Dolphin Life Key Largo: a New Perspective on Dolphin Swims and Tours

Before we visited Dolphin Life on Key Largo, we were very skeptical about any sort of tourism that centered around dolphin interactions except in the wild. Learning about dolphins and their lives here at Dolphin Life really changed our views on certain types of dolphin interactions, including understanding how dolphins are trained here. Really, before this experience you wouldn’t have found me or my kids anywhere near dolphin tourism but we’ve since learned a lot and have a new appreciation for this special sort of animal interaction.

If you’ve been considering a dolphin swim or any form of dolphin tourism and you’re unsure about it or are just curious to read our take on visiting Dolphin Life Key Largo, please continue on. We’re happy to share and answer any questions you might have as animal lovers, tourists, and as parents. Please leave a comment or send us a note so we can provide more information or opinions and help you plan a memorable, meaningful experience in the Florida Keys.

Note: Dolphin Life is a registered non-profit in partnership with Dolphins Plus Marine Mammal Rescue 501c3 (47-3091059).

Why Experience Dolphin Life Key Largo?

Putting aside the blocks I had in my mind about what a dolphin encounter meant before actually spending time at Dolphin Life on Key Largo, I have to say that the most incredible part of getting to do a dolphin swim and spend time actually interacting with dolphins is seeing their interest in people.

We had such wonderful moments in the water together, but what really got me was when the dolphins swam up for really close interactions, including bringing us little gifts from the water like seagrass and mangrove propagules. They would swim up, meet eyes with us and wait for us to accept their gifts. And then the other thing that was amazing was when they swam up looking for kisses and were genuinely interested in that up close interaction. Meeting eyes with a dolphin and connecting with them at that level is just unmatched.

Before visiting Dolphin Life Key Largo I wasn’t really sure what the “voluntary” part of their training method meant, but now I get it. Until not too long ago the pens at Dolphin Life actually were fully open to the sea and the dolphins would have free rein to swim out and explore and then come back or not, but they always did. It’s the same with interactions and working with caregivers (trainers). The dolphins all have the option to participate or not, to learn new things or to just swim around and play. Seeing them actively choose what they want to do and how they want to interact was both interesting and reassuring that being at Dolphin Life doing a dolphin swim was a positive choice and experience.

If you know this is the right dolphin program for you, you can book it directly here:

Tips for a Tour or Swim at Dolphin Life

When you plan your visit to Dolphin Life and you’re deciding whether to do a dolphin swim or just a visit to watch and learn, you need to take into consideration how everyone involved will respond to being in the water with dolphins. We brought our 14 and 11 year old kids to Dolphin Life Key Largo and they were quite nervous at first. Even having spent plenty of time just hanging out with the dolphins from dry land and watching them, and then going on a tour of the facilities and learning about how the dolphin interactions happen, they still were anxious.

Having said that, the trainers were wonderful, patient and clear communicators which helped ease the kids into being okay with being in the water with the dolphins. Patience and communication is the key to having a peaceful, memorable dolphin swim experience. Dolphins can understand how humans are feeling, similarly to bees, sharks and manta rays, and the dolphins respond in kind. Joyful vibes add to joyful interaction, nervous vibes bring cautious but confident dolphin moments. They really are smart creatures and they absolutely feed off the energy everyone is putting into the experience. It’s so special, but really, being patient with your kids or other nervous participants is key to ensuring everyone has a good time.

One way to ensure everyone enjoys their time at Dolphin Life Key Largo is to make sure everyone gets out of it what they want to. For me, I wanted to understand the WHY behind having dolphins in captivity and the HOW behind the voluntary training. Our kids wanted to see what it was like to interact with dolphins in the water and see if they really do connect with people like humans do. Our caregivers ran our dolphin swim experience in a way that we all got just what we wanted or needed from it.

Being Prepared for a Dolphin Swim

You definitely need to show up in your swimwear, but there are changing rooms if you need them. Be ready for your dolphin swim with swimwear that’s not flowy and can go until a neoprene shirt (think of a wetsuit top). If you need to apply sunblock, do it in advance and be sure that it’s reef-safe sunscreen. You don’t need to have water shoes, and in fact shouldn’t plan on having anything on your feet for your dolphin swim. Dolphin Life Key Largo has all kinds of interactions that they’ll lead you through, and that may include the dolphins touching your feet.

When it comes to camera gear, if you’re doing a dolphin swim they will provide you with pictures. They do a great job with a photographer on the docks capturing the faces and the action happening as you interact with dolphins. In general, you’re not allowed to bring any form of camera (or anything else) with you into the water because you need to focus on the animals and be a part of the experience. Also, dolphins might see your camera and think it’s a sort of toy or you might get excited and drop some for you and that would be a bummer. Trust that the trainers on the docks will do their thing, and I’m sure that if you ask nicely, they might even snap a photo with your own phone.

There’s nothing else really to prepare you for doing a swim at Dolphin Life Key Largo. just make sure that you are on time or plenty early and that you and anybody else who is swimming is ready for an amazing experience. And don’t forget your towel and a change of clothes for after your dolphin swim.

Touring the Dolphin Life Key Largo Facility

A bonus to spending time at Dolphin Life Key Largo was getting to learn about how the dolphin-human connection is both developed and maintained. We got to learn about the individual dolphins at the facility and then tour the backstage type areas where the caregiver teams manage things. From the enrichment tools to the kitchens where the endless fresh fish are stored and prepared, there’s a lot to learn about.

Bonus: something special about getting to spend time with dolphins and trainers if you have kids with you is them getting inspired for what they want to do in life. I’ve not seen such interest drummed up by any other activity or group of people as the trainers and caregivers at Dolphin Life were able to do. Seeing the kids put the pieces together in terms of what they could potentially do with both animals in facilities and in the wild was amazing.

Dolphin Life Hospital and Marine Rescue

While it’s not located on Key Largo where the Dolphin Life swim facility is located, the Dolphin Life Hospital on Islamorada is included when you do your dolphin swim. It’s another great place to visit and learn more about why dolphin and marine mammal rescue is needed, as well as how the doctors, medical staff and trainers help the animals. There is a hospital element to this visit, and you can do either just the museum or do the full tour. If you’ve been moved by your experience swimming with dolphins, you’ll want to come here to keep on learning and developing empathy for rescued marine mammals. I actually first visited the hospital and museum before we even planned our Dolphin Life swim, and it’s clear that the love and care for them carries across both facilities.

Make a donation for the Dolphin and Marine Mammal Rescue here!

Getting to Dolphin Life Key Largo

There are a few different dolphin swim or tour options when you arrive in Key Largo, so save yourself time and frustration by using your navigation and being certain of the dolphin experience you input: DOLPHIN LIFE KEY LARGO. There are dolphin tours via boat and other dolphin facilities on Key Largo, so pay attention to where you’re driving to. From the north you’ll be making a left from the Overseas Highway very Near the Bayside Inn. From the south you’ll be turning right off the highway just a few minutes after you pass Baker’s Cay Resort. It’s not difficult to find if you pay attention.

There is plenty of parking in the designated lot across the street from the Dolphin Life Key Largo building. Once parked, head upstairs to get checked in. You’ll find a gift and gear shop in the main check in area, so you can make souvenir purchases here that will go back to supporting the dolphin and marine mammal rescue efforts. Remember to arrive early enough to enjoy the grounds and watching the dolphins playing, and to meet the rescue parrots too!