unwavering expertise and boundless enthusiasm, guided me through every facet of dolphin care and research, all patiently answering my questions and fostering my deeper sense of understanding.

Here are some of the moments included in the experience :

-Enter the Fish House and learn how the team prepare individual diets for all the animals,

-Learn hand signals and work alongside trainers with dolphins in training sessions.

Dolphin Encounter Swim Paint with a Dolphin Play with the Dolphin sessions

The package experience also includes digital photos of the Dolphin Encounter, training session, painting with a dolphin and also a gift membership to DRC!

-Lastly, it includes 1 additional all-day general admission for a parent/guardian or observer.

As I deepened my connection with each dolphin, I became attuned to their unique idiosyncrasies, moods, and energy levels, each revealing a distinct personality and life story. Meeting them was a humbling experience, and I eagerly anticipate our next encounter, cherishing the bonds we've formed, and the lessons they imparted onto us!

As the day unfolded, my hands-on experience ignited passion within me, sparking a desire to further my knowledge and embark on the educational courses offered by the centre. I am now determined to pursue my dream of becoming a dolphin trainer, propelled by the profound impact of my time spent at The Dolphin Research Centre.

I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have been alongside these incredible Dolphins and the outstanding dedication of the team who support the conservation efforts, and better understanding of our...