National Aquarium in Baltimore

National Aquarium in Baltimore - Dolphin Show

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Slideshow | Lightbox (103) Tags: aquarium baltimore entertainment maryland museums usa Posted: May 18, 2009 by Val

Pier 4 Pavilion houses a 1,200,000-gallon (4,540,000-litre) tank and dedicated exclusively to Atlantic bottlenose dolphin show scheduled daily. The length of the show is about 25 minutes. It's interesting and produces a strong impression. I would say it's a must to see especially if you have never seen dolphins from a short distance. I would like also to mention that Aquarium also offers so-called behind-the-scene or immersion tours where you can an insider perspective on all exhibits and get in much closer contacts with animals. Two of such tours are dedicated to dolphins: Dolphin Encounter and Breakfast with the Dolphins. Such tours take usually 2.5 hours, require a special reservation and are rather expensive (from $45 to $200). Immersion tours offered at present time (2009) and not related to dolphins include: Little Explorers Tour: Stripes and Polka Dots, Gallery Tour, Sharks! Behind-the-Scenes Tour, Rain Forest Sleepover, Sleepover with the Sharks, Guest Diver Program.

Keep in mind two things. First, the dolphin show requires an additional fee - the difference in price between the base price and ticket with dolphin show is $3. Secondly, when you buy a ticket to the Aquarium, the time of your show is set for you. Most likely it will be 1 hour 30 minutes later than you Aquarium admission time. If you visit the Aquarium on one of the weekend days, my recommendation is to come to the Lyn P. Meyerhoff Amphitheater (where the show takes place) a bit earlier. The doors of amphitheater are opened 30 minutes before the beginning of the show.

Below is small photo gallery that illustrates various moments of this frolic performance (for those who are interested - most of the pictures, with the exception of the first five, were taken with Canon 300mm f2.8L IS lens)

Pier 4 Pavilion with Lyn P. Meyerhoff Amphitheater	Aquarium concourse - pathway to Pier 4 Pavilion	Pier 4 Pavilion Amphitheater	Life support and filtration facilities underneath the Amphitheater
Walls of the huge water tank are clear to see dolphins	Awaiting commands and... food	Dolphins can perform many stunts	Dolphins seem to be very joyful in everything they do
Posing for audience	All sorts of balls are used during the show	We are looking at dolphins; dolphins are looking at us	There is a very strong bond between dolphins and their trainers
An obligatory volunteer from public is invited to touch one of the dolphins	Dolphins are very precise in their movements which can be quite complex - like rotating	Swimming in the upright position	Dolphins love to jump, and they do this gracefully
Scratching dolphin's belly	This dolphin was trying to mimic trainer walking	Shaking hands or fins	Dancing with dolphin - also, note how big this animal is
Pushing and splashing	Dolphins understand gestures as well	Something in this picture tells me that dolphins are very friendly	That was a very high jump
Balancing a ball on the tip of its nose	Atrium cafe and shop - some of few amenities in Pier 4 Pavilion	View from Atrium cafe	Any more or less serious museum in America has coin machines