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Bonding Time with the Clown of the Sea!

Swim with the Sea Lion

Sea lions are some of the most graceful sea creatures in the water and possibly one of the funniest on land. At the facility in the Florida Keys however you get to experience the majesty and friendship that the sea lion offers in one of the most intimate and playful settings you will ever experience. There are few animals that can be considered as playful, funny, and majestic as the sea lion.

Sea Lions in the Florida Keys
Sea Lions in the Florida Keys

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Educational Orientation . . . Wait for it!

During the sea lion encounter you are led into the arena where a trainer is waiting to meet you. There the trainer will educate you on a few fun facts about the sea lion so you can better understand and connect with the beautiful animal you are about to bond with. At this point some people might get a little anxious and want to know where the sea lion is and the trainer will then motion to the entrance and there will come the cutest and funniest animal you will ever see on land.

Clown of the Sea
Clown of the Sea

Enter! Creature of the hour!

The sea lion will waddle out and jump into the natural salt water lagoon and meet you, its nose and mane poised proudly. He will raise one of its flippers to greet you and bob its head in acknowledgment of your new friendship. He will mimic your actions, in a taunting and playful manner, which really will justify his reputation of being the clown of the sea. Then he will slip into the water and the real fun will begin.

Sea Lion Hug in the Florida Keys
Sea Lion Hug in the Florida Keys

From Cute and Clumsy to Majestic Master

The sea lion glides into the water with a majesty that almost takes you by surprise after seeing him waddle on his front flippers on land. As you sit on the edge the graceful mammal will come and put its flipper on your lap in a kind of comforting way. He acknowledges you two are friends now and the question he is asking is, “Why aren’t you playing with me?” There is a comfort in having that giant flipper pet your knees, as if consoling a child; a very human and kind gesture. If that doesn’t coax you into playing, his head will pop up out of the cool clear water and rest on your lap. His whiskers will twitch and his eyes will look into yours in a pleading and hopeful way.

You will then have the opportunity to play ball with him and watch him perform tricks. As his tricks are performed he will expect you to feed him. You will receive food and be able to feed that gentle giant and you will more than likely receive a smile and a hug in return . . . or he may just be sniffing you to see if you are stashing anymore food on your person.

Book Your Florida Keys Sea Lion Programs >>

Swim with the Sea Lion

The opportunity to swim with him will also present itself and of course he will naturally want you to join him for a playful swim though if you will look as graceful as him, is a totally different story! Good thing he is understands that you two are friends and won’t judge his audience on their grace, or lack thereof.

As the meeting with the sea lion comes to an end he will look sad. There is a personality that comes from these animals and you will know they are not happy to see you go. They will give you a hug and a kiss and wave good bye with that giant flipper of his and wait for your next visit!

Swim with the Sea Lion
Swim with the Sea Lion
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Meet and Greet the Marine life with Ron Hardy

Learn About Dolphins in Panama City Beach

Ron Hardy is a retired high school band director. For 15 years he spent his time teaching students how to bring the gift of music to the world and when he started getting close to retiring, he decided to try to find a way to give back to his community. He decided to start working at Gulf World and spends his days ensuring the you and your family have the best visit you could possibly have and walk away from Gulf World wanting to come back again soon.

The facility offers first and foremost an environment that not only pleases you as the visitor and ensures you have a good time but the employees as well. Ron Hardy does believe that if the employees are happy, the visitors are happy and therefore tries to do his part in making everyone’s day a little better. The goal that he likes to have is to make sure that everyone he encounters on his day is having a good time.

Meet Ron Hardy in this Video

Educational Fun: Understand the Animals

At the facility you can have a fun and learning experience. It is important to enjoy your vacation but if you do not take anything away from what you have seen and interacted with, the memory is not complete, in the eyes of Ron Hardy. Along with all the entertainment – the tricks the animals perform and the games you get to play with them – there is always some sort of educational insert so that you as the visitor can better understand and connect with that beautiful dolphin or sea lion you are playing with. When you understand something better, you can connect with it on a much deeper and profound level.

Many Different Animals to Discover in Panama City Beach
Many Different Animals to Discover in Panama City Beach

Too Much to Enjoy!

