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Embark on Dolphin Adventure! Meet, Swim, Snorkel or Dive with Dolphins!

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8 years ago

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BY ALYSSA MAHADEO 

The ocean is a wondrous place filled with many majestic animals that are intelligent, social creatures and can attribute to some of the mysteries of the open sea. On an island like Curaçao, the ocean is a big part of the island’s real estate and residents have taken the extra initiative to learn about the animals that live in the salt waters that surround them.

The Sea Aquarium Park in Curaçao is home to the Dolphin Academy founded in 2002 to offer people a comprehensive, interactive and educational encounter with the animals that live there.

Dolphins are highly intelligent marine mammals, included as part of the toothed whale family that also consists of Orcas and Pilot Whales. These smart and playful animals can be found worldwide mainly in shallow seas of the continental shelves and they are carnivores mostly indulging in fish and squid.

The Dolphin Academy’s mission is to reveal the truth about dolphins especially since throughout history they have been painted as mythological creatures full of magic and wonder. At the Dolphin Academy, they offer a unique and intimate experience to help educate people through an informative interaction with the animals that encourages people to make personal connections and explore a sense of wonder and fascination based on fact not fiction.

The Dolphins are a very popular attraction for visitors to Curaçao and the Dolphin Academy places the utmost importance on the physical and mental well-being of the animals under their care. It is their number one priority to ensure an intimate and genuine interaction between humans and dolphins. This places strict regulations on the number of participants in a group so that the dolphins are free to interact through their natural impulses. The care and training of the dolphins for all their programs is based upon the following idea; whenever the dolphins respond correctly they are rewarded. If they make a mistake the trainers simply try again or proceed with a different request.

On our first day on the island, we were invited to visit the Dolphin Academy in Curaçao for an up close and personal experience with these majestic creatures of the sea. There is a total of twenty-two dolphins at the academy and they are all trained to participate in various experiences and encounters with humans. Before you can participate in a Dolphin Experience, you are asked to watch an informational video about the Dolphin training experience, how they are raised at the academy and how they are encouraged to explore the open water, a testament to the cooperative relationship that the trainers have developed with the Dolphins.

The video briefly explains the mission of the academy along with all the in-depth research, history and conservation of Dolphins and other sea life. They talk about the importance of understanding the preservation of the ocean, addressing issues like noise pollution that causes stress to the animals, choosing environmentally safe products, recycling and disposing of wastes responsibly and suggesting proactive ways that individuals can help protect lakes, streams, rivers and oceans. After the video, participants are taken into a classroom to receive more intimate knowledge of Dolphin interaction. Instruction is given in any language required and a trainer will explain how the animals respond to your touch, where on their bodies it is safe to connect with them and how they are very sensitive to the energy we give off. Dolphins are playful creatures and respond to the energies and vibrations of the people around them. The more comfortable and confident a swimmer is, the more relaxed the dolphin will be.

There are five different and equally informational dolphin experiences that are accessible to the public that allows you to go swimming and snorkeling with them in their natural lagoon. The lagoons are spacious and not sectioned off into individual pens. Therefore, the dolphins themselves reserve the right to stop any program by simply leaving an area inhabited by visitors.

The Dolphin Encounter is safe for persons of all ages. You will stand in waist deep water accompanied by a trainer where you will have the opportunity to touch, kiss and hug a dolphin while learning about them, and the trainer provides an interactive lesson on the dolphin’s body and behaviour.

The second experience is a Dolphin Swim, a more unique and intimate encounter of real interaction where you can swim alongside the dolphins with a pair of fins of your own. The warm sand and saltwater provides a magical experience, where with instruction from a trainer you can give the dolphins signals and watch them wave, sing, spin and lots more!

The third experience is a Dolphin Free Dive, where you can fully submerge yourself under the sea in their world allowing for them to dive down beside you where you can gently pet and interact with them underwater, as well as participate in an echolocation experiment.

The Dolphin Scuba Encounter and Open Water Dolphin Dive are even more up close and personal experiences with the Dolphins where you can scuba in the lagoon, or accompany the dolphins out of the lagoon and interact with them with other divers in the ocean. Both programs are executed in cooperation with the Ocean Encounters Dive Center.

We had the chance to experience our very own Dolphin Encounter and Dolphin swim, both equally unique, informational and magically interactive experiences. Being around the animals is an enlightening experience, their energy infectious and honestly, we could have spent hours under the warm Caribbean sun swimming alongside them like mermaids.

