I cannot say enough good things about the DRC. Their dolphins are clearly very well cared for. They are in a habitat directly in the ocean - there are no tanks here. We got to watch two presentations with the keepers. Afterwards, they were doing a medical check on a particular dolphin that was having stomach upset. A nice man came along and told us "a keeper smarter than we will be along soon, but I can answer your questions for now. Oh, there's someone smarter than me now!" And he gestured to one of the summer interns. They both laughed. He told us all about each dolphin and their story. He told us about the hurricanes 10 years ago, and how the water rose far above the dolphin enclosures, offering them freedom, but none of them left. It was clear he really loved these animals. He walked away to assist the team working with the dolphin. The intern turns to us and says "that's the founder of this place. He's here every single day. He's the smartest of all of us!" She was great too. She said she's been dreaming of being a dolphin trainer since she was a kid. She was from Texas, but you could tell she was exactly where she was meant to be. I hope they hire her permanently. We loved the dolphin research center and will definitely be back someday! read more

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For my 500th review on Yelp, I'm covering the Dolphin Research Center in the Florida Keys. This is actually my second visit as my wife and I came in 2021. This time, however, we brought our kids along too. In 2021, my wife did an encounter that included shaking hands/flippers with a dolphin, rubbing their back as they swam by, and performing a couple basic training signs. For this trip, we each did the Memory Maker Meet encounter, which included the shaking hands/flippers and back rub, but most importantly, having a dolphin paint us a picture. We each chose two colors and held a canvas out while a pair of dolphins (Reese and Louie on that day) took turns spinning around with paint brushes in their mouths painting the canvases. It was very much worth the time and extra cost. Throughout the day there are opportunities included even with basic admission to watch training sessions or learn about caring for dolphins. You can very easily have a fun day and support a great cause at the same time. read more

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Nice relaxing day looking at the dolphins. The presentations were excellent. You could tell the volunteers love being there

We had a wonderful experience at the Dolphin Research Center during our latest trip to the Keys. We signed up for a swim with the dolphins experience and were paired with Santini and trainer KJ. Summer and Calusa ended up joining us because they allow the dolphins to choose if they participate. They were all so eager to be there, it felt like they truly enjoyed their "swimming with the people" experience. KJ was an incredible trainer. Patient, knowledgeable, and thorough. We were 2 adults with 2 kids (ages 6 and 9) and she was so wonderful to work with. We got some great pictures from Sam and made memories that will last a lifetime. After we finished our experience, we ran around in the splash pad to rinse the salt water off and my kids enjoyed that. We also watched the sea lions practice all of their tricks and that was so fun to watch! I can't speak on just coming to the center without an experience booked since we swam with the dolphins, but I can say with that experience, we had a fabulous time! read more

Dolphin Research Center - Tours Near Me - Marathon, Florida

While we were in Key West we took our family to the Dolphin Research Center so our toddler and baby could see dolphins swim up close! When we went to buy our tickets they told us that admission was 1/2 price due to construction and exhibits being closed. That was OK with us as we really were just there to see the dolphins. The facility itself was very clean and kept up well. The employees were friendly and very eager to share about the dolphins. We were impressed that they were able to tell the animals apart even from a distance! Our toddler enjoyed seeing the animals as well as the waterfall garden dedicated to the veterans. I will say that I'm glad admission was half price- even if there wasn't any construction going on and all the exhibits were open I don't think the experience would be worth the full price of admission. read more

Love that the money is directed towards care for marine life and not simply for profit We were super close to dozens of dolphins all afternoon and loved every minute of it read more

This was my bucket list item I wanted to check off while in The Keys. From booking to the actual encounter itself, everyone was friendly, the trained staff gave very good directions and guided our group every step of the way and made it memorable! Honestly, the dolphin encounter was much more interactive than I ever thought it would be and I felt the cost matched the experience. read more