The facility offers a wide variety of attractions for the entire family to enjoy. There is going to be something that you like no matter what. There are performances with sea lions and dolphins, as well as sting rays. You get to feed the animals and really come to see them with a fresh look and better understand their role in the environment.  They also offer a very large selection of birds – from parrots to penguins and flamingos! You get to see them up close and they perform tricks as well for the bird lover in you! And just to be sure they have all the bases covered, they also have more reptilian attractions with crocodiles and sea turtles also making an appearance! It really is unique in that they really want to give you as much of a snapshot of the ocean as possible.

Large Bird Exhibit in Panama City Beach
Large Bird Exhibit in Panama City Beach

Mission Statement

The purpose of Gulf World is to ensure that you and your family have a good time. From the unique animal life they present to you to the performances and entertainment they provide, Ron and his staff want that when you leave the facility, every single memory you have is wonderful. They want you to remember that dolphin you bonded with and sea turtle you pet. They want you to come back and relive that very special moment because a bond between you and a dolphin is something that can never be undone or forgotten.

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Animal Education for the Whole Family in Panama City Beach
Animal Education for the Whole Family in Panama City Beach
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Enjoy Family-Friendly Gulf World at Panama City Beach FL

dolphin and trainer panama city beach

You know when you take those moments during the day to go to your happy place and your happy place has turquoise blue water that shimmers in the sun and sugary white sand beaches that caress your bare feet as you stroll along at sunset? Well, you may not have known this, but your happy place is Panama City Beach, Florida; a destination with over 27 miles of unparalleled beauty that runs along the Gulf of Mexico. There are so many wonderful attractions in the area but our personal recommendation is to check out the family-friendly shows at Gulf World in Panama City Beach.

A Video Tour of Gulf World, Panama City Beach, FL

Book Your Dolphin Programs in Panama City Beach Online Now >>>

So Many Fun Things to Do in Panama City Beach

Panama City Beach is a truly great destination for families or any large groups. There are a plethora of outdoor activities including playing some rounds of golf on one of the many fantastic 18-hole courses, getting in a game of tennis on one of the many fantastic tennis courts, parasailing, snorkeling, jet skiing, windsurfing or diving.

And if you really want to experience a once-in-a-lifetime thrill, then head to Gulf World Marine Park for a chance to swim with dolphins. You will giggle like a little kid once you get into the water with these playful mammals. You’ll experience them swimming and dancing all around you and flipping over your head. Give them hugs and kisses, then prepare to squeal with delight as you experience a dorsal fin pull.

Enjoy Even More Activities in Panama City Beach

Dolphin Show Panama City Beach
Dolphin Show Panama City Beach

There are so many more things you can do and enjoy at Gulf World in Panama City Beach. For instance, there is a wonderful interactive program where you have the opportunity to hang out with California sea lions during a training session.

You can also watch as the Gulf World staff feed the sharks and sea turtles and learn all about their behavior and natural habitat.

There’s also the “Feathers & Furry Friends Show” where you can listen to steel drums play as you enjoy the antics of colorful, tropical birds that have a wonderful sense of humor.

But that’s not all – maybe you and the family want to take in the reptile show. Some people find reptiles scaly and creepy, but Gulf World happens to think they are pretty great and wants to share some facts about these very misunderstood creatures. The reptile show features snakes, alligators and lizards!

Often the most enjoyable vacations are those that have a little magic. Well, Gulf World has that as well with the Noah Wells presents “Maximum Magic Show.” A master illusionist who has delighted hundreds of thousands of audience members over the years, Noah combines comedy, mentalism, grand illusions and audience participation in his nightly shows. Your family is guaranteed to love it.

And finally for the music lovers who are visiting Panama City Beach, Gulf World is proud to offer the music of Straight Arrow Music Group Recording Artist Todd Allen Herendeen. This artist is an award-winning entertainer that performs hits from Elvis, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash and many others. Mr. Herendeen has been the #1 music show in Panama City Beach for the past 5 years.

Panama City Beach has so much to offer visitors and Gulf World Marine Park has even more. This combo is sure to give you a vacation you’ll remember for many years to come.

Why Watch? Interact and Get Hands on with the Marine Life…

Again, You can do more than just watch the shows at Gulf World. You can pay a little extra and swim with the dolphins in Panama City Beach or get a sea lion interaction. Both these programs gives you a hands on opportunity with these amazing marine animal which also include all the shows. Its a great value and lot of fun too!!