Bahamas: Swim with Dolphins
If you've always wanted to swim with the dolphins, you might want to visit the Underwater Explorers Society (UNEXSO) in Freeport, Grand Bahama. If you're a diver, take advantage of this unique experience in which you can swim with dolphins in the open ocean. The encounter takes place about a mile offshore and involves a pair of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins from UNEXSO's Sanctuary Bay facility. Sometimes a pod of transient wild dolphins will stop by too, just to see what's going on.
If you're not a diver, you can swim and play with the dolphins in the 9-acre Sanctuary Bay complex. The ocean-fed ecosystem, complete with schools of fish, lobsters and starfish, is a fairly realistic reproduction of the kind of environment dolphins choose to live in. The 15-20 foot deep facility is separated from the ocean by a low fence, allowing the dolphins to leave if they should want to. Each "Swim" session lasts approximately 15-20 minutes.
Children can sign up for the Dolphin Close Encounter, where they can observe the dolphins and interact with them in the water. For those who can't get enough (but aren't divers), you can also sign up to be an Assistant Trainer for one or more days. For more information, you can call UNEXSO at (800) 992-DIVE or (561)472-1100. Check them out on the web at www.unexso.com
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