Swimming with the Dolphins in Malta

Taking a dip with a bottle-nose dolphin looks like a fun and easy thing to do. That is, until you research what's involved. There are lots of rules about who can--and cannot--swim with the dolphins. There are age and health restrictions and swimming skill requirements. And you can't just jump in; when you arrive at Malta's Marine Park in Bahar ic-Caghak, you need quite a bit of preparation before you get into the pool.

If you really want the experience, here's what you need to know:

How much does it cost?

The swim is not cheap. It's 120 Euros per person. If you want to just come and watch someone swim, then you pay a spectator fee of 18 Euros; 14 for a child. These prices do include entrance to other shows at the water park, including separate shows of entertaining dolphins, sea lions, parrots and reptiles. A spectator can take photos or a video of you--or the park staff will take photos or you for an extra charge. (You must agree that any images or photos of you taken by the park staff can be used in promotional or other material.)

Who is allowed to swim with the dolphins?

You must be an excellent swimmer over eight years old. This means that you can swim expertly and fearlessly in a 7-meter deep tank. You must be comfortable in deep water without panicking (hydrophobia), and able to deal with the unpredictability of a large sea animal. You must be able to hear and follow the trainer's instructions clearly. Don't count on being able to wear a life jacket. (On the website, it states that a life jacket is included in the price, but when I called for details, I was told that you can't wear a life jacket in the pool.) However, you must wear a wetsuit in the tank. The wetsuit goes over your own swimsuit-which you must provide yourself. And you have to bring your own towels.

Who is not allowed to swim with the dolphins?

There's a long list of people who cannot participate in the swim:
-Anyone under 8 years of age
-Pregnant women
-People with any kind of physical limitations, handicaps or special needs
-People who have heart conditions or other major health problems, including skin disorders
-Anyone who has alcohol or drug addiction problems
-People who suffer from psychiatric or emotional problems which may cause them to become agitated, fearful or aggressive near the dolphins--or unable to follow the trainer's instructions.

How do you prepare for the swim?

Everything is geared toward the dolphin's safety. Therefore, before entering the pool you must take a shower and you must remove all loose items, including:
-All jewelry and piercings--earrings, necklaces, watches and bracelets
-Contact lenses or glasses (If you have really poor vision without these sight aids, you should not consider swimming with the dolphins).
-Still and video cameras
-Hair accessories--clips, hair bands, ponytail elastics
-All make-up

What happens during the swimming experience?

The whole experience takes one hour. This includes instructions and training before you enter the pool. You will need to listen and follow the trainer's instructions exactly. You will participate in a series of aquatic activities that the dolphin has been trained to do by a marine professional. You won't be able to just jump on the back of a dolphin and take off on your own.

How do you arrange the swim?

You must book events and swimming sessions at the park beforehand either on-line or by phone. The swimming session is about an hour (some instruction outside the water) with personal training by a marine professional.

If you need to cancel your reservation and want to receive a refund, you must do so three days prior to your scheduled swim. You won't receive a refund if you arrive late or terminate the program sooner than expected. So if you enter the pool, get scared and climb out, you won't get your money back.
If the park terminates the swim for some reason, you will receive a transfer for another day or a refund if you're not available on the alternate date.

It's important to know all the above before you arrive at Marine Park for your swim. Many people will not meet the requirements and will be disappointed. But if you do qualify for the dolphin program, it can be the swim of your lifetime.

Source:

Marine Park Malta.com

Ilene Springer lives in Malta and is author of An-American-in-Malta.com. Alas, she can't swim well enough to swim with the dolphins.