Travelling with Kids: Swimming With Dolphins

One of the things on my young daughter’s wish list was to swim with dolphins. On our trip to Dubai, we were fortunate to have the chance to do just that. At 7-star hotel resort Atlantis, no less.  #parentgoal accomplished. Even though we were staying for only a night at the resort, we were lucky they had a time-slot for four of us the next morning. What an incredible memory for us to be able to experience this as a family. 

Read on for our unforgettable experience in the close proximity with one of Nature’s most graceful creatures!

In the morning, we woke early and headed for our swim with the dolphins. We sipped our morning coffee while waiting excitedly. When our appointment came, we headed to the locker rooms to change. Not being divers, this was our first experience donning on wet-suits. It was quite an experience as the wet-suits were tight and we had to help each other into it.

After that, we attended the mandatory 20-minute workshop on dolphins and other marine mammals. We quite enjoy this marine life science less. Then it was time to go meet our dolphin. The water in the lagoon was cold (hence the need for a wetsuit). Our team guide introduced us to Tina, our 8-year-old dolphin.

Needless to say, my daughter fell in love with Tina. She played ball with her, swam, stroked and even had a chance to kiss Tina. So AMAZING!!

Then we got a chance to play “Hoopla” with the dolphins. It was such a beautiful experience to have them swim around us and just been in the same body of water with them. And I loved how the kids were being careful and mindful as they interact with these beautiful creatures. I am eternally grateful for this experience and the memories.

Even my husband could not resist a dance with this beautiful girl. And I was not jealous at all.

While there are many water programmes that you can choose from, we chose Dolphin Encounter where we had shallow water interaction with the dolphins for 30 minutes. This programme is perfect for families with young children or non-swimmers and it is open to all ages.

Dolphin Bay offers a range of dolphin interactions suitable for all ages and swimming abilities. Programmes begin at just AED 325* for Atlantis Hotel Guests and AED 395* for Day Visitors.

You do have to make reservations. Do observe their age and swimming requirements as they can be quite strict about them. All children under 12 years old must be accompanied by a paying adult (18 years and above). One adult per three children, per interaction.

Exclusive pod and private lagoon experiences are also available upon request.

This is another tick off my bucket list. And I am happy to be able to build such a wonderful memory for our family…

Dolphin Bay is open from 10am to Sunset. For bookings, program information and seasonal rates, please call 04 426 1030 or visit atlantisthepalm.com. You can also try Dubai Dolphinarium.

Read more about our trip to Dubai and the things you can do with your kids when travelling to Dubai.

Have you been to Dubai? What other family-friendly experiences do you think we should try?