Dolphins Plus Key Largo: an Unforgettable Swimming with Dolphins in the Keys

Dolphins Plus Key Largo is a very special experience. We always love seeing dolphins in the wild and interacting with them from a distance, but getting to enjoy them up close is really something. At Dolphins Plus Bayside, we got to enjoy the Signature Swim and spend a lot of time with two of the sweetest, most sensitive dolphins we’ve met, Leo and Bob. It was unforgettable and such a treat. This is the sort of Florida Keys activity that makes memories for everyone.

We’ve got the full scoop on what to expect and how to plan your visit to Dolphins Plus Bayside Key Largo. If you have any questions about this experience or how to add this to your time on Key Largo, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help you plan an unforgettable trip to the Florida Keys!

What Makes Dolphins Plus a Great Experience

I think when you swim with dolphins you expect it to be very rehearsed and not that personal of an experience, but that’s not what we’ve found at all. We’ve gotten to swim with dolphins on Key Largo a few times and each interaction has been unique, and the two dolphins we worked with at Dolphins Plus Bayside were complete characters. Yes, once you’ve met a few dolphins you can see that they each have their own personality. We swam with Leo and Bob at Dolphins Plus Key Largo and these two boys were amazing.

NOTE: Dolphins Plus Bayside is on the BAYside of Key Largo, or the north side. The south side a little ways away is Dolphin Life Key Largo, which is a wonderful non-profit that works in cooperations with Dolphins Plus. Different experiences, both are great.

Yes, they were very athletic and strong, and you can really tell that when they’re pushing you through the water, but they’re also really funny. The animals at Dolphins Plus Key Largo are trained through voluntary action and positive reinforcement, but they’re still trained and know what different interactions are supposed to be like, so it’s funny when the human participant isn’t doing just what the dolphin expects. You can kind of sense their impatience or even eye roll (can dolphins roll their eyes?) as they wait for humans to get their act together. It’s really funny. And then you can tell when they enjoy an interaction because they aren’t quick to move on and even hang out to make eye contact.

Doing a dolphin swim really is special and is such a cool experience. We’ve done this with our kids several times, and as they’ve gotten older I’ve waited for them to be less interested or not as excited for a dolphin day, but that still hasn’t happened. Even for teens, getting to do a dolphin swim is such a unique sort of activity that they still are jazzed about it and get completely into the fun of spending time with dolphins. It really is magical, and Dolphins Plus Bayside Key Largo does a wonderful job making sure everyone gets both enjoyment and a better understanding of dolphins from the experience.

Tips for a Dolphins Plus Encounter

When you’re planning your Florida Keys vacation, you’ll likely either have Key Largo as the start or ending portion of the itinerary. Let’s just say that if you start your trip with something as special as getting to swim with dolphins, you may feel like the rest of your activities are a little lackluster, even if they’re really awesome. I like getting to have a dolphin experience to round out a trip, you know, like the cherry on top. If you can plan it to be your final hurrah, you’ll definitely end on a high note.

Another thing that’s worth thinking about is how your travel group will respond to being in the water with a dolphin. Doing a dolphin swim is not like snorkeling and seeing a nurse shark wander by. It’s being in the water with a very smart animal that you can’t really communicate with but that will totally engage with you, and they’re strong. This is actually kind of scary to some people, even if it’s not to you. I’ve seen adults choose to sit out a dolphin swim because they were too nervous, and that’s okay. The whole experience is built on trust, both of the dolphins and their trainers. It’s not just any wild dolphin that swims into the pen that you’re interacting with, but they are dolphins who’ve grown up working with humans and that are used to meeting new people.

Because the whole dolphin swim experience is done with the animals voluntarily doing the different activities, they can sense how their human guests are feeling about things and may choose to not do some things. The trainers reinforce that it’s all up to them and they’re only going to lead activities that are right for both the participants and the dolphins. For anyone hoping for a dolphin swim and then the weather goes bad, don’t worry. You’ll be in the water, so a little rain doesn’t hurt. And if it’s hot and sunny, you’ll be in the water. If there’s lightning, that’s when they start to shift plans, cancel activities and get people rebooked for another day. In general though, doing a dolphin swim with Dolphins Plus Bayside Key Largo is a rain or shine activity.

Being Prepared for a Dolphins Plus Bayside Swim

You’ll want to wear swimwear for your dolphin swim, but keep it mellow, not string bikinis and speedos. You’ll be wearing a wetsuit style PFD vest that’s to act for safety and help you float, so whatever you wear needs to work with that. Also, you won’t need water shoes or anything special, as you’ll enter the dolphin swim area and step onto a platform that lowers into the water. You won’t want to wear sunglasses, as the dolphins will be pushing you through the water, splashing you and doing other dolphin things that get your face wet. Hats are okay if they’re securely worn.

When it comes to bringing a camera into the water for your dolphin swim at Dolphins Plus Bayside Key Largo, nothing is allowed on your person except for a GoPro or similar that is firmly attached and will neither get in the way or prevent you from being able to pay attention or follow instructions. Really, the best way to enjoy a dolphin swim is just to be present, and then the Dolphins Plus team will be taking pictures anyways. Just have fun.

Like with any water activities in the Florida Keys, we always say to wear reef-safe sunscreen, especially when you’ll be in the salt water. This prevents dangerous chemicals from getting in the water and negatively impacting marine life of all sorts. If you’re unsure if a sunblock is reef-safe, look for the following ingredients, and if it includes one of them, it’s not reef-safe: oxybenzone, octinoxate, and octocrylene.

Getting to Dolphins Plus Key Largo

Dolphins Plus Bayside is located on the bay side of the Overseas Highway, about midway down Key Largo. There is plenty of parking, with a lot of shady spots, and there is wheelchair access to their dolphin experiences. Yes, there are accessible dolphin experiences of different sorts, so if you are unsure if you can be welcomed to a dolphin swim, check with Dolphins Plus Bayside for details of what the accessible activities are.