Dolphins dives in Florida?

[rjens]

Well, while I will be heading up to Ginnie Springs to join in on the BBQ next month (so looking forward to this trip), a coworker would like to dive with dolphins (if possible) while in florida. Is there anywhere north of Miami that you can dive with a high probablility of encountering flipper? or is this a "keys" thing. Not their is anything wrong with the keys, they are just a long drive from Orlando.

I know about living seas (no dolphins), and the disney dolphin encounter ($350 ouch), and Marathon (a bit of a drive). I am looking more for a boat dive that is in an area with a high probablility of a wild dolphin encounter. I wonder if I could convince him that a manatee was just a fat short nosed dolphin :06: .

Thanks in advance for yet another business traveller picking your brains about local diving conditions.

 

[CBulla]

I can tell you without a doubt that they were coming right up to divers in Boca Grande pass on Tuesday - 2 pods of them hanging out and playing with the divers doing clean up!

 

[fgray1]

But they never got close enough to see them. I was hoping though.
Fred

 

[CBulla]

They've done that to me at Venice to. My wife told me they were all around my dive flag but I never saw them through the murk.

 

[Wendy]

there is discovery cove at sea world and its cheaper than disney's encounter.

 

[DEEPSEAWOLF]

Tarpon Springs on the West Coast has Dolphin Encounter day trips. They take you outside the inlet where the dolphins and manatees play. Gibbon and I saw one just off the beach at Cedar Key last weekend in about six feet of water.

 

[_Kurt_]

I know you said north of Miami, but Hawks Cay at Duck Key has a dolphin pool at the resort.

 

[rjens]

Thanks for the answers, I will pass these on... personally I'll see ya Ginnie that weekend.

Rob

 

[8buck]

i WAS IN CRYSTAL RIVER WITH A CLASS TWO WEEKS AGO AND A BOTTLE NOSE WAS SWIMMING AROUND

 

[mark morgan]

I often see dolphin or manatee in the intracostal waters near the jupiter inlet

Two weeks ago we were .25 mile out the inlet and saw a pod of about 12 - jumped out of the boat with fask mask and fins and got to near them for 30 seconds or so - they were on the move and not that inquisitive... but what a site.

As quckly as they tend to move, I think it would be hard to dive with them unless you were geared up and ready and then you probably won't see them for a month!

Good luck..

Mark

Well, while I will be heading up to Ginnie Springs to join in on the BBQ next month (so looking forward to this trip), a coworker would like to dive with dolphins (if possible) while in florida. Is there anywhere north of Miami that you can dive with a high probablility of encountering flipper? or is this a "keys" thing. Not their is anything wrong with the keys, they are just a long drive from Orlando.

I know about living seas (no dolphins), and the disney dolphin encounter ($350 ouch), and Marathon (a bit of a drive). I am looking more for a boat dive that is in an area with a high probablility of a wild dolphin encounter. I wonder if I could convince him that a manatee was just a fat short nosed dolphin :06: .

Thanks in advance for yet another business traveller picking your brains about local diving conditions.