When you are in the Keys (Marathon) you need to go and support this Great Research Center. All dolphins that are brought to the facility become permanent residents. This is not a Rehab and Release program. We were lucky to actually get great information from the Owner/Founder while watching the dolphins. He even tried to recruit our daughter..which would be a dream job for anyone interested in this field. They have educational groups you can join throughout the day. They also have a small Bird Sanctuary as well. We missed the Sea Lions as their habitat was being renovated. read more

Dolphin Research Center - Tours Near Me - Marathon, Florida

We loved this adventure. I could have spent all day watching the dolphin. I would highly recommend this activity. read more

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We were very close to the dolphins. There's also the opportunity to get in the water with them. read more

Dolphin Research Center - QP - Tours Near Me - Marathon, Florida

We participated in a silent auction for Veterans last year, and bid on the Family Dolphin Splash. We were so excited to win! But we had to get this in before it expired so it did not matter what the weather was like to us. The week we visited (October 15) was terrible weather, rainy and cold, but this was great for our experience. This group event ended up being private with just the two of us because no one else showed up for the weather! The water was still warm, and we got in up to our waists. We met Louie and Delta and it was pure joy. We touched them and shook hands and fins with them and had a splashing contest with them (they won!). Dolphins are incredible, so smart and so funny. They feel like rubbery wet silk and are hilarious comedians. This was one of the coolest things we have ever done. I don't know how we have been coming to the Keys for so many years and never realized this gem was here. The only thing that could top it at this point would be actually swimming with them. Don't feel bad for the dolphins, they are non-releasable rescues. It is evident how much they love doing what they do. Dolphins are like giant wet puppies and spread sunshine everywhere they go, even on a rainy, cold and cloudy day. read more

Dolphin Research Center - Louie and Delta - Tours Near Me - Marathon, Florida

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Excellent. Well organized dolphin activities with explanations that help you know a lot more about these intelligent mammals. Lots of kids, and older couples too. I especially love that this is a nonprofit organized for helping dolphins. It is unlike those for profit exhibits elsewhere. You leave feeling good about being there. If you have the money, do get the extra Memory Maker Meet. You get to be up close with the dolphins, touch their skin, and even make a painting with them. You learn and experience a lot. read more

Dolphin Research Center - Dolphin waving hi - Tours Near Me - Marathon, Florida

My wife came here as a ten year old and it made her fall in love with dolphins so when coming back through the Keys as an adult it was a must stop. By far the coolest "aquarium" type attraction we've done. The no frills of this place allowed you to get up close and personal with dolphins even if you weren't doing a package. There were so many dolphins everywhere you could just hang out and watch them even when they weren't doing a training show. My wife loved that several of the animals were ones that had been there when she was a kid. Note that this is not an all day attraction. My guess is most people are going to spend 60-90 minutes. read more

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Omg this place is THE BEST! We met Bianca and Carly who are trainers at the DRC and they were just so sweet and passionate that we just had to check it out. My husband and I ended up doing the dolphin encounter and were SO happy we did! It was soooo fun to swim with the dolphins and hang out with them. They also has this super awesome informational session with the dolphins for everyone to watch which was super cool too! We loved DRC because we have been to like sea world and stuff but it doesn't compare. This is more of a habitat rather than a commercial show. They are rescuing dolphins and helping them live 2-3x their expected life span. We are happy to support them! read more

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I tend to be skeptical of places that make money off of animals in captivity. Which means I do a lot of research before visiting any of them. We did a "meet the dolphin" experience. We arrived about an hour before our scheduled time so we could wander around. It was nice to see different dolphins and listen to a short program before our experience. I think this helped us identify what questions we wanted to ask. During the "meet the dolphin" we were able to get down on the dock and pet the dolphins in a few different ways. It was quite fun and the time flew by. Unfortunately because we were both participating, we have no photos of us with the two dolphins. I would definitely do this again, perhaps selecting another experience. read more

Dolphin Research Center - The dolphins getting fed before we were able to meet them. - Tours Near Me - Marathon, Florida

