Unspecified/General

At the Atlantis Aquaventure waterpark complex on the eastern crescent of the Palm Jumeirah artificial archipelago in Dubai, the Dolphin and Sea Lion Experiences provide the most popular interactive marine-mammal encounter programmes in the broader United Arab Emirates. The dedicated marine-mammal facility, known as the Dolphin Bay and Sea Lion Point complex, opened in September 2008 as part of the broader Atlantis The Palm resort and has been continuously expanded and updated over the subsequent years. The Dolphin Bay facility occupies an 11-acre purpose-built saltwater lagoon system on the eastern side of the Atlantis resort complex. The facility houses a resident colony of approximately 30 individual Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, the majority of which were born at the facility through the resort's breeding programme. The lagoon system includes three distinct saltwater pools at depths ranging from 1.2 metres in the shallow interaction zones to 12 metres in the deep training pools, with the seawater continuously filtered and circulated through the broader Aquaventure water-management system. The interactive dolphin programmes are organised at several different levels of engagement. The Dolphin Encounter is the introductory experience, with small groups of guests standing in waist-deep water on a shallow underwater platform to meet and interact with a single dolphin at close range under the guidance of a trained marine-mammal handler. The Dolphin Adventure includes a deeper water experience involving controlled physical interactions including the popular dolphin foot push (in which the dolphin propels a swimming guest along the surface using its rostrum). The Royal Swim involves a still deeper-water experience with multiple dolphins and several signature swimming-with-dolphins interactions. The adjacent Sea Lion Point houses a small resident colony of California sea lions, with a similar tiered programme of interaction experiences. The Sea Lion Discovery provides a small-group introductory experience including dry-deck and shallow-water interactions. The Sea Lion Adventure includes an extended in-water interaction with several physical training behaviours. All programmes are conducted by trained marine-mammal handlers and include comprehensive safety briefings, the issuing of appropriate swimwear and underwater photography services. The facility is fully accredited by the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums. Bookings are arranged in advance through the Atlantis Aquaventure website, with admission to the broader Aquaventure Waterpark included with most package prices.

Type: Activity

Address: Atlantis The Palm, Crescent Road, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Telephone: 04-426-1030

Website: atlantis.com/dubai/atlantis-aquaventure/dolphin-and-sea-lion-experiences

Opening Date: 24/09/2008