Get an insider's look into what dolphin trainers do to keep their charges healthy and happy. After morning hotel pickup, travel to the dolphinarium in Riviera Maya, where a team of expert trainers welcomes you and provides an orientation on bottlenose dolphin biology and basic training techniques. Your behind-the-scenes experience continues with access into areas of the dolphinarium generally unavailable for public viewing; check out the food prep station, the training pool and rooms that contain marine life-support equipment.

Put on a provided life jacket and get ready to work as one of the team. Feed fish and vitamins to dolphins, and with the trainers’ help, teach your dolphins an acrobatic maneuver or tricks using the hand signals you just learned. A dolphin trainer’s day involves a lot of play, so if you haven’t already, tug at their fins in a handshake, congratulate the dolphins on a job well done and then receive kisses and hugs amid cheerful squeaking.

You also get the choice of a dorsal tow or foot push, two popular activities at most dolphinariums. Trainers are there to make sure both humans and dolphins are safe.

Next put on scuba gear and dive into a deep pool to watch as the dolphins work with a trainer. As the mammals play or practice, try to figure out what they're saying to each other as they whistle and click.

Lunch will be provided during the program. When your workday with the dolphins comes to an end, shower off in the changing room (towels and locker use provided). Receive a bouquet of souvenirs, including a t-shirt, a ‘Trainer For a Day’ certificate and two preselected photos of your interactions with the bottlenosed creatures, which you’ll smile and gaze at during the transport back to your hotel. (