Dreams Come True When You Swim With Dolphins At Gulf World Marine Park
We’ve all been transfixed by the graceful beauty of a school of dolphins swimming in the Gulf of
Mexico. As they arch above the rolling tides and dive back into the Emerald green depths, many of us
long to take the journey with these majestic mammals. Forget about chasing wild dolphins down for a
frolic in the water-it’s illegal and dangerous for the dolphins and would-be swimmers. That doesn’t
mean your dreams are dashed. Luckily, one of three places in the United States where you can swim
with dolphins is Gulf World Marine Park in Panama City Beach.
Since 2015, the Panama City Beach based marine park has been part of the internationally renowned
Dolphin Discovery network which has parks in the Mexican Carribbean, Mexican Pacific, Carribbean
Islands and Jamaica. Dolphin Discovery prides itself on delivering Dolphin shows and swim
adventures with unique touches that are unrivaled. Most importantly Dolphin Discovery affiliated
parks operate with the highest quality standards in the care of marine species so you can rest
assured that the dolphins and other species at Gulf World Marine Park are in loving hands!
Two Dolphin Species Call Gulf World Home
The acclaimed marine park, open since 1970, offers three types of swimming experiences with
dolphins that are guaranteed to deliver an unforgettable experience of a lifetime. The options in
experiences vary depending on the amount of time spent with the mammals and the type of dolphin.
Gulf World Marine Park is home to Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncates) which is the species
you’ve most likely seen swimming in the Gulf as they are the most prevalent type of dolphin found in
the U.S. coastal waters from Cape Cod through the Gulf of Mexico. The other type of dolphin at the
park is the rarely-seen Rough-toothed Dolphin (Steno bredanensis). In fact, Gulf World Marine Park is
the only facility in North America to house Rough-toothed Dolphins which typically live in deep,
offshore waters.
Pick Your Dolphin Swimming Adventure
The Dolphin Royal Swim is exactly as the name suggests — the ultimate experience! Lasting about 50
minutes, the royal treatment includes swimming with two Bottlenose Dolphins who will delight you
with their agility, intelligence and strength. The highlight of this swim is the “foot push” where the
dolphins rise you above the water surface by pushing you from the soles of your feet. Other
interactions with the dolphins include a hug, handshake, dorsal tow and hand target.
The Dolphin Swim Adventure, lasting about 40 minutes, features a thrilling belly ride. You will be
amazed with this fast ride as you hold on to the pectoral fins of a Bottlenose Dolphin. You will also
interact with dolphins doing a handshake, hand target, hug, caresses and free time with various
activities.
With the roughly 30-minute long Dolphin Encounter, you can choose between a Rough-toothed
Dolphin or Bottlenose Dolphin. The Encounter experience features playtime where you will interact
with the dolphin with a hug, handshake and hand target. The Marine Mammal specialists will also
teach you the Dolphin anatomy.
Discover and Interact With So Many More Species
Dolphins are hands down the biggest attraction at Gulf World Marine Park, but there is so much more
to see and do during your visit. The park is home to a variety of other animal species including
California sea lions, harbor seals, penguins, tropical birds, stingrays, African penguins and more.
Shows and interactions with different species occur several times throughout day and vary
seasonally, so be sure to check the daily schedule when planning your visit. Three of the most
popular daily events at Gulf World Marine Park are the Dolphin Show, the Sting Ray Bay Feeding and the Sea Lion Chat. (Note that the highly popular Sea Lion Show is temporarily closed due to
renovations to the sea lion stadium-check the website for updates on reopening).
Dolphin Show
Whether or not you choose to swim with the dolphins, you should definitely attend the high energy
Dolphin Show where you will be dazzled with flips, leaps and twists from Bottlenose and Rough-
toothed Dolphins. If you sit in the “Splash Zone,” be prepared to get wet! As trainers lead and
participate with the dolphins in the riveting performance, guests witness the trusting and caring
relationships bonding these mammals and humans. It’s an unbelievable spectacle from start to finish!
Sea Lion Chat (temporarily replacing Sea Lion Show)
During the time that the sea lion stadium is closed for renovations, the park is hosting sea lion/harbor
seal chats by the habitat. Marine Mammal Specialists will share with you amazing facts about sea
lions and harbor seals and their interesting behaviors. While it’s not nearly as fun as watching them
perform, you will come away with a deeper understanding of these fascinating creatures. Be sure to
check for details on when the show resumes. While dolphins attract most visitors to the park, the sea
lions and harbor seals capture their hearts!
Stingray Bay Feeding
Gulf World Marine Park features Southern stingrays, Cownose stingrays and Atlantic stingrays. You
can watch them glide around the 20,000-gallon indoor habitat. Marine Mammal Specialists will teach
you all about the different kinds of stingrays. Visitors can touch the stingrays and feed them during
feeding times which occur every half hour. Note that the stingrays are on a controlled diet and limited
quantities of food are available.Other daily shows at the park include:
– Feathers and Friends Show
– Ocean Oasis Show
– Lizard Chat
– Penguin Chat
– Scales N Tails Chat
– Bird Chat And Painting
– African Crow Chat
– Gator Chat and Feed
Education and Rehabilitation Are At The Heart of Gulf World
Many first-time visitors assume Gulf World Marine Park is all about the performances and shows.
They leave with a deep understanding that the park is primarily an educational facility where animal
care is first and foremost. Along these lines, the park is the most significant contributor to Gulf World
Marine Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of
marine mammals and sea turtles throughout the Florida Panhandle coastal region. As the only long-
term marine mammal rehabilitation and the largest sea turtle rehabilitation facility in Northern Florida,
the group has come to the aid of thousands of sick or debilitated stranded marine animals. Visitors to
Gulf World Marine Park may come for the amazing experiences with dolphins, but they take with
them a desire to help the environment for the betterment of marine species. The park promotes the
“Adopt A Sea Turtle” program to help people be a part of Gulf World’s ongoing commitment to the
worthy mission.
Plan Your Visit For The Experience of A Lifetime
When planning your visit to Gulf World Marine Park, make sure you allot at least two hours to enjoy
all the shows and explore the exhibits. General admission tickets include all daily shows (updated seasonally), animal exhibits and petting the stingrays in Stingray Bay. Swimming with dolphins and
other animal interactions and encounters are not included with general admission tickets and must be
purchased separately. If you purchase a ticket to an interactive program, there is no need to purchase
a general admission ticket as it is included with all interactive program tickets.
Located at 15412 Front Beach Road in Panama City Beach, Gulf World offers free parking on a first
come first serve basis. There is a parking lot in front of the building and additional parking in back of
the facility. Keep in mind that the park is located right on the strip in Panama City Beach which is a
high traffic area during peak season. It may take you longer to find a spot so plan accordingly if you
have a reserved time for an interaction.
Gulf World Marine Park offers photos taken during the shows and interactive programs. While tickets
to interactive programs include photos, general admission tickets do not include them but photos can
be purchased from the Photo Center. Another reminder for your visit is that jewelry is not permitted to
be worn during any interactions for the safety of the animals. Outside food, drink and coolers are also
not permitted. Don’t worry you won’t go hungry or thirsty! The park features the Dolphin Grill with
crowd favorites such as pizza, burgers and chicken fingers. There is also a Snack Bar with movie-
style popcorn, soft, warm pretzels and frozen tropical drinks.
Join the generations of families who have enjoyed the experience of a lifetime at Gulf World Marine
Park!