The Dolphin Academy offers many courses to learn and educate yourself about dolphins with specialized training programs for children and more intensive courses for adults. In addition, the Curaçao Dolphin Therapy Center offers a unique and effective therapy program for children and adults with disabilities that has proven to make real progress in their functional development and sense of well-being.

Discovering the unknown depths of the underwater sea world with the humans of the sea is an unforgettable almost once in a lifetime experience. For those of us who live here in Toronto, the experiences call us back for more! When you book your next vacation to Curaçao, be sure that you visit the Dolphin Academy, make some memories with the Dolphins, discover and be impressed by the mysteries of the sea!

The Dolphin Academy is located in Bapor Kibrȧ, Willemstad Curaçao at the Curaçao Sea Aquarium. If you interested in booking your very own magical dolphin experience visit their website at https://dolphin-academy.com/ to make a reservation or give them a call at +599 9 465 8900.

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Antigua & Barbuda Welcomes More Canadians as Air Canada Adds New Flights

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2 years ago

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October 10, 2022

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St. John’s, Antigua – The dual-island destination of Antigua & Barbuda is seeing an uptick in Canadian traffic just in time for the winter travel season. Beginning today, October 8th, a new offering of flights from Air Canada is expected to help realize a recovery to pre-pandemic airlift levels in the Canadian market.
The Air Canada flight arrived this afternoon carrying 106 passengers from Toronto and the aircraft was given a welcome back water cannon salute.  Passengers were also greeted by cultural dancers and music and small token welcome gifts.
“We are extremely pleased with Air Canada’s decision to both resume and increase service to our shores and look forward to extending our famous Antigua and Barbuda hospitality to our Canadian visitors,” said Colin James, Chief Executive Officer of The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority. “We know many Canadians are more than ready for a vacation and we are equally ready to provide the relaxation and escape that Canadians have been craving.”
As noted, the rollout of the new service begins today with a single direct flight weekly from Toronto (YYZ) to St. John’s (ANU). Service will continue to ramp up to meet the traditional demand of the holiday season, with Air Canada forecasting the eventual operation of five weekly flights at peak traffic.
Travellers from Montreal looking to fly south for the winter can look forward to once-a-week direct flights (YUL to ANU) beginning December 23rd.
The return of Air Canada flights to Antigua & Barbuda comes in the wake of the destination’s latest travel advisory, which has lifted all COVID-19 restrictions for passengers arriving by air, yacht, and ferry. While a successful strategy of mass vaccinations and proactive public awareness campaigns has kept COVID-19 infection levels low, visitors are still encouraged to wear masks and practice social distancing in public spaces where crowds are likely to gather. You can read the latest travel advisory here.
“Over the course of the pandemic, Antigua and Barbuda has seen a monumental, joint effort involving both the government and industry stakeholders to make the destination as safe as it can be,” said Mr. James. “With that goal now realized and our Canadian friends set to return, we are extremely excited that our guests will once again be able to experience everything our home has to offer.”

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Gambling Regulations In Canada And The Caribbean: What You Need To Know

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2 years ago

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August 27, 2022

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There are several trusted licensing authorities that oversee land-based and online gambling in the Caribbean, and in Canada, it’s all overseen in each province by the local provincial government. You also have the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, which is situated on an Indian land reserve in Quebec.

This trusted licensing authority is independent of Canada, and it’s part of the Kahnawake Mohawk Territory government. At one time, it was the licensing authority in the whole of North America, prior to US states regulating online casino gambling. Here is a look at gambling regulations in Canadian and the Caribbean and what you need to know as a player.

Are online casinos in Canada licensed by the Canadian government?

In Canada, gambling at online casinos is legal, and the gambling operator that’s based in that province must be licensed by the local provincial government’s licensing agency. For example, in Ontario, gambling is monitored and regulated by iGaming Ontario, which is a subsidiary of AGCO (Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario).

In other words, to legally operate an online casino in Ontario, an operator must have first obtained a license from iGaming Ontario. However, there’s still nothing stopping a foreign operator that’s based outside of Canadian borders from aiming their business toward Ontario citizens because they fall outside of Canadian jurisdiction. One of the other major licensing authorities that has issued licenses to hundreds of online casinos is the previously mentioned Kahnawake Gaming Commission.

Because the regulation and licensing of online casinos and other similar real money gambling sites is still relatively new in Canada, it’s why you will see that many of today’s best Ontario casino sites are licensed outside of Canada, by one or more other reputable licensing authorities, such as the UK Gambling Commission, the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority, or the Malta Gaming Authority.

