Live your dream! Be a Dolphin Trainer for a Day at The Mirage.
If you always dreamed of being a dolphin trainer, then we can make your dream come true. Our ‘Trainer for a Day’ program is a dynamic and active opportunity for guests to get close and personal with one of natures most amazing animals. You will be working with our expert dolphin care specialists and training the dolphins first hand. As one of our day Trainers, you'll participate in many physical activities including playing with, training, getting in the water with, and caring for our family of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins.
Participants must be able to follow instructions provided by the Animal Care staff.
Participants must be able to move about freely within the water environment. Guests must be comfortable in the water and be able to manage their movements as instructed in and around the animals while wearing a wetsuit.
Participants must be able to physically move from one location to another by crossing over a 2 foot wall, climbing stairs, have mobility between standing and sitting positions, crossing slippery and unlevel surfaces both in and out of the water.
Local weather conditions vary in extremes. You should expect to be exposed to heat, humidity, direct sun exposure, wind and/or torrential rains.
Participants can expect to be around large marine mammals within the environment. Our dolphins have been trained for interactions. As wild animals, their behavior can still be unpredictable.
Yes, however each day is unique at the Mirage Dolphin Habitat. Guests will experience in-water play and training sessions with dolphins where they will have the opportunity to have dolphins swim with, and amongst our guests. All interactions will be dictated on the animal’s behavior and guest comfort and safety.
The Trainer for a Day program is limited to 4 participants per day; it is highly recommended you make a reservation for your visit. If you are planning on visiting during the summer or near a holiday, you should book your reservation at least two months prior to your intended visit to ensure availability as these timeframes tend to book early. Once you have made a reservation, you simply check in on the date of your visit. All you need is your name, confirmation number, and a photo ID for those guests over the age of 18. *Guests 13 to 17 years of age will be required to have a parent or legal guardian present at the time of check in.
Observers will spend the day with the participant; however they do not change into a wetsuit. They are permitted access to all behind the scenes areas with the participants. The Observers price also includes the fruit and pastry breakfast, the 3 course gourmet lunch, and a photo opportunity with a dolphin. Observers must be at least 13 years of age.
No, although we do recommend that participants are comfortable around the water. The “Trainer for a Day” program entails strenuous physical activity and involves being in the water in the presence of dolphins which are sexually mature, weighing in excess of 500 pounds which may intentionally or inadvertently cause physical harm, and which may involve the risk of bodily injury, dermal or other irritation as a result of exposure to known or unknown water borne or other irritants, mental anguish, and/or property damage. As a participant in the program you will be required to sign a waiver that you voluntarily assume all risk of accident, damage (including, but not limited to, loss of or damage to personal belongings), injury an/or illness which may be incurred as a result of or in anyway connected directly or indirectly with participation in this program.
The day starts at 9:45 a.m. and concludes at 4:00 p.m.
The program begins with an orientation and tour of the Dolphin Habitat at The Mirage. Guests are then given the opportunity to enjoy a fruit and pastry breakfast while taking turns changing into their wetsuits. The guests then join trainers poolside where they spend time training, playing with, feeding, and getting in the water with the dolphins. A one-hour lunch service is enjoyed at a private poolside dining table at approximately 12:30 pm. After lunch guests return poolside to enjoy more time interacting with the dolphins. The program concludes at approximately 3:15. At the conclusion of the program, guests are given the opportunity to use the locker room and shower facilities. While guests are awaiting their photos to be developed they may enjoy a visit to the Secret Garden of Siegfried and Roy.
At The Mirage Dolphin Habitat, we recognize that vacation plans sometimes change. To accommodate this, we will allow one complimentary date change prior to your visit. Further changes to your itinerary will be provided for a nominal charge of $50 per change. If you have to change or cancel your reservation, please contact The Mirage Concierge center at (702)792-7889. International guests, please call 001 (702)792-7889.
If you decide to cancel your Trainer for A Day reservation within 30 days of your visit there is no refund. If the cancellation notice is provided more than 30 days from arrival, you will receive a full 100% refund.
In the event of severe weather The Mirage will reschedule or refund any Trainer For A Day Program that was canceled. The Mirage will not apply any cancellation or change fees for this service.
Guests should bring their own swimsuits, and, if they choose, a hat, sunglasses and cover-up or dry clothes. The Mirage Dolphin Habitat provides all guests with wetsuits. Trainer for a Day guests may not wear jewelry, for the safety of the animals.
When participating in the Trainer for A Day Program, for the safety of our animals and your photo equipment we do not allow use of personal cameras or video equipment. Guests may use their personal cameras and video recorders throughout the Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat prior to and upon completion of their program. We do, however, allow Observers to take photos and record video of the interaction from our poolside areas. In addition, we provide photographers to capture your memories. Photographs taken by Mirage staff are included in the price of your program.
Guests must be at least 13 years old. Also, children must be at least 16 years of age to participate in the Trainer for a Day program without an accompanying adult.
The Mirage Dolphin Habitat recognizes the importance of all aspects of food safety especially those challenges our guests with food allergies encounter when dining out. When completing your reservation form you will be asked to identify any food allergies or dietary needs. Please ensure that you identify any dietary restrictions on this form so that we can provide for your needs the day of the program. The Mirage Dolphin Habitat does provide Vegetarian menu options for our guests.
The Mirage Dolphin Habitat, Trainer for A Day Program welcomes guests with special needs and strives to meet those needs. However, the program is physically demanding and requires that guests with disabilities are able to maneuver themselves with limited assistance (or with the aid of a personal assistant) during their Trainer for a day experience. To best assist our guests with special needs, please contact our Animal Care Department at 702-791-7588 prior to making your reservations to ensure that our program suits your needs.
Yes. The Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat is open to the public while you participate in your Trainer for a Day program. General admission is $15.00 and Children age 4-12 are $10.00. We have areas by each of our pools for guests to view participants while they do their programs. However, if you would like someone to experience the program with you, be able to go behind the scenes, enjoy breakfast and lunch with you, they may take part as an observer. (See Observer).
Destiny Altvatar – “The most memorable part of my day was making a connection with them, it was fun.”
Jackie Crenshaw – “Today you made my dreams come true!”
Laurie Daily – “You were able to meet all my expectations and beyond.”
Kelly Deatrick – “I am interested in becoming a dolphin trainer after graduation. I saw the program while looking at internships online and wanted to try.”
Tonja Everest – “I’d love to come again!”
Billy & Martin McCullough – “Having done a different dolphin training program elsewhere, the quality of service here was top notch. I feel I learned a lot more and had great fun.”
Jay Savage – “The Trainers went out of their way to really educate and make the interaction meaningful.”
