Island Dolphin Care
Island Dolphin Care
5
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Sunday
10:30 AM - 3:30 PM
About
Island Dolphin Care is a not-for-profit organization seeking life-changing solutions for children and families with special needs as well as veterans living with PTSD. Funded entirely by grants, donors, and visitors, IDC is a place where people facing challenges come to experience joy and thrive!
Duration: 1-2 hours
Does not meet animal welfare
guidelines
Tripadvisor does not provide bookings for this experience because it does not meet our animal welfare guidelines.
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See what travellers are saying
- DSDMKMerrick, New York38 contributionsA must do in Key Largo!!We took the tour of the facility and it was the highlight of our keys trip. What they do is phenomenal and it made us leave with so much gratitude. Their story is so touching. Our tour guide Missy was so informative, we learned so much about the dolphins and what they do. You are up close with the dolphins, even without an interactive tour. It was just us 2 and another family of 3, so very personal. They treat their dolphins like family. I highly recommend taking this tour and supporting their cause.Visited February 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 22 February 2024
- Kathleen P2 contributionsEncounter of a lifetimeI had never been close to dolphins before and it was definitely a bucket list wish. I have MS and knew that actually swimming with dolphins was something I was not physically strong enough to handle. The trainers at Island Dolphin Care created a perfect session that enabled me to get close and personal without fear. I felt a special connection to the momma dolphin too and could have spent the whole day with her too! I came away with more confidence in my abilities. What an amazing organization. I admire their mission and expertise. I highly recommend this to anyone but especially those with physical limitations.Visited February 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 24 February 2024
- joanneitrnCalifornia1 contributionGreat family experience.The team was very professional and saw to our needs. You can tell they all love the dolphins. The staff and trainees are very knowledgeable and really care about the family of dolphins in their care. We asked a lot of questions and they graciously answered them all. Well worth the trip from California to see them.Visited March 2024Travelled with familyWritten 18 March 2024
- Patricia C1 contributionWonderful Morning at Island Dolphin CareThis was the most amazing morning that we have ever spent in the Keys. The experience with the dolphin was truly memorable. The staff are so committed and welcoming. The dolphins were truly delightful. This is an experience that will make us smile every time we think of it.Visited March 2024Travelled with familyWritten 20 March 2024
- Linsey A4 contributionsBest time everWe had such a great time. Everyone was fabulous! Missy did a great job communicated, and alyssa was excellent with the girls. All the staff was excellent and so much fun ! Such a cool experience and they made my daughter feel so special for her birthday. Thank you guys we will definitely be back. What a great organization.Visited March 2024Travelled with familyWritten 30 March 2024
- penny b20 contributionsAmazing!!We visited Island dolphin care as a family of 4 and all took part in the on the dock experience to meet the dolphins close-up. This was simply an amazing experience! The staff were so passionate about their work and the dolphins are so beautiful and clever. This experience was the highlight of our trip to the Florida Keys. Loved it!Visited April 2024Travelled with familyWritten 11 April 2024
- Elena B1 contributionAmazing unforgettable experienceMy has ASD, and we came to IDC for a 5-day therapy program. Our therapist, Miss Danielle, was amazing — kind, professional, and truly exceptional. From the very beginning, she established a great connection with both of my children. The therapy sessions in the classroom were filled with a variety of interesting activities such as painting, sensory exercises, coordination tasks, speech therapy, and many more. The whole family got involved, which made the experience even more rewarding. Swimming with dolphins was an unforgettable experience, brimming with happiness and joy for our entire family. My son with ASD absolutely loved it, and I can already see positive changes in him. I am incredibly thankful for the entire IDC team.Visited April 2024Travelled with familyWritten 28 April 2024
- Venture491937829751 contributionGreat Family ExperienceIsland Dolphin Care was perfect for us and our 2 yo son. We went at the beginning of the week for a tour, and we saw all the dolphins, saw them do all their tricks, and learned a lot. We didn’t pay for the additional add-ons like actually touching and interacting with the dolphins, but we may do it when my son is older. We were extremely close to them though. The facilities themselves are intimate, and we loved that that Island Dolphin Care is a nonprofit and helps others. We hope to be back and highly recommend it!Visited April 2024Travelled with familyWritten 1 May 2024
