The Sea World Information Guide is not owned or operated by Sea World or any of their employees. It is authored by an individual that is in NO WAY connected with Sea World in any sense. Questions or requests sent to feedback@theswig.com are neither forwarded to nor answered by Sea World personnel. They are read by me, and I answer them to the best of my ability. I can usually point you to the proper information source if I cannot answer your question.
My most frequently asked question (over 75% of the time) and the third most popular search term is "How do I swim with the dolphins?" and a lot of you are here to ask just that question. This answer also appears on my FAQ page. How do you swim with them? Read on...
The most expensive option is the Trainer for a Day program. For about $350, you spend a day shadowing a Sea World trainer. You are guaranteed several interactions with a variety of animals (I got to give signals to, feed, and touch killer whales!), plus some time in the water with a dolphin. It's a lot of fun, and in my opinion worth one month's car payment. Advance reservations are MANDATORY as they send you a package in the mail including forms that must be returned before your experience.
The second most expensive option is to visit Anheuser-Busch's premium experience theme park, Discovery Cove. Here, you actually DO get to swim with the dolphins (up to 30 minutes). It costs $229 for this experience, and you have to make reservations in advance. For more information visit the Discovery Cove website.
Sea World San Diego and San Antonio have a Dolphin Interaction Program (DIP for short). It lasts about 2 hours total, with 20 minutes of that time spent in the water with the dolphins. You do NOT get to swim with them; you are waist deep in the pool. You do get to touch them, feed them, and command them to perform behaviors. The cost for this program is around $135. (They used to have a DIP in Florida as well, but it appears that it is gone due to nearby Discovery Cove.)
Sea World Texas has a Sea Lion Interaction Program (SLIP) and a Beluga Whale Interaction Program (BLIP). As far as I have been able to learn, they are pretty similar to the DIP.
I don't have much information on the DIP on my site because I've not yet done it myself. (Hey, this site is a hobby, not a business, I pay all my own expenses!)
You may wish to check the official SeaWorld site for more DIP, SLIP, or BLIP information.You can also contact the park nearest you directly. Park contact information can be found on my FAQ page.
