Dolphin Connection - Tourist attraction in Duck Key - 61 Hawks Cay Blvd, USA

We decided to visit the Dolphin Connection on a last-minute whim and opted for the dockside experience since our child was too young to enter the water. The experience was absolutely amazing as they had seven dolphins. We had the opportunity to interact with Dolphin Maya, who was not only friendly but also incredibly well-trained. They offer various packages, and I've included a snapshot for your reference. While it's a bit on the expensive side for a family outing, it's a truly unforgettable experience. One thing to note is that they have a strict policy against bringing phones, jewelry, or mobile devices inside, so be sure to leave those behind. The package also includes access to numerous photos that you can download from the cloud for up to 30 days. The facility offers ample parking and is conveniently located within a resort, so making a reservation is highly recommended.

Can’t say enough great things about Dolphin Connection. I did the Royal Swim the other day and from start to finish it was fantastic. Beginning with check in, they were super helpful, answered any questions. Then they give you an educational bit explaining the anatomy, etc of dolphins which I learned a lot. The trainers were amazing, super friendly, knowledgeable and very in tune with the dolphins. The photographers took a lot of fantastic pictures. The most important part, the dolphins come first and are the main priority. You can tell how well cared for and how happy the dolphins are. The dolphins were smiling and “goofing around” the whole time. The dolphins are very well trained but when they make a mistake, it’s no worries, just try again….With SeaWorld being in the news negatively over the last few years, I’m always nervous when going to places that have wild animal encounters/shows, I’m happy to say that Dolphin Connection exceeded my expectations for how well they care for and treat their dolphins, staff and customers. Highly recommended!! I will be back.

TLDR: ABSOLUTELY AWESOME! WOW! What else can I say! Long review for a good reason... My wife and I went here to celebrate our 36th anniversary together as it was always something we wanted to do. We picked a time after school had started in the US so we would have fewer families competing for our time and attention during our visit. We looked at several other dolphin encounters and decided on Dolphin Connection at Hawk's Cay after visiting the 3 closest venues. So why Dolphin Connection? It came down to a few things... First, the site itself was gorgeous, located on the ocean side of the Keys, with beautiful blue waters inside a very upscale resort. Secondly, on our exploratory visit, the staff we met was fantastic, with Michele taking time to explain the various options, discuss the dolphins and trainers, and let us know about the various programs. Finally, the dolphin lagoon offered deeper water and an expanded environment for the dolphins that looked more fun and inviting for both us and the dolphins. During our visit we were the only couple attending the Royal Swim and we were simply blown away by the experience. Our Trainer Emily was cordial, professional, knowledgeable, fun, entertaining and a true professional and marine conservator. We learned so VERY much during.our encounter about these amazing mammals! We shared a bunch of behaviors and interactions with our dolphin guests Maya and Indie (the dolphins) and the hour passed so quickly. As we were leaving I noticed my face hurt from smiling so much, ha! The other thing we loved was that we had a dedicated photographer with us to capture our encounter and the photos were included with the cost of our swim. Shelly (our photographer) gave us some tremendous tips before we got in the water that not only made our shots better, but made the encounter one we'll never forget -thank you, Shelley! If you want to swim with the dolphins and really get to know them, go to Dolphin Connection. Please also visit some of the other dolphin conservation sites to support their efforts, but if you want to get in the water, this is THE ONE. It should be noted that this is not a strenuous activity, but one that is paced to match your ability and enthusiasm. There was a family next to us in a separate lagoon doing a platform encounter with 2 year old and 4 old year old children. (We are in our 60's and enjoy snorkeling and water time). The facility is secure and a call to the staff the day before or morning of your visit will give you an idea of the water conditions, recommended gear, etc. You'll want a pair of flops or aqua shoes for the dock, but will take them off for the in-water experience. Buoyancy vests are provided - a tip: get a very snug fit so they don't ride up on you in the water! We're already planning a trip back for next year - don't miss this one if you're in the middle Keys!

Great place to experience the dolphins. Trainers give you so many opportunities to play with them, and to just learn their ways. The best dolphins experience by far!

One of the best experiences I ever did , im super recommend the best therapeutic, happily, funny , my heart was literary melting !! Im recommend to do dolphins trainer for a day it’s just 100 dólares more and you get 3 hours whit the dolphins ! They even make treaks and follow instructions by you ! You will be at the end of se encounter one more of the trainers an can make a perform tricks in front of the family . I posted all photos on Instagram @its_alfre2 go check for references !!!!!

The location, picture’s & wonderful trainer Katrina made our experience AMAZING. We met Maia & Indie their only two females in their program. They maximized the time & experience. Definitely worth every penny of the Royal Swim & the photographer was included. We had so much fun & I think the dolphins did too. They seemed well cared for.

Very nice facility! It was a great experience for my wife and daughter. The only thing that was a slight disappointment was that there wasn't much swimming with the dolphins. While they were in the water the whole time, most was watching others getting pushed or pulled by the dolphins.

Exceeded Expectations. Simply amazing and surreal. We are so happy we had the opportunity to touch and play with the dolphins. Highly recommend getting into the water with them. We stayed on the platform, which still gave us plenty of engagement.