We had such a great time with Aleta & Merina during our swim. Catherine (their trainer) was so awesome! She was so passionate about the dolphins that she worked with & it was cute to see how they responded to all her commands. Dolphins are so smart! We had about 30 minutes in the lagoon during our visit. They also have a cool gift shop where you can get photos of your encounter (we did) and also some custom tee shirts that have artwork which was "done" by the dolphins themselves. They also have some sterling silver dolphin jewelry charms for sale as well. We had a great visit. Their dolphins are getting the best care in nutrition & health. Don't forget to check out their rare bird sanctuary as well. read more

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The dolphin encounter was truly a great once in a lifetime experience we will never forget. We spent some quality time with Tursi, Luna and Ranger. Our trainer was very knowledgeable and excellent with all of us and the dolphins. Tursi is a 50 year old dolphin with the best personality. She didn't exactly follow directions, but that made her even more loveable. We will cherish our memories of interacting with such amazing dolphins forever. If you are on the fence, choose dolphin research center and just go for the full experience. You'll love it. read more

Dolphin Research Center - Tours Near Me - Marathon, Florida

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I rarely go to touristy places BUT decided to try and see if it was worth the trip. We had a lovely time, met the dolphins and learned so much about each one, if you love dolphins this is the place, one on one interaction with them in their ponds, sea lion area was closed that day so we were not able to experience that attraction. We bought the yearly pass which gave many benefits including adopting a dolphin, great for the kids. They also have a schedule posted with the times of each event, they also have a nice gift shop for those momentous day at The Dolphin Research Center, oh BTW make sure to have the kids in bathing suits they have a small splash area for them. read more

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On a trip to the Keys, we booked the experience to swim with dolphins at the Dolphin Research Center. The staff was very knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful which made the experience fun and memorable! We learned so much about the dolphins, while being able to be in the water and interact with them in a fun and safe environment. Upon entrance you get all day access to other events that are going on around the center, which allowed for even more fun! It was an amazing experience and well worth the value. read more

Dolphin Research Center - Tours Near Me - Marathon, Florida

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What a wonderful experience. We did the family splash and it was very memorable. Lots of interaction with dolphins and everyone was very informative and helpful. Highly recommend read more

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Had a fun time at the DRC. I really loved that they were dog friendly!! All of the staff greeted our fur kids with open arms too! The ticket price is very reasonable for what you experience. The dolphins even seemed incredibly interested in our pups:) Unfortunately it rained the day we visited but there are plenty of places to dodge the rain. We had some snacks at the snack cart too. They had a limited menu the day we visited. Plenty of free parking and if you're traveling with pets, we found a tiki style bar not far from there that offered 'dog beers' (broth). read more

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This is our second time in the facility!! I am really thankful for what you do with our veterans! My wife is 100 % service connected Navy veteran. I have noticed how helpful and peaceful it is the experience with the dolphins. This experience has also helped my wife a lot as she feels the calmness and stress free. The only concern or bad experience was that when I tried to utilize the bathroom by the front desk, an employee by the name "Angye" was really rude as she told me, " you don't use the bathroom until you pay" she did not even know who I was or not even a greet. Then, I found out she was the Guest supervisor ( speechless) with all the respect, how could you have someone in charge of the guest department who does not even know how to treat customers? I would recommend some customer service training. We are also part of the Wounded Warrior Alumni Program... I hope that other veterans won't have to go through any bad experience. I really felt diminished And discriminated. Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me. read more

We went here 13 years ago and came back this Spring Break and loved it just as much. Everyone that works here is wonderful! We had a great experience - highly recommend!! read more

I can't believe I haven't reviewed this sooner! If you haven't been to the DRC, GO NOW! It is by far the best place to see, learn and interact with dolphins. I've taken my family here countless times and always learn something new (did you know dolphins need fresh water in their diet?!). They offer many amazing interactions from swimming with the dolphins to trainer for a day. All the dolphins can be seenany time though as the whole experience is like being back stage. read more

