Should I attempt to "Swim with the Dolphins" ? Share experiences here.

United States
March 28, 2008 12:22pm CST
I've always thought it would be a good thing to be able to swim with the dolphins... But at Easter, I heard my niece talk about how on her honeymoon she had been in the water with the dolphins just for a few minutes when a female dolphin apparently took a disliking to her at first sight, swam out a ways, turned around sharply, sped up and swam right into her leg on purpose and left a large and painful bruise. I am wondering what would cause this behavior in an animal which I have always thought was friendly. My niece is sweet, kind and gentle so I am sure that my niece did not try to antagonize the dolphin. She was just standing still in the water. Someone said that the dolphin may not have liked her smell.. wondering if anyone has a clue why this dolphin would have ran into my niece and if as I am related if I would be attacked similarly if later I chose to swim with the dolphins on my own. I am wondering about whether to keep "swimming with the dolphins" on my list of things I want to do in life... would be interested in both positive and negative experiences with dolphins.
2 responses
@nicholejade (2430)
• Canada
28 Mar 08
Dolphins are like dogs or cats or any other animal. Some animals take to a person really well and don't take well to others. It's just something that they sense. I for instance take really well to animals. I have had many experiences of wild (untamed animals) come up to me and not bother me but wanted to be petted and loved. For instance I have touched a grizzly bear in the wild who smacked me on the butt. Very hard to beleive I know but it really did happen. He was just playing around with me. But then you take a friend of mine that was there. When he tried to get close the bear grunted at him. Wanted him to step away and the bear swated at me to bring me closer. As if it were protecting me from him. Animals have a sense of safeness and a sense that some people will harm them. In my case with the bear. He sensed that I would not hurt him. I guess we all give off a smell. I am not sure what it really is and I still have no clue what it is that animals like about me. But they do. If you want to swim with dolphins. I say do it. You don't want to go through life and say "I wonder what it was like". It is a great opportunity to try different things. Good luck and go swim with the dolphins. It is alot of fun.
• United States
1 Apr 08
It is so cool about that grizzly bear. I am glad that he liked you...some would say that means that he is your totem or special animal friend/ protector... and that you perhaps share some qualities or are learning from him... Whether this is the case or not, it sounds like it was a very powerful and good experience for you. Thanks for sharing it. I was wondering if you, yourself, swam with dolphins, if so, please share more about it as I am wanting to get some positive experience stories here to compensate for that negative one I heard earlier as I must admit it concerned me to hear it.
• Canada
1 Apr 08
Yes I have swam with dolphins. I really enjoyed it. It was really truly a great experience in my case. They played around and basically entertained me the whole time that I was there. It was great.
• United States
2 Apr 08
Sounds like it was very cool... a very nice experience... Wondering if you were able to pet them and what their skin felt like. Did they laugh a bit with you and look you in the eye? How was it? Some have said that they have healing energy... did you feel anything like that?
• Canada
30 Mar 08
I think the dolphin had her eye on your niece's husband.ha She was getting in the way. Actually I think one your other responses about one dolphin just not taking to her is probably it. But I think that is pretty unusual. Swimming with the dolphins would be a very unique experience. I would go for sure.
• United States
1 Apr 08
Funny about her having her eye on my niece's husbnnd, I had thought of jealousy as a possible motivation but not the husband angle. I am still thinking of the experience... would like to hear about other people's experiences and decide.