The family and I are coming to CVO in August and with 3 children I have been looking at experiences for them and found that Zoo Marine offers a swimming with Dolphins experience and wondered if anyone had tried it.

At 145 euros, it is quite expensive but willing to pay that for the looks on their faces and the memories....just scared it will be 10 mins although the website say 90 mins (including dressing etc).

Any advice would be awesome.

Thanks all.

I know of quite a few people who have done it and they all said how much they enjoyed it. My neice has actually done it twice as she loved it so much! I have seem the pictures and it looked like good fun.

Friends of mine did this two years ago with their young boy (about 8 then) and were very impressed. They had also done the same thing in Orlando the previous year, Zoo Marine was far superior, longer in the water and half the price. Make sure you book and the sooner the better.

Thanks....most helpful...I will book now

Swimming with dophins of course sounds like a fun thing to do, but I always think of the poor animals and this has made me not try out something like this so far.

I cant say I disagree and would prefer the kids to swim with them in the wild, but safety has to come in to it. I just want to be the hero dad I guess and I know they would love it.

Would be please to hear of other things to do with the kids near CVO. They are 13, 12 and 9.

I already have Krazy World and the slide park on the list.

Also, are there loungers on most of the beaches and what do they cost?

My daughter swam with the dolphins at Zoomarine when we visited in May half-term. She thoroughly enjoyed it and it compares favourably with Florida (she was too young on that trip). I think the price is reasonable and you don't get ripped-off with the photos/dvd at the end. In my opinion it was well worth it. There are signed pictures there of Phil Collins, Luis Figo, Nicky Barmby!? and others so you will be in good company.

Most beaches have an area with sunbeds and shade for hire. Not sure of the price but I don't think it exceeds €20 per day, maybe less.

I did this at Zoomarine six years ago with my grown up daughter. Though it was expensive (more expensive now), and you don't actually get that long in the water, we both had big smiles on our faces for the rest of the day. Hard to beat that feeling!

The Dolphins are kept in what is a large man-made lagoon, behind where the display arena is. From memory, there was a 30 minute (or so) brief giving dolphin related info, safety tips, etc, when then suited up and went down to the lagoon. The first part was getting in shallow water and being introduced to two of the dolphins - obviously a photo opportunity to hold them, they make extra cash off you here, as anyone waiting for you cannot take good photos. Afterwards, we moved to another area where they carried out some training with younger dolphins with us in the water, then it ended with the opportunity to be towed / pushed across the width of the lagoon by the dolphins (as per their routine with the trainers during the display).

Unfortunately the time goes by all too quickly and it's time to go, though I wouldn't have missed it for anything. The dolphins seemed quite happy and I'm sure they are pretty well looked after.

My kids have done it twice and its a really really cool thing to do! book for the a.m. slot on a Sunday if you can. Pity you are August and I am July as I have three similar ages that could have shown yours the ropes. Sand fiesa of a night is on my agenda this year.

Albandirha & Benagil for the beach, Algarve shopping is worth a trawl, enjoy you holiday


http://picasaweb.google.com/richardkottler/Fiesa2008

Thanks for the tips...I was going to avoid the weekends if possible and planned to book for a Thursday when we have a car.

Might change my mind now!!!

We go out on the 9th August and return on the 23rd.

Love the sand pics!!

We have just returned yesterday from CVO and my daughter and friends swam with dolphins at Zoo marine. I would recommend to pre book as we didnt and were just really lucky they had 3 places left, you also need to take passports as they wanted to check the ages of the children. My daughter absolutely loved it, we thought it was worth the money and she is already saving up to do it again next year! You get given a free Zoo Marine towel and flip flops.

There is a DVD and photos you can buy for 25 euros which are really good. You get about 5 photos in a display card, they were fab photos, the dvd is about 20 mins with alot of group filming but you do get a couple of mins with just individuals.

Thanks for that.....I have tried to book online and so far no joy so will pick up the phone to them next week.

Sounds like a great experience....

Cant wait to get out there now...

personally I wouldn't recommend Krazy World unless it has vastly improved in the last year. The animals were in a terrible state when I took my nephews, very sad to see

Mmmmmm that would upset the wife and kids so maybe I wont...anyone been there this year?

I said that after my visit to Krazy World last year - it was awful. Yet loads of people here said that they had really enjoyed their visits.