Enjoy your trip as well!
Dolphins, Lasers & Elvis!
Panama City Beach, FL -The dorsal fin hit my hand, I grabbed hold, and off I went on a wild ride! Pulled through the water effortlessly, I was swung in a wide circle by a sleek dolphin... At the blast of a whistle I let go, and Allie the dolphin swam to her fishy reward. I just laughed at the thought of having experienced a once in a lifetime thrill - catching a ride from "Flipper!"
Dolphins are found throughout Panama City Beach waters, but there's only one way to legally have contact with them. That's by visiting Gulf World Marine Park and signing up for one of their Dolphin Encounter or Trainer-for-a-Day programs. Gulf World Marine Park, 15412 Front Beach Road, has been entertaining visitors to Panama City Beach since 1969, and over the years the park has grown in size, shows, and exhibits. A recently completed expansion and remodeling only adds to the attraction of one the area's oldest and best known entertainement complexes.
Michelle Irwin, the vivacious Marine Mammal Trainer who would guide us through our dolphin experience, told us interesting details on dolphin anatomy and biology.
The park is a destination in itself, the kind of place you can spend an entire day exploring. There are displays of exotic sealife from the Gulf of Mexico and wildlife from all over the globe, a one-of-a-kind "SplashMagic" laser light show, and even an Elvis tribute performance by Todd Herendeen and the Follow That Dream Band!
Interspersed throughout the rambling park are theaters, tropical gardens, hands-on animal exhibits, and an underwater scuba show. The theaters - one for sea lions, one for the underwater show, another for the parrot show, and the state-of-the-art dolphin habitat - all offer excellent vantage points to see the performances.
But it is through innovative programs like their Dolphin Encounter and Trainer-for-a-Day that Gulf World stands out. These offer visitors the chance to experience the animals in a way they can't in the wild or at most parks. My wife and I were lucky enough to be invited to join one of the Dolphin Encounters.
Our Encounter began with a short, educational classroom session. Michelle Irwin, the vivacious Marine Mammal Trainer who would guide us through our dolphin experience, told us interesting details on dolphin anatomy and biology. From there we went to locker rooms, changed into swimwear and then went out to the large dolphin exhibit stage.
Through the glass on the sides of the pools we could see three bottlenose dolphins cavorting beneath the Gulf waters that are pumped into the tanks. Split into two groups, with the younger kids kept together, we took up stations at either end of the tank.
Michelle had us walk onto a ledge three feet below the waterline and called Sandy the dolphin towards us. With the squeak we've all heard from reruns of "Flipper," the eight foot long dolphin lifted its head from the water and waved a flipper at us.
From then on Michelle walked us through giving Sandy the commands for various behaviors, including jumping, diving and shaking hands. Everyone in the group got several chances to interact with Sandy, and later Allie, a young dolphin born at Gulf World. But the most eagerly anticipated segment was when each of us was given the chance to be pulled through the water by one of the dolphins!
Even if you don't participate in the Dolphin Encounter program, you can still get a close-up look at the dolphins, and all the other animals at the park. There are three dolphin shows throughout the day, as well as shark feedings, underwater scuba demonstrations, performances by sea lions and parrots, and a stingray petting pool.
A new show this year is the Elvis Tribute put on by Todd Herendeen. This high-energy show runs most nights at the park (call for details), and is a fun way to take a break and watch as a very talented performer reworks the magic of a live show by the King of Rock & Roll.
After that, take in the SplashMagic laser light show, a stunning visual presentation that features a dizzying array of laser lights that combine to create a spectacular display. Blasting off with a near-3D space shuttle, the show weaves its way through the cosmos, time and earth's history while dazzling the audience with sights, sounds and an infectious music track.
IThe SplashMagic laser light show takes place in the dolphin habitat theater, under the open sky. It's an impressive and visually intoxicating display that provides the perfect ending to a day spent marveling at creatures great and small.
In addition to its commercial programs, Gulf World also participates in the Marine Mammal Stranding Network. Throughout the year, when word comes that dolphins or other marine animals have become stranded or are otherwise in need of help, a team of animal experts are sent to the rescue.
A voluntary effort by Gulf World, this role as area coordinator for the Network has benefited numerous animals through the years. The park doesn't receive any money for these charitable acts, so your entrance fees help them help our wild friends!
From Behind the Scenes tours to Dolphin Encounters
to stage performances to petting pools to laser shows, Gulf World
Marine Park has something to offer everyone in the family! 
