Texas may not come to mind when you're thinking about an adventure swimming with dolphins, but South Padre Island is a convenient place for Texans and those near the area to have a dolphin encounter. Swimming with dolphins is a unique and rewarding experience. Essentially, it is where a human being interacts directly with these intelligent marine mammals in their habitat. Most dolphin swim programs on South Padre Island are conducted with the Tursiops truncatus, commonly known as the Common Bottlenose Dolphin.
Make a reservation with one of the many companies on the island offering dolphin adventures. Dolphin Connnection Texas at Ingleside on the Bay offers 1-2 hours with the dolphins for $25 plus tax per person for adults and $20 plus tax for children 12 and under. Colley's Fins to Feathers offers 90 minutes at $22.50 per person for up to six people and 2½ to 3 hours at $45 per person for up to six people.
Board the boat. The company with which you made your reservation will give you the details about where to meet the boat and at what time. It should also give you information on what to expect while in the water with the dolphins. The company may also provide life jackets and fins.
Jump in the water or lean into the water from the boat to interact with the dolphins. Expect the dolphins to jump, nudge, dive, swat their tail fins and socially interact with their surroundings. The most ideal participants in a dolphin swim are those who live healthy lives and are respectful of nature.
