As someone who is looking for a job, I am constantly brainstorming job ideas. Within the last two weeks I’ve considered quite a few different careers including (but not limited to) flight attendant, pilot, resort saleswoman, and tour guide for the Mayan Ruins.
Yesterday, I added marine biologist/dolphin trainer to the list.
If I could go back in time, I would major in biology and study/work with dolphins. I don’t even know if that’s what you would have to do but it sounds about right. Anybody know for sure? I should probably Google it.
Yesterday, I finally FINALLY FIIIIIIIIINALLY got the chance to swim with dolphins. This has been a dream of mine for pretty much my entire life. I’d begged my parents for years and years but the only opportunities that came about were way too expensive. This time, however, it was included in our awesome deal–cha-ching!
….and now I want to watch the movie Flipper again.
And I really want a pet dolphin.
Like really.
(We got the official photos and DVDs so I will show you more when I get them!)
***
Yesterday started off with a buffet breakfast. It was our LAST day using the day pass at the all-inclusive resort (read: we ate almost as much as dolphins do).
Papaya, pineapple, cottage cheese, eggs, chocolate pastries and banana + chocolate.
Coffee and green juice
A mini croissant, muffin bite, and more banana + chocolate
Then we headed over to the water park to swim with Diego and Flex.
MY 2 NEW BESTEST BEST FRIENDS.
Best. Day. Of. My. Life.
Seriously, life changing.
Not only do I want to work with dolphins now, I kind of want to BE a dolphin too.
Okay too far.
***
Food and drink was all-inlcusive at the water park so we got some ice cream. I got a scoop each of coconut and coffee.
The water park was geared towards kids so we headed back to the resort for a buffet lunch.
I started with a margarita! Gotta have some tequila in Mexico 
.
There were quite a few unique items to choose from at the buffet.
Coconut fish and fried banana in corn dough (!!!!)
A cheese empanada
A salad with carrots, jicama, squash, and beets. Plus bread and guac.
I would love to take these salad bars home with me!
Dessert
- Banana and Egg nog ice cream (!!!)
- Walnut Tart <–meh not good
- Flan
- Fruit cocktail w/ coconut sauce
I went back for a lemon merengue pie…because I could.
Then my mom and I used our complimentary $200 spa credit to get deluxe manicures and pedicures. This week has seriously been a DREAM!
My mom and I rarely ever get our nails done so this was a treat. We’ve been mesmerized by our pretty nails all day.
You have no idea how u-g-l-y my feet were before this (no thanks to running)!! I took a photo of them before but it was not appropriate to publish on the World Wide Web.
Our VERY last meal at the all-inlcusive resort was another 6 thumbs up….coming up next!
***
I have not stopped talking about dolphins since swimming with Diego and Flex. Some of you may recall when I went kayaking and dolphins came to play with me. <–not a dream! It was during the baby LLE days.
Well, next time, I’m gonna leap out of my kayak and frolick with them in the ocean .
…and perhaps live with them permanently. I love to eat fish. I can totally be a dolphin. Like Tarzan of the ocean.
***
Tell me: If you could have ANY animal as a pet, which would you choose?
Along with a dolphin, I would want a tiger and a panda.
{ 37 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi there! I used to be a dolphin trainer! Let me tell you how you do it. A major in biology is very nice, but so is child psychology. And then you find a job. Usually a volunteer job. Now, I said that I was a dolphin trainer, I didn’t say I was a /paid/ dolphin trainer. I managed to go to a college, UC Santa Cruz, that has a lab with dolphins in it. And I applied (twice) and got a job to take care of the animals. I worked 20 hours a week down at the lab, mostly sorting and weighing fish, and cleaning things (must keep everything super clean. With bleach. Restaurant cleanliness standards applied). I didn’t really get to work directly with the animals for about 6 months but eventually I got there and worked there for about 4 years. For no moneys. Many of my co-workers left to go work for places where they’d be paid to work with dolphins, but by that time it didn’t appeal to me. Here’s the deal – centers with dolphins, whether it be for-profit, non-profit, research, rescue, etc. want at least 3-4 years of experience, and they never pay very much. Why? Well heck, it’s so much fun that I did it for free for years and years. And it showed, I smelled like fish, had dolphin snot in my hair, and occasionally found myself picking herring scales off my skin while I was on dates.
