Dolphin Discovery in Punta Cana

While visiting Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, on a November 2015 Caribbean trip, three family members and I got to swim with dolphins at Dolphin Discovery (Carretera de Veron Bavaro, La Altagracia Province, Higuey Town, 23301, Dominican Republic; phone, in the US, 866/393-5158, www.dolphindiscovery.com).

Although many object to dolphin encounters, Dolphin Discovery does it as “correctly” as possible. 

The pool enclosure is huge, with each group of visitors limited to 12. Our group, made up of our family of four and eight other people, was assigned two dolphins and assisted by two instructors. Each participant was provided a life jacket to wear. 

The park was extremely clean, organized and well run. The lockers were immaculate, as were the bathroom facilities and showers, which could be used before and after being in the pool with the dolphins. Participants entered the pool by walking down stairs with railings.

From brochures offered at our hotel, the Iberostar Bávaro, I chose Dolphin Discovery and the 50-minute interaction (there were also 40- and 60-minute options), which included “surfboarding” and fin riding. The cost was $139 per adult and $99 per child, with pickup from our hotel.

I skimmed over the water holding onto a dolphin’s flippers. It was so cool. (“So cool” was a term used by everyone in my group.)

I’ve done other dolphin encounters, but this was the most satisfying. I highly recommend this company. 

DONNA PERELMAN

Narragansett, RI