For Dolphin FAQ’s, please go to Myths & Facts

Q.What are the age requirements?
A. Swim Program: Guests age 5 or younger are not allowed in this program. Guests ages 6 to 12 must be accompanied by a participating paying adult (parent or guardian at least 18 years of age).Guests age 13 to 17 must be accompanied by an adult (observer ticket is accepted) who needs to sign the liability waiver.

Close Encounter: Guests age 3 or younger receive free admission if accompanied in the program by a participating paying adult (parent or guardian at least 18 years of age).Guests ages 4 to 12 pay normal price and must be accompanied by a participating paying adult.

Q. Can I participate in the programs if I am pregnant?
A. You can participate in the Encounter, but not in the Swim.

Q. Do I need to be a swimmer?
A. You will be wearing a life-vest in the Swim Program. However, we strongly recommend that you have at least basic swimming skills.

Q. Do you operate during bad weather.
A. We operate rain or shine. Dolphin Encounters Ltd. will not refund for bad weather unless we cancel the excursion. In such an event, we will contact you as soon as possible. If there is extreme weather in the area, we suggest that you call reservations (242-363-1003) regarding the status of your boat departure.

Q. What is your cancellation policy?
A. Due to limited space availability, Dolphin Encounters will not allow cancellations or rescheduling less than 24 hours before program time (longer for groups). In the event of no-show or cancellation within 24 hours, no refunds will be made.

Q. Where and when should I check-in?
A. At the Paradise Island Ferry Terminal; it is the only building between the two bridges on Paradise Island. We recommend that you arrive 30 minutes before your boat departure time and check-in at the ticket booth.

Q. What times do the boats depart?
A. Our boats depart from Paradise Island Ferry Terminal at 8:30am, 10:30am, 1:30pm and 3:30pm.

Q. Can I walk from Atlantis to the ticket booth?
A. Yes. The Paradise Island Ferry Terminal is only a 5-10 minute walk from Atlantis.

Q. How do I get from the cruise ship to the island?
A. You will cruise to Blue Lagoon Island via one of our custom-built catamarans.

IMPORTANT: If you have purchased the Close Dolphin Encounter directly with your cruise ship (either online or on board the ship), you are asked to meet our representative at the gangway at the time specified on the Close Encounter ticket that will be distributed to you on board the ship. If you have booked your program directly with Dolphin Encounters Ltd., or a travel or tour agency, then you are required to check in at the Paradise Island Ferry Terminal for check-in time specified for your booking.

Q. What programs are sold aboard the ship?
A. The participating cruise ships sell the Encounter as well as the Swim program, depending on the cruise line. If your cruise line does not offer the Swim and you wish to participate in the Swim program, you can book directly with us in advance by calling (242) 363-1003 or send a request via e-mail.

Q. Is it true that several of your dolphins starred in Universal Studios’s movie "Flipper"?
A. Yes, three of our dolphins were featured in the movie.

Q. Are you affiliated with any hotels?
A. No. Dolphin Encounters Ltd. is a private, family-owned and operated company.

Q. Can you recommend any hotels?
A. This is largely a matter of preference and price. Therefore, we suggest you check out our Links page or consult your travel agent.

Q. What is the water temperature?
A. Water temperatures ranges from 72 F (22 C) in the winter to 85 F (30 C) in the summer.

Q. What is the average temperature in Nassau?
A. Mean daily temperatures (in Fahrenheit) are as follows:

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec
69.9°	70.0°	72.0°	74.2°	77.5°	80.4°	82.3°	82.2°	81.1°	78.7°	74.9°	71.4°

You can also check our NEWS section to obtain current weather conditions for Nassau.

Q. Are The Bahamas independent and what language is spoken?
A. The Bahamas became independent in 1973 and is a member of the British Commonwealth. English is the official language.

Q. Where is Blue Lagoon Island located?
A. Blue Lagoon Island is located 3 miles northeast of Paradise Island, Nassau. Blue Lagoon Island is about three miles long and features a gorgeous natural lagoon near the eastern end where our dolphin facility is located. The beach scenes in the movie "Splash" were filmed on Blue Lagoon.

Q. Is Blue Lagoon and Salt Cay the same island?
A. Yes. Blue Lagoon Island’s official name is actually Salt Cay.

Q. Are there lockers, changing areas and showers on the island?
A. Yes.

Q. Are there food and beverages available on the island?
A. We have a snack shop on the island which sells sandwiches, salads, water, sodas, sweets etc.

