Dolphin Cay

The dolphins live in 14 acres of ocean-fed lagoons at the edge of the Atlantis grounds, part of what the resort bills as the largest open-air marine habitat in the world. It also houses a rescue and rehabilitation centre for marine animals.

There are more than twenty ways in, and the age limits sort them out. Splash and Discover is a shallow-water meet-and-greet for any age, and Sea Squirts is a wading programme for three- to six-year-olds. From six you can swim freely with a dolphin in the deep lagoon or kayak over it while the dolphins follow the boat. From thirteen there is paddleboarding among them and Underwater Explorer, a snorkel alongside the dolphins with a hand-held underwater scooter. Sea lion meetings, a stingray lagoon, a snorkel over the sunken Atlantis ruins, and a long trainer-for-a-day for those who want the whole shift fill out the list. If you only want to watch, an observer or beach pass puts you on the private sand while the dolphins play a few metres off.

Unlike Blue Lagoon, there is no boat to catch. Non-guests come in on an Atlantis Day Pass, and money from the programmes goes to the Atlantis Blue Project Foundation's reef and sea-life work.