But it was super fun and quite an experience. If you really /really/ want it, you can get it. But be prepared to get no money, and then get very little money, to work with these amazing animals.
I am SO SO SO jealous of you! I want to swim with dolphins too
Also, I would like an eagle. :]
i love hotel buffets!
You are so lucky!!! Ive always wanted to swim with dauphins too and I was so close on our honeymoon but then we had to turn around because of hurricanes and I never did get to do it. Bummer!!!
So glad this trip is making your dreams come true!
PS- Pretty feet!
I think I would want a horse – I was obsessed with horses when I was little. I had these horse figurines I had on display in my room and I named them all. One of them doubled as a bank (cha-ching!). That was proabably from birth-sixth grade. Then I got obsessed with dolphins in junior high – and I remember my best guy friend (who I was totally in love with) got me a dolphin necklace when he went to Hawaii…. and then we went to the 8th grade dance together. HA!
I realize this did not answer your question really, but was a story instead.
I swam with the dolphins when I was 16 – it was definitely really cool!
I adore resorts like that! All the food looks SO good and the dophin swimming sounds SO fun. Needless to say, I’m jealous.
Ahh, I’m jealous, what an amazing experience to swim with the dolphins! It’s definitely listed on my Bucket list. Have fun the rest of your trip!
The picture with the dolphin is ADORABLE. So so cute. Not sure you want to go hanging out with the wild ones, though, I don’t think they’re quite as friendly!
The food pics look fantastic – must be an awesome salad bar/buffet!!! I love all the fruit and fish they have down there, so much better.
I’m so jealoussss of this vacation!! Swimming with dolphins, mani/pedis AND delicious food? Heaven. I swam with dolphins in Cozumel when I was 12, but for some reason I think I was kind of scared of them?
I’d want a bengal cat. They’re 15 grand but soooooo awesome: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GeFkzgpq9k&feature=related
That’s so great that you finally got to swim with dolphins! I remember getting to swim with them for one of my birthdays when I was younger. I loved it
Looks like you had an awesome day!
I am so jelly of your vaca. I need to get away!
elephant!!
I would love to have a tamed and litter-trained chipmunk. I know it’s a little ridiculous but chipmunks are just so cute.
ive always wanted to swim with dolphins! soo fun!
i want a baby monkey
You have no idea how jealous I am. Swimming with dolphins has been top on my to-do list in life. So happy you got the opportunity to do it!!
I actually went to the University of Southern Mississippi where they actually have a marine biology major (and graduate program). You can also work at the Gulf Coast Research Center where they work with dolphins and all other types of marine life. They had a museum you could actually tour, but it was smashed by Katrina (I went there before it was destroyed and it was cool! You got to interact/pet all kinds of sea life). They’ve done a lot of research and support for things after Katrina and the oil spill!
This has always been my dream tooo!! (Unfortunately, than I saw the movie “The Cove” and felt guilty). I would probably want a horse, but their so darn expensive.
My childhood dream was to be a dolphin trainer. You study Marine Biology in college and apparently it’s incredibly difficult to get a job training marine mammals (the pay’s crap too). This realization, combined with my distaste for freshman biology in high school, caused me to relinquish my dream. Le sigh. I’ve never swam with dolphins either though (you’re right on it being too expensive), and I’M SOOOOO HAPPY (/jealous) for you!
i got to swim with dolphins in Jamaica once- it was incredible! they are such sweet animals.. hmm I always tend to change my mind about my fav animal but after watching March of thePenguins.. i want a baby penguin pet!