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Swam today with Luna & Summer, was as awesome as ever despite this being our (wife & I)(age 70) 3rd time (first time in the early 90's). People were friendly and professional. There was a dad and daughter about 8 years old who looked ecstatic afterwards ! Great time was had by all Highly recommend!! read more

It is a good place. It's VERY expensive. $70.00 for 2 of us. The programs were good and the narrator was entertaining and knowledgeable . We enjoyed our time there. read more

I had a fantastic stop here on my way to the Keys. You can either stop by briefly and walk around and enjoy on your own, or you can book a more personalized or group event with the dolphins. They allow dogs on leashes which was great for my pups who were so curious about the dolphins in the water! The staff is super friendly, informative, and welcoming. They host information sessions regularly so you can get to known their facility and the dolphins. read more

What a fun place. And the people who worked here are energetic and passionate. The property itself is quite large, some shade under the boardwalk. They also appear to be adding boardwalk. Each show is really descriptive. They tell you so much info about dolphins, they let you play with them. And then they have showers in the washroom since you may be getting in the water. There is also a splash pad for play. At the end, there is an area to review photos. Seems they have several computers and monitors for viewing. While there was only one person, I thought they could run two station at once. Just load it up and let me see. Otherwise people are just waiting. There are probably nuances why, it just was long waiting and not being given attention on please wait. read more

I was surprised at the cost and was a bit frustrated at first. It appeared all we would experience was seeing dolphins in small pens. Then, Morgan walked over and everything changed! Morgan, one of the conservationists, talked with us one-on-one for 10-20 minutes. She fully described the Center's purpose and detailed the depths they reach to ensure the health and wellbeing of the animals in their care. She answered most questions before we had them and then answered our many more. Had I just been there for the dance session, I would've left very disappointed. Knowing the "whys" for the dance session and all the work they do for the good of the animals made me a true convert. I am so glad my entrance fee is supporting such a quality organization. read more

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This is a nice little nonprofit with loads of dolphins. They have little short fun shows about every 30 minutes where you can ask questions. They have lots of opportunities to interact with dolphins in the water. From swims , to family splashes to dolphins painting . All of this is above the general admission. They had a fun splash pad for the kids also. We enjoyed a nice afternoon here. read more

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Came here to swim with the dolphins with my boyfriend, as this is the largest dolphin sanctuary in the US! The staff was very friendly, and we got there about an hour early. We were able to walk the grounds and see different dolphin "shows" where the staff feed them and have them do tricks for the guests- SO cute! For $200, we were able to do a 30-min swim with the dolphins. I wish that we swam with them the whole time for that price, but it was a fun experience. The actual "swimming" consists of swimming to the center of the lagoon area (40 ft deep) and holding out your arms for a dorsal din pull from 2 dolphins. They take you in a circle in the lagoon then bring you back to the dock area. In total, the dorsal fin pull lasts less than 30 seconds. Most of the 30 min is spent doing tricks with the dolphins like hi-5, dancing, petting them, and other things on a waist-deep swim platform in the lagoon. There were 6 of us total, and 4 of us had 1 trainer and 2 dolphins, and the other group of 2 had another trainer with two dolphins. They had more of a private experience and were able to do more because they weren't sharing 2 dolphins among 4 people like we were- we had to wait for the other couple to do the tricks before we could, etc. But the sorting was random. Great place to visit if you are in marathon or Islamorada, even to just watch the dolphins and not swim with them! read more

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Wow. 13 & 11 yr daughters enjoyed the time. The Encounters program allowed them to stay on a platform (not go in the water) and interact with a dolphin. I wholeheartedly recommend to all families with children. read more

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My husband and I love visiting here. The people and dolphins are wonderful! While the chances to interact are expensive they are well worth it. Two of our granddaughters did the Trainer for a day Encounter and absolutely loved it. I am sure our grandson will want a turn at trainer his next trip down. I make sure I get at least one Encounter every time I go. You pay a reasonable price to enter( we keep our membership through parent level symbolic adoption) and stay as long as you want or come and go that day as desired. You can watch and talk to dolphins, birds, sea lions, tortoises and iguanas(just don't get too close to that tail). read more

