Dolphin Cove

Dolphin Cove sells this park as Dolphin Cove Montego Bay, though it sits on the A1 coast road in Hanover, well west of the city. The lagoon is a fenced stretch of open sea, billed as the largest natural dolphin lagoon in the world.

You pick a programme rather than just walk in. The cheapest is a short meet and greet in the shallows; the Swim Adventure gives you a 30-minute orientation and then about half an hour in deep water with one dolphin, including a belly ride and a kayak paddle, and the Royal Swim goes further. Swimmers only for the deep-water sessions, life jackets are compulsory, and children under 1.20 m are limited to the shallow encounter with two paying adults. A jerk chicken lunch comes with the interactive programmes.

Personal cameras are not allowed during the session, so photos are bought from the park. Use biodegradable sunscreen and bring a change of clothes. The site is wheelchair accessible. A taxi from the resort is the easy way there, and session times can move when a cruise ship is in port.