Atlantis Resort Shallow Water Interaction at Dolphin Cay Review

Is a visit to Nassau Paradise Island, Bahamas in your future? A Dolphin Experience at the Atlantis Resort shouldn't be missed. I've got a full review of our Shallow Water Interaction and whether or not it's safe for young kids.

A few years ago I came up with a "40 before 40" Bucket List. I've been slowly working my way through it and although I realize some things may never come to fruition, last week I was able to check off a big one - a dolphin interaction at Atlantis Resort in Paradise Island, Bahamas.

As soon as I found out that my son and I would be going on a press trip to Nassau Paradise Island, I started pumping him full of information about dolphins. He became so excited about them, but it wasn't until a few days before we left (his 4th birthday in fact) that I told him we'd be going to the Bahamas to meet real life dolphins. He was thrilled and expressed this by asking me about the trip approximately 7,000 times over the next 3 days. I was definitely ready to relax by the time we arrived to Paradise Island. Thankfully, I was also able to bring my dad with us so I'd have a little help with watching my little guy. Plus, my dad and my son absolutely adore each other so I thought it would be a fantastic opportunity to do a little multigenerational family vacation (more to come on this later!).

Paradise Island is truly serene and the sheer size and beauty of the Atlantis Resort should be experienced whether you opt to sign up for a dolphin experience or not. The property is absolutely amazing and the service is top notch so it's absolutely worth a visit.

When you get to Atlantis, you'll travel through the grand resort to get to Dolphin Cay, a sophisticated marine habitat that's just shy of 14 acres. The dolphin habitat features beautiful turquoise sea water that's crystal clear so you can see everything. My son had just turned 4 at the time of our trip so we got to experience the Shallow Water Interaction which includes a 30-minute interaction that's suitable for all ages. In fact, ages 3 and under are free with a paid adult. If you have an older child (ages 6 and up) you can opt for the Deep Water Swim where you can swim alongside the dolphins and even get their signature "foot push" that propels you across the water. A perk of purchasing a dolphin interaction at Atlantis that is that you'll get all-day access to the private beach at Dolphin Cay.

Shallow Water Interaction at Dolphin Cay

We were with a large party so we were grouped into groups of 10 or less for our interaction. This ensures that everyone has plenty of time to greet their Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin and learn more about these amazing creatures. Each group is assigned a trainer and an assistant who instruct the dolphin to perform playful tricks and they tell you all about the dolphin and where they came from.

Our trainers were very knowledgable and super friendly and told us that our dolphin was rescued from the waters during hurricane Katrina. They said there are about 60 dolphins in Dolphin Cay and around 65% of them have been rescued (and some have since had calves). It was really fascinating to learn about our dolphin and the others on the property, especially for my little guy. He's been really into animals lately, so the Shallow Water Interaction was a unique experience to apply what we've read in books to a real life experience.

Our dolphin was so playful and gentle and we even got to give him a little smooch!

I was so proud of my son. He was so excited and brave. I was a bit worried that he might freak out when the time came to get in the water, but it was only waist high for me (and about up to his chest) and he was totally fine. As I mentioned earlier, he just turned 4 so I really do think this interaction is safe and appropriate for all ages. If you're bringing younger toddlers you could just hold them in your arms or wear a water wrap.

We got so many great photos thanks to the personal photographer who is assigned to each group. You can't take your own phone or camera with you (personal lockers to protect your belongings are included), so you'll want to make sure you plan to bring some extra money to purchase your photos. You can choose from printed photo packages or buy all of the photos from the experience on a USB drive (prices for printed photo packages start around $65 and go up to $160 for the USB).

If you're really interested in dolphins and wildlife, Dolphin Cay even has Ultimate Trainer for a Day programs for adults and juniors which give you an in-depth look at how Atlantis cares for all of the animals on property including fish, sharks, birds, and dolphins. I'd highly recommend visiting Atlantis and partaking in the Shallow Water Interaction or Deep Water Swim. Your kids definitely won't forget this experience.

For more information and to book your Nassau Paradise Island vacation, visit their official website and see why it's better in the Bahamas.