- GG S1 contribution5 day Dolphin Therapy.For our family, dolphin therapy is unforgettable. I would like to express my deep gratitude to Ms.Johnson, Team and, of course, the dolphins for the wonderful individual approach to each child, each family and for your professionalism. After dolphin therapy, I see only positive moments in communication with my son and daughters. During the week, my kiddos participated in classroom activities and water activities with dolphins, with the support of the Therapy Team. This is great motivation for all of us, communication skills have improved. The dolphins are great friends and we will definitely be back. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!Visited April 2024Travelled with familyWritten 9 May 2024
- TravelingOYEsterPalm Beach, Florida407 contributionsAmazing Experience!We had an amazing experience with Misty. From booking to the actual day - we were extremely impressed. They were very flexible as one kid wanted to the swim with the dolphins (which was amazing) while the other kid has some disabilities - we were unsure if they would want to participate. They allowed us to sign up for the dolphin meet and greet but gave us the option to upgrade if the kiddo showed interest in the swim. It was kind of them to offer this option. Both kids had unique and amazing experiences. It was quiet and not overwhelming whatsoever. Would 100% recommend (especially for kids with ASD).Visited November 2024Travelled with familyWritten 24 November 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
392 reviews
Excellent
374
Very good
15
Average
1
Poor
1
Terrible
1
Departure34912008085
1 contribution
Jan 2024 • Family
My mother, grandmother and I were referred to Dolphin Island Care by our AirBNB host and it did not disappoint. From the moment we walked in we were greeted by friendly staff and volunteers, who were knowledge, polite and positive. We booked a tour and were blown away by not only the information we learned but the staff's willingness to interact with us and allow us to interact with the dolphins. I was able to donate a little more for an up close tour with the dolphins where they showed off their many tricks! Not only did we have a great time but we donated to a great cause! Thank you Dolphin Island Care!
Written 30 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Merav d
3 contributions
Nov 2023 • Family
What a wonderful experience. We paid $20 per person. They were flexible with the time of the tour. They told us how they use the space for training the dolphins. Learned a lot about these beautiful animals. Plus saw them being trained. Highly recommend doing this when in the area. Great for all ages!
Written 28 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
frieda
germany12 contributions
Jan 2025 • Family
Expertly guided by Alyssa as she shared stories of the dolphin mission. The dolphins are clearly loved by their caregivers and people’s lives are transformed by association, education, and therapy. We also enjoyed the touch tank with sea urchins, cucumbers, snails, and starfish. It was a truly memorable day
Written 20 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gigliola M
Hollywood, FL1 contribution
Dec 2023 • Couples
Amazing experience, such a lovely and caring place. We did the tour. My wife's dream was to be with dolphins and we were abel to spend some time meeting Bella, shaking hands, giving hi fives and she even sang Happy Birthday to my wife. The trainers were amazing, you can fell the love they have for this animals that help so many people in therapy instances. We enjoyed our time so much that we are going to be communicating with management to see if we can become volunteers. We definitely built longlife memories and can't wait to bring my kids.
Written 6 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cylau12
Millbrae, CA2 contributions
Jul 2022
Our family and son with ASD participated in Island Dolphin Care's 3 day program while we were in Key Largo. We probably would have done the 5 day program, but it was the 4th of July week and we had already planned a few other excursions during our time there. From the start, the communication with the staff at IDC was professional, warm, and caring. It was clear that they are NOT a tourist trap or an amusement park, and ARE completely dedicated to animal assisted therapy and individually tailored therapy sessions. Although the application form took about 25 minutes to fill out, the staff carefully review it to tailor the session to your child and family's needs, and they already knew a lot of specifics about each family member including names, preferences, and dislikes when we first arrived.
I'm not sure if it's because they were still in the process of reopening to the public post-COVID or the holiday weekend, but we had the WHOLE place to ourselves during our 2 hour morning therapy sessions. There was a warm welcome sign welcoming our son and our family, and the staff were also there to welcome us. The lead therapist we worked with, Eli, has over 16 years of experience at IDC and was a special education teach before that. We always felt well cared for and most importantly, our son was engaged, happy, and looked forward to going to the sessions. It probably also helped that they had elevators at the facility (he loves elevators), and he did some bubble painting the first day before going to swim with the dolphins (he loves bubbles). The dolphin swims were amazing, and the staff took pictures the whole time that they then uploaded to a website where we had full access so we could be fully present during the experience. The dolphin trainers are very knowledgable, friendly, and accustomed to working with families with special needs.
Overall, I highly recommend IDC. If we ever return to Key Largo, we'll be back!
