Located at beautiful Hawk’s Cay Resort on scenic Duck Key, our mission is to provide public programs which inspire awareness and positive change on behalf of the marine environment through direct contact with marine mammals. We seek to illustrate through personal experience that the natural world must be conserved. We strive to communicate this essential message through the management of dolphins that serve as educational and scientific ambassadors for the marine environment in which they live. “We want each program to be unique – to inspire each individual participant to do what they can to conserve ocean habitats. But we’d especially like to teach those vacationing here in the Florida Keys to use our ecosystem responsibly,” says owner Doug Messinger.

Collaboration, both nationally and internationally, is a fundamental tenet of Dolphin Connection operations as well, with active involvement by staff members in such organizations as the International Marine Animal Trainers Association (IMATA), Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums (AMMPA), American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA), Society for Marine Mammalogy (SMM), European Association of Aquatic Mammals (EAAM), Animal Behavior Management Alliance (ABMA), National Marine Educators Association (NMEA) and International Association of Aquatic Animal Medicine (IAAAM). The Dolphin Connection is a co-founder of the Bottlenose Dolphin Breeding Consortium.

The Dolphin Connection emphasizes professional training for our staff which includes annual attendance and involvement in professional conferences, participation in wildlife research projects in the field, and staff exchange programs with zoological institutions around the country. This comprehensive experience translates into the best possible care for our animals. Professional development and training is equally important for those wishing to enter the field of marine mammal care. This is why Dolphin Connection has designed a popular college internship program to assist students interested in dolphins, marine science and environmental education to learn more about the career options open to them.

The Dolphin Connection was founded itself in 1996 by Cheryl and Doug Messinger, already well-known as international leaders in the training and care of marine mammals. Together, they have over 50 years caring for marine mammals.