Dolphins!

The Dolphin Cay at Atlantis is really cool. We put on wetsuits and were put into small groups of just 6 people to interact with the dolphins in waist-deep water. We learned all about the dolphins. Every dolphin here was rescued during Hurricane Katrina. They got hit and swept out to sea from the Marine Life Oceanarium in Gulfport, Mississippi. They were rescued and have all recovered and since had 3 baby dolphins added to the family!

Dolphins love to play and always look so joyful

Our dolphin, Elijah, giving Nick kisses

Happy Elijah. He's only 7 years old and he weighs 280 lbs!

I liked learning that on dolphins, no two dorsal fins are alike! They're kinda like fingerprints. :-)

The dolphins were very rubbery feeling, very smooth and beautiful

They told us the dolphins get 2 kinds of rewards for good behavior: fish and rub downs. So they LOVE being handled, pet, hugged, kissed. And in case you wondered, bad dolphin behavior doesn't get any kind of punishment. They just don't get a reward.

The trainers were very respectful. They said you can't try and make a dolphin do anything. They train them, but nothing is forced. They let the dolphins be carefree.

We had so much fun, it was hard to leave! :(