Sint Maarten Travel Forum

I'm taking a cruise that's stopping in St. Maarten, and would love to swim with dolphins while I'm there. Does anybody have any suggestions or reccommendations for a particular company? The cruise ship offers a dolphin swim as one of their island excursions, but I want to check out all my options before signing up with them. Thanks much!

There is only one place to swim with the dolphins in that area. You actually have to take a boat over to Anguilla.

Let me just insert a probably unwelcome opinion here.

Dolphins are incredibly smart, intelligent and evolved mammals. They are easily as smart as humans - I tend to think smarter.

They should not be kept prisoners. Keeping dolphins as little more than entertainment pets for greedy humans is not ok. It is cruel. Given the choice I am certain that most dolphins would prefer to be with their pods in the wild.

So remember this - when you swim with the dolphins you swim with prisoners. When you support the companies that keep dolphins captive you continue the business that makes it so incredibly lucrative to keep dolphins imprisoned.

And dont be fooled. Those companies does it for the buck.

I spend some time in Anguilla, and its an incredible place. I would go there, find a nice beach, and go do some snorkeling. You get to enjoy the critters where they are supposed to be, and Anguilla has fantastic snorkeling.

Sorry to throw cold water on your plans.

Malene

Actually, I did the swimming with the dolphins experience on Anguilla, and it is quite different than what has been described.
9 of us went and had a great time. My one friend is afraid of her fiance's cat and warmed up to a dolphin kiss, because they were so inviting. It's such a different experience that you can't compare it. Most of the dolphins had developmental disabilities (i.e. no dorsal fin), though some were normal, having been born in captivity to parents who had various detriments as described. We could not touch the dolphins without explicit instruction or allowance to grab onto them at any time. Safety of the animals was important.
Wild animals in captivity is a hot button issue, and I'm not about to make any debates. Different strokes for different folks.
www.dolphindiscovery.com is the link.

This is for Marlene. How dare you use this forum for airing your views on ANYTHING other than what is sight is intended for. You should be ashamed of yourself!