I'm not sure if it's because they were still in the process of reopening to the public post-COVID or the holiday weekend, but we had the WHOLE place to ourselves during our 2 hour morning therapy sessions. There was a warm welcome sign welcoming our son and our family, and the staff were also there to welcome us. The lead therapist we worked with, Eli, has over 16 years of experience at IDC and was a special education teach before that. We always felt well cared for and most importantly, our son was engaged, happy, and looked forward to going to the sessions. It probably also helped that they had elevators at the facility (he loves elevators), and he did some bubble painting the first day before going to swim with the dolphins (he loves bubbles). The dolphin swims were amazing, and the staff took pictures the whole time that they then uploaded to a website where we had full access so we could be fully present during the experience. The dolphin trainers are very knowledgable, friendly, and accustomed to working with families with special needs.
Overall, I highly recommend IDC. If we ever return to Key Largo, we'll be back!
Written 12 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jessamyn L
Riverdale, NY2 contributions
Jan 2025 • Family
We had a lovely time visiting the facility with our young kids. Alyssa led the tour, giving a lot of fascinating information about their program and dolphins in general. We spent a lot of time watching the dolphins and even interacting with them through hand signals that the dolphins recognize. It’s a good idea to call ahead to find out when the tour will run. Everyone there was very friendly, helpful, and welcoming.
Written 8 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Susan
1 contribution
Feb 2019 • Couples
We left the facility 5 minutes after we arrived when we realized the facility was not a rehab for dolphins but a cage for trapped wildlife that had been ripped away from their family in the ocean. My mother in law had bought the tickets and we were mislead about what the dolphin care center was about. I do appreciate that they are trying to do good in the world for children with disabilities but it is at the expense of another living thing. When we asked how the dolphins came to the center our tour guide tip toed around the question (I don’t blame her because she was probably told lies from the owners) but she did announce that dolphins in captivity live longer. This is completely untrue and a full blown lie. Have you ever seen Black Fish or done any research on dolphins or whales in the wild vs captivity? These bold statements are fabricated to make the people working here to feel ok about keeping wild animals trapped in a small swimming pool to perform for treats. I feel bad that so many are duped into buying tickets and continuing the cycle of hunting sea life to trap them in a pool until they die.
Written 7 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Susan,
And thank you for your response. We understand your sentiment and we are absolutely in alignment with what you are saying. We feel exactly the same about animals being taken from the wild and are 100% against those practices, which is why we have spent our lives trying to come up with solutions. This is our primary focus and we do everything in our power to avoid exploitation of animals in every manner. It has been a long journey to achieve what we have achieved and there is a long way to go. To clarify how our dolphins came to the center so you can better understand what we are working to achieve, over the course of the last decades we have successfully removed these 8 dolphins from being used in "swim with dolphins" programs and we DO NOT offer these experiences to the public. Our goal is to give these dolphins the best possible lives and working to raise the funds with other collaborative partners to create an open ocean sanctuary. That said, this requires an immense amount of support and working to acquire the $10+ million is very challenging as you can imagine. So along the way, to care for these animals at the highest level is also a significant cost that we work relentlessly to raise. The manner that we have been able to stay afloat without opening ourselves to the public and charging exorbitant amounts for dolphin rides is by creating therapy programs for children with special needs and PTSD veterans, and using these efforts to justify fundraising. More than half of our families receive scholarships to come to our program and no veteran has ever paid to participate.
We didn't create the problem that exists. We are dedicating our lives to making it better for the animals until we solve the problem, and it has become our lives work.
No animal should be taken from the wild and no animal should be exploited for the entertainment of humans.
So as we agree with your sentiment, it seems that our efforts were obviously not articulated clearly while you were briefly visiting. The practice of hunting sea life to place them in captivity should be abolished globally and in most countries already is without federal permission. Again, we didn't capture these animals, we are dedicating our lives to improve their situation.
Written 11 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Amy M
5 contributions
Nov 2019
My daughter and I shared a dockside experience. It was just magical. One of the veterinarians was our dockside guide and really took time to answer all of our questions. I love the mission of this group, helping those who are differently abled and their families as well as educating others about these beautiful mammals.
Written 3 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris S
Victor, ID17 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
We love informative, historical tours wherever we go. This was amazing. It is rare to find a person totally suited to and happy with his job. This is Joe, our guide. He spent a ton of time with us, educating us on every aspect of Island Dolphin Care, including its history, therapy, dolphin care, grounds, facility and staff. There was a small tank that had crustaceans and other small sea life which a person could touch and observe. We were fortunate enough to observe a therapy session with the dolphins and speak with a staff member about their approach to therapy. Watching the response of the participants helped us comprehend what a joyful impact this opportunity could have on anyone, not just those challenged by disabilities. One dolphin even gave a belly ride, where an individual lays on the belly, and the dolphin swims on its back to take the rider to the dock. Were were there over an hour. Great opportunity for all ages.