How is online gambling regulated in the Caribbean?

There are several different gambling regulators/licensing authorities in the Caribbean, but these are often referred to as ‘rubber stamp’ licensing authorities. For example, you have the Directorate of Offshore Gaming in Antigua and Barbuda, the Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority in the Anjouan and Comoros Islands, and the Curaçao Ministry of Justice in Curaçao (the former Netherlands Antilles).

While not all online casinos that have obtained a license from one of these authorities can be classed as ‘rogue casinos’, the best thing to do would be to stick to playing at the sites that are licensed either by a provincial Canadian government licensing authority or by one of the others mentioned above (e.g., by the UK Gambling Commission – one of the most trusted online gambling regulators in the world).

Why sign up to a casino that’s licensed by a provincial Canadian government or the Malta Gaming Authority?

These reputable authorities don’t just hand out a license to any old operator that has the cash to buy one. They heavily vet their licensees and carry out the necessary due diligence prior to issuing a license. They have the best legal framework in place, and they only license the most trusted operators. Should an issue arise at a casino that’s licensed in one of these jurisdictions (which is highly unlikely), you would have the proper legal backing that you, as a player, deserve. In other words, your complaint or issue will not go unanswered and will be resolved within a relatively short period of time.

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11 Fun Vacation Ideas That Will Keep You Entertained

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2 years ago

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August 11, 2022

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When it comes to taking a vacation, many people think they need to go somewhere exotic to have a good time. This is not always the case! Plenty of fun vacation ideas will keep you entertained without breaking the bank. This blog post will discuss 11 different vacations you can take without spending a lot of money. So whether you are looking for an adventure or want to relax on the beach, we have you covered!

Hiking and camping

If you are looking for an outdoor adventure, hiking and camping are great options. There are many trails all over the world that you can explore. And if you camp in an RV or tent, it will be even cheaper! This is a great way to get in touch with nature and see fantastic sights.

 

Try your hand at gambling

Gambling doesn’t always mean going to a casino—there are many different ways to gamble, and not all require money. You can play card games or bet on sports games with friends. You may wager on sports, horse races, and other events from anywhere with just a computer or mobile device and an internet connection. You should give it a chance now that single-game betting in Ontario is legal in different provinces. Numerous online betting firms provide bonuses and incentives, and the whole idea of gambling is to have fun.

 

Visit a national park

Another excellent option for those who love the outdoors is to visit a national park. There are parks throughout the United States and in many other countries. This is a great way to see some of the most beautiful places on earth without spending a lot of money. Many parks offer free or discounted admission days, so check out before going.

 

Take a road trip

A road trip is another great vacation idea that won’t cost you an arm and a leg. You can explore different parts of your country or even take an international trip! Just be sure to plan your route and budget accordingly. And don’t forget to pack snacks and games for the car ride.

 

Have a staycation

If you are short on time or money, a staycation is always an option. This is where you spend your vacation at home or in a nearby city. There are many things to do on a staycation, such as visiting local attractions, going out to eat, and seeing movies. You can also use this time to relax at home and catch up on some much-needed rest.

 

Take an art class

One fun activity you can do on vacation is taking an art class. This is a great way to try something new and connect with your creative side. You can find classes for all different types of art, such as painting, pottery, and photography. And you may even be able to find free or discounted classes!

 

Visit a museum

Museums are another great option for those who want to learn on vacation. There are museums for different topics, such as history, art, and science. Many museums also offer discounts or free days, so be sure to check that out before you go.

 

See a live show

Seeing a live show is an excellent option if you are looking for some entertainment on vacation. Depending on your interests, you can see a play, musical, or concert. This is a great way to experience some cultures and see something new.

 

Visit a theme park

Theme parks are always a popular vacation destination. And there are many different ones to choose from all over the world. But you don’t have to spend a lot of money to have fun at a theme park. There are often discounts and promotions available if you plan ahead.

 

Take a cooking class

One last fun vacation idea is taking a cooking class. This is a great way to learn about new cuisines and get some hands-on experience in the kitchen. You can find cooking classes for all different types of food, such as Italian, Chinese, and Indian cuisine. And you may even be able to find free or discounted classes!

 

Visit a winery

If you’re looking for a relaxing vacation, visiting a winery is a great option. You can spend your days touring different vineyards, sampling wines, and learning about the wine-making process. And many wineries offer discounts or complimentary tastings if you visit during certain times of the year.

 

 

These are just a few of the many fun vacation ideas that you can try. So get out there and start exploring! And don’t forget to have fun!

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