Swimming With Dolphins Therapy

Dolphins are some of the world's most gentle mammals, and swimming with dolphins therapy has a very positive influence in the lives of many disabled and psychologically challenged individuals of all ages. As a more recently developed healing therapy, swimming with dolphins has its challengers as well.

Benefits

• According to a report by the CBS2 Early Show, there are no physical benefits for swimming with dolphins, but there are mental benefits for children who are fighting cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. By providing these kids with the memorable experience of swimming with dolphins, they have something to look forward to and to later remember when dealing with the many difficulties of their illnesses.

  Dolphins are also known for their patience, tolerance and protective natures. As curious as they are, dolphins are able to encourage positive social interaction with many mentally disabled people who are swimming with dolphins and help disabled individuals to open up and express their feelings when previously they weren't able to. After Dolphin Assisted Therapy (DAT) sessions, mentally challenged and chronically depressed individuals are better able to cope with the stresses of their lives. Dolphins are very protective and curious about disabled children and pregnant mothers.

Types of Swims

• Swimming with wild dolphins and swimming with captive dolphins are the two types of dolphin swims that exist. Swimming with wild dolphins is best done in groups for safety reasons; there are many tour groups available for this opportunity. These tour groups boat out to where dolphins are known to be in the ocean. Often, dolphins are busy eating in these locations, and sharks eat a lot of the same things dolphins do, as well as eating dolphins. Reputable tour groups are aware of the dangers and are best prepared to handle the possibility that sharks will appear. This is why it is best to be in a group rather than swimming alone.

  Dolphin Assisted Therapy is always conducted in a captive dolphin facility where the setting can be controlled; a marine biologist and physical therapist are present at each session. Disabled individuals and those who cannot swim are in shallow water while with the dolphins.

History

• In the 1950s, oceanariums and aquariums started using dolphins to demonstrate how trainable and personable these animals are. Dr. Ludmila Lukina was the first world scientist to earn a doctorate degree in 1986 for research on Dolphin Assisted Therapy. She led a team of 15 medical professionals at the State Oceanarium of Ukraine and is considered to be the founder of Dolphin Assisted Therapy techniques. Because of her research, swimming with dolphin programs became popular in the 1980s and 1990s when people recognized the benefits of interacting with dolphins.

Warning

• While swimming with dolphins is safer when with a large group, caution should still be exercised. Don't expect dolphins to protect humans when they are being threatened or pursued by sharks or other predators. Their first instinct is to run. In 2003, the Honolulu Advertiser reported that Hawaii government officials were debating whether to issue a formal warning aimed at people who wanted to swim with dolphins in the open seas after statistics of shark-related rescues increased in the previous 2 years.

Considerations

• Keeping dolphins in captivity is considered by various organizations to be cruel and unethical. According to the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA): "Consider the fact that Sea World, one of the most recognized captive dolphin facilities in the U.S., reported 93 dolphin deaths between 1971 and 2002. That's an average of three dolphins per year, assuming that all dolphin deaths were accounted for." The USDA does not regulate swimming with dolphins programs. Therefore, it is unknown exactly how many dolphins died while being captured or while held in captivity by all the companies that have swimming with dolphins programs.