Dolphin Cove Ocho Rios still excites
‘THE PLACE where you come for a day and remember for a lifetime’ is the tagline most associated with Dolphin Cove ad campaigns, and rightfully so. The seasoned tourist hotspot, in its 16 year of operations, continues to excite local and international guests and blaze the trail for above- theordinary Jamaican attractions.
Overview:
Dolphin Cove Ocho Rios is the first of four Dolphin Cove parks across the island. It came to fruition in February 2001, followed by the Half Moon Dolphin Lagoon in 2005, and Dolphin Cove Montego Bay (formerly Dolphin Cove Negril) in 2010. The fourth park was opened at Moon Palace Jamaica Grande in 2015. Since 2015, these parks have belonged to the Dolphin Discovery Group, which is a family of 24 parks in nine countries across two continents. Dolphin Cove Jamaica has won a number of local and international awards, including the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist award for Attraction of the Year in 2013.
THINGS TO DO Royal swim:
“It goes to another level,” says sales and marketing manager Paul Norman about the royal swim experience. Naturally, a Dolphin Cove experience is incomplete without really interacting with the attraction’s most valuable assets and the royal swim package offers just that. Note, however, that you must be a competent swimmer to handle the rigours of the trained creatures in the deep sea.
Encounter:
For the less comfortable swimmers, the dolphin encounter occurs at a much milder pace. In waist-deep water, you get the opportunity to pet, greet, dance with and kiss the dolphins, while learning cool facts about the animals from the very knowledgeable staff. This is especially perfect for younger guests.
Mini boat ride:
Set out into sea on a three-seater speedboat and be prepared for some epic splashes and ‘potholes’ along the way. You’d better hold on tight as the masterful captain speeds along mighty waves far out in the ocean. From there, you can view other attractions along the coast like the iconic Dunn’s River Falls.
Meet creatures of the land and sea:
Take our word for it – Dolphin Cove is more than just dolphins. On the jungle trail you’ll meet birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, snakes, iguanas and other interesting creatures of the land. Of course, you also have the opportunity to pet or interact with the animals. Under water, the park is also home to stingrays and sharks which certainly do not live up to the picture that is usually painted of them in movies. These creatures are up for petting and viewing under the watchful eyes of the friendly staff.
Must-try activity:
For Paul Norman, nothing beats the royal swim. He told
Youthlink, “The high point of that is when you lie on your tummy and the dolphins push the soles of your feet and glide you up out of the water. You’re actually almost in a standing position, like you’re flying through the air. The soles of your feet are brushing the surface of the water; you actually feel like you’re walking on water for a few seconds, and nothing can beat that.”
For non-swimmers, the dolphin encounter is super cool, but the mini boat ride is also highly recommended if you want a truly pulsating experience to make up for missing out on the royal swim. Other activities at the park include kayaking, white sandy beach encounter and a water slide.
For any occasion:
If you’re wondering when or with whom to pencil in a visit to Dolphin Cove, we deem this one to be an attraction for all intents and purposes, and Norman confirms this. “(Dolphin Cove is) great for family outings and couples can come here and treat each other and have fun together. Companies can come and have their corporate retreats as well and corporate fun days. Dolphin Cove has so much to offer.” Final thoughts: The real selling point of Dolphin Cove Ocho Rios is the fact that the park features much more than just dolphins and truly offers guests an entire day of scrapbook-worthy activities. If you’re looking to visit, call in advance and choose the package you prefer. Packages include lunch and activities, and costs vary depending on the size of the groups. Contact 974-5335 or 618-0900 for further details.