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We signed the kids up to swim with the dolphins at Puerto
Aventuras. Younger kids can 'interact' with the dolphins, or for older
kids they can get out and swim. Initially they told us our nine year old
couldn't participate in the swim. But because his older sister was 19 they
let him go with her. Before getting into the tank the kids had to watch a
10 minute movie about dolphins and the trainer told the kids they had
to cheer the dolphins
on because they enjoy the praise.
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Megan said the dolphins smelled 'salty' and felt 'rubbery'. When the
humans moved their hands back and forth the dolphins would
respond by making clicking noises. Here everyone holds out their hands and
gets to touch the two dolphins as they swim by. These dolphins were named
"Estephan" and "Geocondira".
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The trainer blew his ultrasonic whistle and make signals under water with
has hands and in response the dolphins swam off quickly and jumped in the
air. They each got a fish reward for doing this. The reward fish were
only about 4 inches long.
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The kids each got a chance to kiss a dolphin. Again, Megan said they
tasted salty and smelled salty. You can't really see their teeth.
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The next activity for each participant was to swim out from the dock
and lay on your stomach with your legs out behind you on the surface
of the water.
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This picture shows the dolphin locating Alec's foot
so he can push on it.
The trainer reminds each child to lock their knees when the dolphins
come up behind them.
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Here is Alec on his "nose push" - all the kids really enjoyed this.
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Because the children enjoy this, so do the parents!
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