This is an easy one star because it was an overpriced excuse for so-called research. There was no evidence of research in any areas. I paid $25 ($3 off for being a Veteran) to watch a poor excuse of dolphins giving people who paid much more than me rides. It seemed cruel. The woman who was talking up on one of four platforms was so in accurate about treatment and how they can't be released because they are born and resisted in capitivity....even suggesting in storm surges they prefer to stay ina cage. That's what plantation owners said about slaves. I'd avoid this place. Nonono. Don't visit. There appears to be a sea mammals place a few miles north on the other side of the road that might be better... much better. read more

My 13yo daughter & I visited on Valentines Day and had one of the most amazing experiences of our life! We did the Dolphin Encounter and enjoyed every moment. The magnitude of the beauty & connection with these animals almost had me in tears. The facility is well taken care of and the staff truly adore the animals they are custodians of. They are truly doing a great work with & for these animals which made it worth every penny! Plan on going back so my husband & boys can experience the wonder too! read more

Dolphin Research Center - Tours Near Me - Marathon, Florida

They tell you that these dolphins are free to come and go as they please but they are completely netted off from any sort of escape route. This stop was the low light of our trip and utterly depressing. If you care about dolphins you won't want to see this please. It's not a research center but a holding center. read more

An amazing day trip out of key west. We had such an amazing time here and it was so much fun to meet the dolphins and see how well they are taken care of and how they interact with the trainers. A must do for all ages!!! Splurge for the $210 interaction. So worth it and your money goes to support the work they do there! read more

Dolphin Research Center - Tours Near Me - Marathon, Florida

This place surpassed all my expectations. It was worth the money. We did the Dolphin Experience. We got there two hours early and got to watch shows and learn about the dolphins before we got in the water. Pax and Talon were the best male dolphins. Make sure you watch their show and research. They will entertain you and you will fall in love. The next part was the water part. We were on a platform with two other people and had two dolphins : Marina and Cayro. I was scared but they were very gentle with me. The trainer said if they don't want to do something they don't have too. They don't use negative reinforcement but positive. They like praise and cheers too. We got to touch kiss and do tricks with them. We did a dorsal swim as well. I can't wait to go back. I can't wait to see them again. Good job to the trainers and big thanks to all the dolphins for a memory I will never forget read more

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This place looked fun, but I wasn't sure if it'd really be worth $25 to visit, since they really hype up their more expensive offerings over just the base ticket. I can confirm: it is totally worth $25. It looks small on Google maps, but that's just because they don't have any bells and whistles, it's just nonstop marine mammals, all the time, everywhere you look. They have one sort of show or another going basically all the time (except for a couple times a day when they take breaks and just show videos). I could honestly have stayed all day (we had to get back to Miami, so I only stayed for a couple hours, which was not quite enough time). I learned a lot about dolphins and sea lions, but more importantly, holy *carp* the animals were super cute, and you get to be right up close, much closer than a traditional sea life place like Seaworld. As they show, their shows are actually just as much for the animals' benefit (training, etc.) as for the humans - I especially liked the show that was basically just free play, where they let the sea lions (some of whom were basically toddlers!) play with whatever toys they wanted, and talked about how each of them has their own personality... the cutest thing was how apparently one of them thinks the absolute most fun game on the planet is to bonk a volleyball over the fence and then make their trainer run and fetch it from the ocean - and then right when they were describing that, she came up with a new game, bonk the volleyball right under the pedestrian bridge where it's even harder to retrieve. Improv comedy at its finest right there. So yeah. Totally worth it. (Make sure to use the promo on their website if you can buy tickets at least a day in advance.) read more

Awesome Experience with Great Staff! Very friendly, welcoming and eager to share their knowledge. All of the animals are swimming freely and interested in interacting with the staff. Courtney W. was a great Experience Instructor!! read more