Swimming with dolphins: a phenomenological exploration of tourist recollections

Opportunities to swim with dolphins both in captivity and in the wild have recently proliferated. In order to understand the nature of the swim‐with‐dolphin experience, 14 respondents were selected to take part in a phenomenological study based on their recollections of the activity. The results discuss the physical attributes of the experience, the attraction of dolphins, the importance of making a connection either through eye contact or touch, prior conceptions of what it would be like and, finally, ‘animal sensitivities’ towards the nature of the performance. Cognitive dissonance and a heavily anthropomorphic virtual capital are present in nearly all respondents.