I need Honeymoon Advice...

Due to circumstances around our wedding date, we were unable to take our honeymoon right away. We decided to postpone it until this March. We're going to the Sandals resort in the Bahamas.

So, here's my issue. For the last two years, FH/DH and I discussed doing dolphin swimming at this place near-by. As a Christmas present this year, my parent's said they wanted to pay for it, since they know we're buying a house and money is tight, so cost isn't an issue.

DH now says he's unsure if he wants to do it b/c he's heard stories that people have thrown their back out, strained their neck, etc while swimming with the dolphins (which is what I want to do).

Do any of you have any experience in this area on what is the better activity to do (out of the two they list)?

Any and all help/guidance is appreciated (and sorry for the saga story).

Betsy, my old roommate has neck and back problems but, had always wanted to swim with the dolphins. She did it at the Miami Seaquarium and had no problems.

It seems you really want to do it so I think you should!

---

Posted by ali120206

Betsy, my old roommate has neck and back problems but, had always wanted to swim with the dolphins. She did it at the Miami Seaquarium and had no problems.

It seems you really want to do it so I think you should!

---

Thanks Alison! So, the dolphin swimming would def. be the better choice (rather than the encounter)?

---

Posted by jerrys girl

i swam with the dolphins. Just make sure as a girl that you do not have a friend. I have heard that they can smell it and change tempers.

---

Yeah, I heard that too, so I've already fixed my BC pills to change that cycle. That and I really didn't want it while trying to enjoy my HM with my DH!

Where did you swim with the dolphins?

I have not done it, but I did look into it for our honeymoon. The dolphin encounter is pretty expensive for pretty much nothing--you're basically watching the dolphins swim and do tricks while you're in the water. The most you get to do is touch them or give them a kiss. IMO its pointless to spend that much $$ on that.

The dolphin swim however is actual interaction with the dolphins for a longer period of time. I've heard its well worth the $$ and such a great experience. I hope you can convince your DH to do it on your honeymoon...what an awesome memory that would be

ETA: Also, I've never heard of people getting injured doing this -- is it common??

---

Posted by AeroJenn

I have not done it, but I did look into it for our honeymoon. The dolphin encounter is pretty expensive for pretty much nothing--you're basically watching the dolphins swim and do tricks while you're in the water. The most you get to do is touch them or give them a kiss. IMO its pointless to spend that much $$ on that.

The dolphin swim however is actual interaction with the dolphins for a longer period of time. I've heard its well worth the $$ and such a great experience. I hope you can convince your DH to do it on your honeymoon...what an awesome memory that would be

---

Yeah, the swim is what I've always wanted to do since I started reading about it. And the cost includes the boat ride over to the island and the water gear they provide, so I see it as a reasonable price.

---

Posted by ewickens

---

Posted by ali120206

Betsy, my old roommate has neck and back problems but, had always wanted to swim with the dolphins. She did it at the Miami Seaquarium and had no problems.

It seems you really want to do it so I think you should!

---

Thanks Alison! So, the dolphin swimming would def. be the better choice (rather than the encounter)?

---

If you are going to do it, I recommend doing the swim!

---

Posted by Soon_2_B_Mrs_Miller

Hey FH and I did the dolphin encounter in the Bahamas in 2005. It was a really nice experience and we regret not doing the swim. The island was beautiful and well worth getting up early...lol to do it. As far as hurting ur back I don't see how that could happen, but then again i don't know how severe the injury, but do know again its great and I think we went to dolphin island or something, I do remember we had to take a boat from Paradise Island.

---

Thanks for posting this! I haven't spoken to anyone who has actually done the dolphin thing in the Bahamas.

Did you guys order pictures/video from them? How much was it? (If you don't mind sharing, or fm me).

Thank you!

---

Posted by ali120206

---

Posted by ewickens

---

Posted by ali120206

Betsy, my old roommate has neck and back problems but, had always wanted to swim with the dolphins. She did it at the Miami Seaquarium and had no problems.

It seems you really want to do it so I think you should!

---

Thanks Alison! So, the dolphin swimming would def. be the better choice (rather than the encounter)?

---

If you are going to do it, I recommend doing the swim!

---

Thanks!

