Then it was back to the water, the place where I feel most comfortable. While I have on numerous occasions during my dives around the world encountered stingrays and sharks, I have never actually touched them. At Ocean World in Puerto Plata, they have both a stingray and shark pool where you can touch, feed, and if your brave enough hug them. Yes, I was crazy enough to do all three, although not crazy enough to kiss them!
I preferred the sharks to the stingrays, so much so, that I found myself to be the last person in the shark pool. I was completely enamored by them; I had forgotten about everything and everyone else. I eventually looked up from the water to see it was just me and about fifteen nurse sharks. I decided at that point it was probably time for me to leave as well!
My last animal date of the day was the one I was most looking forward to and I am delighted that Ocean World saved the best for last: The Royal Dolphin Swim. Imagine being in a tropical lagoon by yourself with two incredibly affectionate dolphins. Sounds like Paradise? Well, I can assure you it was.
This experience brought me right back to Cuba, where I had my first encounter with dolphins. In fact, the dolphins that I interacted with were indeed from Cuba. All of the dolphins that are found in the Dominican Republic are brought in from other countries. Ocean World proudly housed the first birth of a dolphin in the country several years ago. I was told it was a spectacular event in the middle of the night and that every single trainer acted as though it was their own child being born.
Of course, I did not want to leave my new friends, however I was comforted by the fact that I would be returning days later for an even more intimate encounter with them.
People don’t realize how friendly nurse sharks are–I, too, spent a good half an hour with about 20 of them on the dock in the Bahamas when I was at Compass Cay. They’re actually kind of cute, though the beady eyes freak me out a bit!
Haha their eyes freak me out too a bit! Yeah, they are ridiculously friendly. I think people just assume ALL sharks are deadly monsters.
Awww I love the pictures with the dolphins! They’re so sweet!
Oh so sweet, I miss them terribly!!! I saw that a dolphin movie is coming out and I started to tear up during the commercial haha!
Oh that is so awesome! I haven’t checked swim w dolphins off my list yet and here you are with multiple encounters – lucky lady! Can’t wait to read about your more intimate encounter 🙂
And I can’t wait to share it with you! Being next to dolphins is incredible!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m obsessed with them now! I hope you can swim with them soon. Are there places in CR that you can?
Great photos. Did you swim with the stingrays?
I did!!! I even fed them! 🙂
Adorable photos! I love the ones with the dolphins – they’re so intelligent and friendly.
Thank you so much!!! I agree 100%!
Andi, you need to get yourself to Stingray City in Grand Cayman! You can pet, kiss and play with the stingrays and the best part is they are totally wild!
I’ve heard about that place! I definitely will check it out. I want to start traveling to more places in the Caribbean. I feel like it’s such a gem and it’s so close that it’s silly for me to not travel to it more!
I think I may be most jealous of this adventure! Dolphins are so amazing and you’re hugging them! Adorable =)
If you’re jealous of this adventure, wait until you see my next one with them! I agree they are so amazing!!!
Hi Andi,
These are just amazing pics, what an adventure it must have been for you!! Swimming with sting rays feels scary though!! Dolphins are just amazing, so cute!
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Hi Arti! Thanks for your wonderful comment. Always nice to hear from new readers. People were really scared about the sting rays, but they were very docile. And yes, the dolphins were the best!!! I’ll definitely check out your website. Big hugs, Andi
Such adorable pictures of you with the dolphins.
Awww thanks lovely! 🙂
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You are so beautiful with those dolphins!
I’m blushing thank you!!!
Dolphins are one of the greatest mammals. I got invited to a boat tour in December last year in Australia and we swam about 1 hour with wild dolphins in the pacific ocean. I loved it and didn’t want to get out of the water!
They would have had to drag me out of the water! Swimming with wild dolphins in Oz = dream come true!!!
omg I am sooo jealous of that dolphin swim you got to do!! Looks awesome 🙂
It was SO awesome!!! Next time needs to be in the wild though. 🙂
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WOW!!!!!!!! Awesome awesome awesome!
Awww thank you so much for your enthusiasm!
I smile each time I see that twin kiss – it’s so cute!
Haha, I smile every time I look at it too! 🙂
Loving all the animal encounters on this trip!
Haha me too, they were all so precious!
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Agreed!!!
Looks like you are having the time of your life! I recently got back from Sea World in FL, the whole time I was thinking how much I wanted to dive in and play with all the animals. It was fun but I gotta admit Ocean World is in a league of it’s own. By the way, all you dolphin lovers should know about what’s going on in Japan http://www.takepart.com/thecove They really are special animals.
This place looks amazing!
I can promise you it is.
Obviously that guy’s a pro, and I know not all sharks bite, but it still seems a little crazy to see someone just holding a shark!
Haha, but the sharks were soooo sweet! They just wanted to cuddle!!! 😉
Wonderful pics .. Awesome!
Thank you so much!!!