Written 17 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kristy G
2 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
IDC is the most magical place on Earth and the therapists and trainers are some of the best we have worked with! They welcomed our whole family with open arms and were so patient and kind with our daughter, she has two brain disorders and is nonverbal. Danielle and Eli were so amazing with her and both of my older neurotypical sons (13 and 16)! They brought our whole family together and it was so special to see her and her brothers bonding and coming together to make special crafts for us to take home. It was just what we all needed. My daughter was so excited and bonded so well with the beautiful dolohins, too. She thrived and the smiles on her face all week made me cry tears of happiness.
We made memories that will last a lifetime and I am forever grateful for the whole staff at IDC!
We made memories that will last a lifetime and I am forever grateful for the whole staff at IDC!
Written 14 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
If the Tour is at 11:30, can we come earlier and browse around or do you just arrive, have a tour of one hour then leave Island Dolphin Care?
Written 15 November 2019
You can browse in the lobby which has aquariums and a gift shop. Due to insurance and USDA regulations visitors are not able to be outside without a staff person to guide them.
Your tour guide will not rush you and provide all of the time needed to answer all of your questions. The average length of stay is an hour. Please call our office should you have additional questions that were not answered here. We look forward to having you learn more about our programs and dolphin family!
Written 16 November 2019
Compass78753
Babson Park, Florida
Do you offer opportunities for autistic children to come and experience an interaction with the Dolphins?
John Fazzini
Written 6 June 2019
Island Dolphin Care
Key Largo, Florida
Yes we do. Call our office to learn about the variety of programs we can provide for you. Each program is designed and tailored to your individual needs
Written 7 June 2019
בוקר טוב
כמה עולה כניסה לשחיה עם דולפינים? ואיפה זה קי לרגו במיאמי?
Written 7 March 2019
Key largo is an hour from Miami - Can be longer depending on where in Miami you are coming from and the time of day you are traveling. We offer many different programs. I suggest you call and speak with us once you arrive to decide what programs interests you .
Written 7 March 2019
Is it ok for Kids of 3 and 5 years old?
Written 27 January 2019
Yes they enjoy seeing the dolphins , the aquariums, holding starfish , and other invertebrates- the gift shop is great too 👍
Written 29 January 2019
Hi,
We are a family with two kids. How much will it cost for a half a day program?
Written 23 June 2018
Island Dolphin Care
Key Largo, Florida
Thank you
Our programs are customized for each participant. Can you call our office to discuss your needs? The phone is 305-451-5884.
Written 24 June 2018
I will be coming into Key Largo July 14-20 with my daughter and granddaughter. My granddaughter will be a freshman at Penn State University as a biology major and has an interest in marine biology. I thnk visiting your center would be valuable to her as well as to me and her mom. Do I need to make reservations and how can I find out more specifics about the Dolphin Care?
Thank you,
Natalie Smith
Written 26 May 2018
Island Dolphin Care
Key Largo, Florida
thanks so much for your interest in our facility and programs. We provide tours to the general public as well as classes in Marine Mammal Veterinary Medicine. Please call ahead of time to schedule your tour.
Written 1 June 2018
Can ONLY special needs children come here? Or can anyone come?
Written 6 May 2018
Island Dolphin Care
Key Largo, Florida
Thank you for your interest in our facility and programs. We provide therapeutic programs, marine science education, internships for therapy programs & animal care for college level and above students and tours to the general public. For more information you can take a look at the website or call us at 305451-5884.
Written 9 May 2018
Hello I'm intrested in finding out the cost per person. I'm inquiring for my niece (her son has FOP/his muscles turning to bone) and for my husband who suffers from PTSD (Vietnam Veteran) and 100% disabled. I Heard of this center from the movie "The Girl Whose Muscles are Turning to Bone" (Luciana). This is the same condition my great nephew has.
Thank you,
Susana Depuy
Written 27 June 2017
Island Dolphin Care
Key Largo, Florida
Thanks for your inquiry ! Please call our office or use the "contact" button on our website page to send a direct and private email. Every program we provide is individualized for each participant. Once we have more information about your families needs we can assist you with all of your questions. If you prefer to speak with someone call - 305-451-5884 and ask for Kelly ! Hope to see you here soon!
Written 29 June 2017
I saw all ages in the therapy pools and they discussed treating autistic individuals.
Written 18 July 2016
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