My FH and I did the dolphin experience in the bahamas two years ago. Granted, we were'nt engaged back then. I had a blast. I don't swim so I didn't do the swimming portion. I signed up for the encounter and my FH signed up for the swim. They both took place the same time. My portion ended a little sooner than his only because his portion was more interactive and time consuming.

If you're interested in the encounter...you basically stand knee deep in a steel platform and wait for the dolphins to swim up to you. They do a few tricks, but the best part is you can take a picture of yourself hugging the dolphin and a picture of the dolphin kissing your cheek. It was cute.

As for the swim, my FH loved it. The most fun part of the swim was when the dolphin comes up behind you at full speed and propels you forward in the water. you're kinda doing this half superman, balance act. Like i said, my FH had lots of fun with it. Plus it gives you an opportunity to be up close and personal with dolphins.

If you're interested in pictures, they take pictures of you during the whole experience and you can buy a photo package at the end or individual photos. But the good thing about it was that they print a color photo of you for display before you decide whether or not you want to purchase it. And we just ended up taking the color photo with us.

All in all, I highly recommend it.

---

Posted by emcheung

My FH and I did the dolphin experience in the bahamas two years ago. Granted, we were'nt engaged back then. I had a blast. I don't swim so I didn't do the swimming portion. I signed up for the encounter and my FH signed up for the swim. They both took place the same time. My portion ended a little sooner than his only because his portion was more interactive and time consuming.

If you're interested in the encounter...you basically stand knee deep in a steel platform and wait for the dolphins to swim up to you. They do a few tricks, but the best part is you can take a picture of yourself hugging the dolphin and a picture of the dolphin kissing your cheek. It was cute.

As for the swim, my FH loved it. The most fun part of the swim was when the dolphin comes up behind you at full speed and propels you forward in the water. you're kinda doing this half superman, balance act. Like i said, my FH had lots of fun with it. Plus it gives you an opportunity to be up close and personal with dolphins.

If you're interested in pictures, they take pictures of you during the whole experience and you can buy a photo package at the end or individual photos. But the good thing about it was that they print a color photo of you for display before you decide whether or not you want to purchase it. And we just ended up taking the color photo with us.

All in all, I highly recommend it.

---

Thank you so much for your response! It really does help! I'm going to show DH all of these responses when we get home from the office today.

I went to dolphin encounters when I was staying at atlantis.......no problem for me or anyone in our group.

the only possible thing I can see is
They do this thing at the end if you want where you lay in the water and the dolphins push you by your feet through the water. It was real cool, my boyfriend's father did it and he's real big and out of shape.

But it was optional so if your worried don't do that part (although Its very calm pushing, so I'm sure you'll want to do it as soon as you see how cool it is).

Most the rest is just you floating in the water patting the dolphins, and sometimes they come up and kiss you.

All water sports carry a risk of injury... all sports do, really. Most things we do every day do!

I broke my back a few years ago, and I still ride horses most days of the week. Sure, it carries a risk of injury, but it's a risk I'm willing to take. It's all about what you're comfortable with!

It depends on your physical injuries / limitations (if any) and what you are comfortable with. I don't think that this program is much more dangerous than some other water sports - probably less.

Thanks girls!!! I was already convinced to do the dolphin swim, but now I'm even more so excited for it!! Now to find out from DH what he's going to do - swim or observer.

I have done the swim AND i have had neck problems in the past and I was fine. The only part that I could see anyone straining yourself with is when they do a 'foot push' (when the push you across the water).

It was one of the BEST experiences I have ever had. If you don't do the swim you will see other people doing it and you will be disappointed...trust me!! Go for it!

Just do a little research into the company that sponsors the dolphin swims, if you can. Are these wild dolphins? Personally, I wouldn't want to swim with captive dolphins.

http://www.wdcs.org/dan/publishing.nsf/allweb/C8A44EE81C1D2CEA802569F100437AF0

Apparently, some companies that organize dolphin swims are responsible, some aren't. But keep in mind that these are intelligent animals--would you want a strange person chasing you down the street, trying to stroke your hair? They're animals; they're not spiritual nor wiser than we, they're unpredictable, and very large. And the ocean is not our natural environment, it's theirs. A former coworker of mine died last week after sustaining a spinal injury in the annual Polar Bear swim off Coney Island--total freak accident, as far as anyone can tell. So as far as that man's uncle getting injured--anything can happen in the ocean.