SO jealous! I really need a pedicure…horrible runner’s feet! :S
All that food looks so good, AND you got to swim with dolphins!!! You are so so lucky!
I Swam with dolphins in Hawaii on a swim trip – it was awesome!
)
I think I’d want a monkey (a nice one, of course
There are some great marine biology programs in California – Santa Barbara and San Diego.
I swum with dolphins in Hawaii, but they weren’t trained or anything… Super smart animals, gotta love ‘em.
I use to want to be a marine biologist, too!! I always thought it would be so amazing to work with dolphins and study the ocean..it’d be a beautiful job, that’s for sure!!
Glad you got to swim with dolphins! It’s so much fun! Definitely looks like you were having an awesome time by that big smile of yours!
I would love to swim with the dolphins….I just need to learn how to swim!
My sis did that on one of her trips and had a blast. I’m so jealous (in a good way) of your fabulous Cancun week!
That is so freaking awesome dude! I want to swim with dolphins!
Hey Allie,
I hate to be a pessimist but have you seen the cove? If you want to watch it, I can send you my netflix username and pw so you can watch it online.
-Lin
Totes been to that water park!
I want a penguin. I used to try to convince B to buy me one…figured it could live in the freezer
Oh if that’s what you want to do – DO IT! No need to go back in time – you’re going to be spending A LOT of your life in work so make sure it’s something you love!!!
I have loved “following along” your vacay with you! It looks like you are having so much fun, eating some good food and doing some amazing thigns!! I swam with dolphins once at a resort in Hawaii, it was so fun, I would love to do it again!
Glad you are having such an amazing trip! I am supah jealous!!
This has seriously been such a treat to live vicariously through you!! If I could have any pet, I would want a donkey and an elephant. : )
Tarzan of the ocean – you totally crack me up!!! Initially I was going to say a horse, because they are hands down my favorite animal. But then my practical brain kicked in, and I decided that instead of a horse, I would like one of those tiny little monkeys (I think they’re called Capuchin monkeys). You know, like the one in Night at the Museum? I want one because a) they are adorable, b) I can snuggle up with it like a cat, c) I can play with it, because they seem to be really funny and entertaining animals, and d) I can train it to do stuff… and e) it has opposable thumbs, which is just cool. haha. So there you go, my pet of choice.
Your day sounds magnificent! Swimming with dolphins sounds incredibly fun. I also wanted to say that your toes look super cute!
What a wonderful vacation that you are getting to have with your family. Cherish it!
I’m so jealous! I actually really wanted to be a marine biologist when I was younger after seeing Zeus and Roxanne (that movie about the dog and the dolphin? No one else except me seems to have seen it!
). Sounds like an awesome day!
I’d actually be really happy just having a dog as a pet! I’ve only ever had goldfish before hahaha.
I am seeriously jealous that you got to swim with the dolphins. I have ALWAYS wanted to do that! I know a mermaid isn’t a real animal but I would totally be a mermaid (yup I’m a dork). I would love to be able to hang out in the water all the time OR be ok out of the water too.
PS I also just got my toes and nails done for the first time SINCE GRADUATING IN MAY and also keep staring at them. It is the best feeling ever – definitely something to do more often
I have been obsessed with sea creatures and training them ever since my first trip to gulf world in panama city florida when I was8!! Sea world website has a page of requirements to become a trainer. It’s a little intense. Unfortunately.
i concur with a few commentators above! watch the cove and see how the poor animals are treated in these places, it will break your heart!
I had the biggest obsession with Dolphins around the age of 11-15ish. I mean major. I had audio of whales, stuffed animals, tacky jewellery, and planned on being a marine biologist. I got to sign up for a dolphin encounter in the Bahamas, and it was amazing! You are so lucky you got to swim with them!!! And the walnut cake wasn’t good??!! So disappointing- it almost looks like a pecan tart. So envious of the coconut ice cream! Your vacation and family seem so amazing!
Barbara
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