Q. Do you sell souvenirs?
A. Yes, we have a well-stocked gift shop selling such items as t-shirts, books, jewelry, etc.

Q. Do you sell photos and videos?
A. Our onsite photo/video lab sells great personalized pictures of your interactions with the dolphins. They come in a variety of styles ranging from keychains to complete photo albums. Also available is a video of your Encounter or Swim, which includes a pre-recorded section with highlights of Paradise Island, Nassau/Bay Street, and Blue lagoon Island. International video conversion is available.

Q. What’s the difference between the ‘Close Encounter’ and ‘Swim-With-The-Dolphins programs?
A. In the ‘Swim,’ you are completely immersed in water with life jackets (for easier interactions with the dolphins), while in the ‘Encounter’ you interact with dolphins from a special waist-deep platform. The ‘Swim’ has additional behaviors and more interaction time than the ‘Encounter’.

Q. Will there be other people in our program?
A. The maximum allowed in each "Swim" is ten persons and the maximum for the ‘Encounter’ is 30 persons. The actual number of participants depends on the demand.

Q. How deep is the water in the "Swim" program. Do you provide wet suits and life vests when it is cold?
A. The water is 10 — 25 feet deep in the ‘Swim’. Wet suits (shorty type) are available at no cost, while life vests are mandatory in the swim program which help participants interact more freely with the dolphins by eliminating the need to tread water.

Q. Can paid participants bring friends or relatives to watch their dolphin programs?
A. Anybody can observe our programs by paying the $20 observer fee, which includes round-trip boat transportation to and from Blue Lagoon Island.

Q. Do you accept physically challenged or handicapped persons in your programs?
A. Dolphin Encounters caters to the physically challenged. When making a reservation, it is important to let our representative know the details of your disability. After our representative speaks with management, a decision will be made as to how to proceed. The dolphins are trained to interact with each person regardless of his or her size, shape, gender, or abilities.

Q. How far ahead should I make my reservation?
A. For the "Swim-With-The-Dolphins" program, you should inquire about reservations 3-6 months in advance. Our schedule is released in 6 month intervals about 3 months in advance. For example, reservations for January through June 2007 will be open for booking by September 2006. Please remember that the ‘Swim’ program can be sold out weeks in advance, especially around U.S. holidays or during busy Spring and Summer seasons. The "Close Encounter" program can be booked upon arrival in Nassau, but for short visits to Nassau we do recommend advanced reservations. It sells out an average of 1-3 days in advance.

Q. Is there a waiting list when sold out?
A. We do not provide waiting lists or take ‘stand by’ guests, even though interested persons can wait at the Paradise Island Ferry Terminal for last minute cancellations or no shows.

Q. What type of payment do you accept?
A. Dolphin Encounters accepts Visa, MasterCard, Amex, travelers checks and cash. The Bahamian $ is on par with the US $ and both are accepted in The Bahamas. Due to limited availability, pre-payment is required for the "Swim-With-The-Dolphins" program. After booking, this can be done with a credit card through our payment agent, Treasure Cay Services, Inc. on (800) 327-1584 or (954) 525-7711.

Q. Do you accept “Atlantis” charge/rooms cards?
A. No, Dolphin Encounters Ltd. is a separate private company and does not accept hotel charge cards.

Q. How many people do you consider a group and who do we contact?
A. Any combination of 15 or more "Swims" and/or "Encounters" is considered a group. You should contact our Sales department if you have a group.

To see a list of rules & restrictions please visit our Rules & Retrictions page

Q. How long is the boat ride?
A. The boat ride to Blue Lagoon Island is approximately 20-25 minutes.

Q. Is the boat ride to Blue Lagoon included in the price?
A. Yes.

Q. What size are your boats?
A. Our custom-built catamarans range from 53ft. to 61ft. They are registered with the Government of The Bahamas and inspected on a regular basis.

Q. Are there life jackets and restrooms on the boats?
A. Yes.

Q. Do you provide a shuttle service from the hotels and is it included in the price?
A. Upon request, we can arrange for a privately owned bus service to pick you up at your hotel. The cost is $8 per person, round-trip from Cable Beach and $5 per person round-trip for Paradise Island guests. The pick-up time for all Cable Beach hotel guests is one hour prior to boat departure. For Paradise Island, it is 15 minutes prior to your boat departure.

Q. What should I bring to the island?
A. You should bring a towel, sunscreen, change of clothing, jacket or windbreaker for the boat ride (during the winter time) and cash/credit card for souvenirs.

Q. Can I bring a camera and/or video recorder?
A. Yes, you can take cameras and video recorders, but please be aware that the dolphins will splash and we will not be responsible for any damage to your equipment. (We do provide personalized photo and video services onsite).

Please note that Dolphin Encounters will not be held responsible for any lost or misplaced personal effects.