Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
DOLPHIN ENCOUNTERS
While dolphin encounters are undeniably a huge attraction, the practice is not
without controversy (see
Click here
). A more ecofriendly alternative to visits
with captive or semicaptive dolphins is to visit wild dolphins in their own habit-
at, where they can choose whether or not to interact with the humans in their
midst. The best places to do this are
Bill & Nowdla Keefe's Bimini Undersea
(
Click here
) and
Underwater Explorers Society
(UNEXSO;
Click here
).
Island World Adventures
SNORKELING, CRUISE
( 242-363-3333;
www.islandworldadventures.com
;
Paradise Island Ferry Terminal;
adult/child $200/150) Has daylong excursions on a high-powered speedboat to Saddleback
Cay, in the Exumas. There's great snorkeling and seven private beaches to wander. Trips
include lunch, an open bar, snorkeling gear and a stop at lovely Leaf Cay to commune with
iguanas.
Wildlife Encounters
Dolphin Encounters
( 242-363-1003;
www.dolphinencounters.com
;
Paradise Island
Ferry Terminal) offers a boat ride to the Blue Lagoon (
Click here
), where visitors can
swim, kiss and play with tame dolphins in the enclosed lagoon, where such films as
Flipper
and
Splash
were shot. A 30-minute swim is $185, while a waist-deep standing encounter is
$98. Up-close encounters with the island's newest attraction - sea lions - are $80. All trips
include boat transportation from Paradise Island and several hours of free-range sun and
fun on the island, which has a cafe and changing facilities. Boats depart four times daily, at
8:30am, 10:30am, 1:30pm and 3:30pm. Trips fill up fast; so book well in advance.
For more dolphin action, see also Dolphin Cay (
Click here
) on Paradise Island.
Water Sports
Most resort hotels either include water sports in their rates or offer them as optional extras.
Just wander any one of the more populated beaches and look for kiosks offering nearly
every kind of water activity, including parasailing ($60, about 10 to 15 minutes), banana
boat rides ($15, about 10 to 15 minutes) and wave runners ($60 per 30 minutes). Aussie
AJ Watson will teach your to catch some gnarly air at
Cross-Shore
( 242-362-4702;
www.cross-shore.com
;
South Beach) , a high-octane kiteboarding school on New Provid-
ence's southern shore. Options start with a two-hour intro course ($150) and range all the
way to a 10-day all-you-can-surf orgy for $2200.
