Swimming With Animals In The Caribbean

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Swimming With Animals In The Caribbean

The Caribbean offers a unique experience for wildlife and animal lovers to swim with creatures including sharks, dolphins, stingrays and even pigs. 

Let’s find out more about how you can get up close and personal with some wildlife in the sunny Caribbean.

Pigs

We are not telling porkies. There really are pigs living on the beach in the Bahamas. Expect to see around 20 pigs living on the sandy shores. They are cared for by the locals, love taking a dip in the ocean and are quite a bizarre sight. 

The island of Big Major Cay in Exuma is the exact spot where you can swim with swine. The island is also known as Pig Island after it became a popular tourist attraction thanks to social media and TV. You can get there by boat and many tour companies can arrange the trip.

Stingrays

Swimming with stingrays is another Caribbean creature you can meet in the water. Known as gentle giants who love human interaction, stingrays are quite stunning up close. You can have this experience in the Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands, Antigua and the Bahamas.

 One of the best swimming with stingrays experiences is on Balmoral Island in the Bahamas. Catching a ferry to the island is the start of your adventure, with the highlight being in the water with them in the natural surroundings of a marine park. You get half an hour to play in the water with the stingrays, then spend the day on the island relaxing. 

Sharks

Thrill-seekers will love the idea of swimming with sharks. These creatures with a dangerous reputation are spectacular to view at close range. If you can dive, many tours take you into the depths where the big sharks live. There are many spots in the Caribbean to swim with sharks, with the Bahamas being reported as one of the best places.

Dolphins

Swimming with dolphins is a dream for many people, and it can come true during your Caribbean vacation. Mexico, Jamaica and the Bahamas are some of the destinations where you can meet these curious creatures. 

Most places have a package that can include petting the dolphins, swimming or snorkeling with the dolphins  or seeing shows where they do tricks with their trainers. Many have an emphasis on conservation and education, so it’s a learning experience as well as entertainment. Dolphin Encounters in the Bahamas is a great example. It began as a rescue facility in 1989 and has grown into a major tourist attraction and education center. 

Dolphin Discovery has branches all over the Caribbean and runs dolphin rescue and training facilities and dolphin swimming experiences. Some more recommended dolphin experiences can be enjoyed at:

  • Dolphin Island, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic 
  • Dolphin Cove, Ocho Rios, Jamaica
  • The Dolphin Academy, Curacao

Often with dolphin experiences in the Caribbean, photography is prohibited, but you can buy snaps taken by the photographer on-site.

There are many opportunities to swim with animals in the Caribbean and you will probably go snorkeling in the crystal-blue waters off the shore or during a boat trip and could see many more wonderful creatures. Pack your underwater camera because you will get some awesome nature shots.