It is no coincidence that our planet is called blue. Most of it is occupied by seas and oceans, to which millions of rivers carry their waters. Humanity looks up, exploring space, sending satellites to other planets, trying to catch signals from aliens. At the same time, the depths of the world's oceans remain unexplored, and the capabilities of some of its inhabitants are amazing. Of course, we are talking about dolphins.
Today you don’t need to scuba dive or go on a sea expedition to get to know them. Just visit the Starfish Dolphinarium in Lazarevskoye.
Visitors will be able to see not only dolphins, but also live here:
- playful fur seals;
- great whales;
- funny walruses;
- regal sea lions.
The main activity of the Lazarevsky Dolphinarium is not entertainment, but the conservation of animals. Many of its inhabitants are on the verge of extinction.
Description and general features
In Lazarevsky, the Starfish Dolphinarium began its work in 2005. It was developed and designed following the example and recommendations of the Utrish Dolphinarium in Anapa. The Anapa complex differs from other similar ones in that all the pets are there in their usual, natural habitat, since it is located in a protected area of the Black Sea.
Thanks to the instructions and advice of the Bolshoi Utrish Dolphinarium, ideal artificial conditions for keeping animals have been created in the “Starfish”, using the latest scientific developments. Thanks to this comfort and the care of the staff for their pets, several more dolphins were recently born and have already become full-fledged performers in the programs.
Important participants in the performances are the bottlenose dolphins Basya and Lada, as well as their offspring, Aurora and Muse. In addition, during the performance you can see a sea lion, walruses and beluga whales. Employees carry out educational work among visitors: here it is easy to learn about the phenomenal abilities of bottlenose dolphins and other marine life, and expand knowledge in the field of ecology.
A distinctive feature of “Starfish” is its constant participation in charity events, projects and active social activities. Free show programs, banquets and meetings with veterans on Victory Day, performances and open lessons for students of schools and kindergartens on Children’s Day and throughout the entire school period have already become traditional.
Groups of disabled children, orphans and low-income families are accepted all year round throughout the country for free visits to the entire complex and animal performances. "Starfish" provides financial assistance to one of the schools in the village. Lazarevskoe and transfers funds to various charitable foundations.
What to visit in the dolphinarium and nearby
- The penguinarium at the facility will introduce visitors to Humboldt penguins, Spectacled penguins, fur seals, golden pheasant, white-nosed monkeys, king pheasant, tiger python, steppe fennecs, and albino python. At 10:00 and 17:00 you can watch the penguins feeding.
- An aquarium with numerous fish, coral reefs, and reptiles will allow visitors to “plunge” into the huge and diverse underwater world with all its inhabitants. Here you can look not only at bright and unusual fish, but also monitor lizards, turtles, snakes, and anacondas. Through the transparent tunnel all the beauties of the aquarium are clearly visible. The facility is open daily, seven days a week, and the tour lasts 40 minutes.
- Bowling for tourists and city residents with a large number of lanes and the ability to choose and quickly book.
- A cafe where you can have a delicious meal after a show with dolphins and a visit to the aquarium, penguinarium, drink delicious drinks and relax with family and friends.
- The water park is located very close to the dolphinarium on Lazarev Street 108A. There are many slides on the territory: “Pigtails”, “Space Ball”, “Foam”, “Kamikaze”, “Children’s”, “Boa”, “Black Pipe”, swimming pools for adults and children, showers, toilets, shopping pavilions, a dining room , summer cafe.
"Starfish": recreation and entertainment
In the village of Lazarevskoye, the Starfish Dolphinarium is one of the most important and most visited attractions. Watching incredibly smart and charming bottlenose dolphins brings great pleasure to both children and adults.
During the performance, the local pets will demonstrate fantastic dexterity and discipline. To create spectacular shows, trainers use the developed intelligence of dolphins: in natural conditions, they are able to imitate various sounds and actions, remember the image, color and shape of an object, but most importantly, they can feel sorry and sympathize.
This is how spectacular tricks are created: “artists” will demonstrate the ability to juggle objects and catch them, play water polo, with balls and hoops, dance tango, draw a picture and give their coaches a ride. The entire performance is divided into three parts, except for dolphins, walruses, fur seals, a sea lion and a beluga whale will demonstrate their abilities: someone will show morning exercises, and someone will sing a song.
For an event lasting 50 minutes, photo and video shooting is permitted. Anyone can use the services of a professional photographer and photograph themselves with charming artists or swim with them for an additional fee.
Dolphin therapy and additional options
After watching a show with marine mammals, you can diversify your vacation by visiting the following objects, which are located on the territory of the center:
1) Penguinarium. Humboldt penguins are another resident of the Starfish. Nine incredibly cute and playful birds permanently live here, watching their life and games brings only positive emotions. In the penguinarium you can admire pheasants, peacocks, monkeys, fennec foxes, pythons and fur seals;
2) Aquarium. In addition to several species of fish, including exotic ones, there are coral reefs, turtles, pythons and anacondas, caimans, monitor lizards, crocodiles and many other representatives of fauna and flora;
3) For the most active people, billiards, bowling and a cafe are available on site.
“Starfish” is not only an entertainment complex, but also a health complex. Anyone can sign up here for a massage, undergo several sessions of hippotherapy, art therapy, or practice sand painting. But the most important advantage of the center is dolphin therapy, one of the methods of psychotherapy that involves improving a person’s health through communication with dolphins.
This type of influence is widely used not only to treat adults and children with disabilities, but also to relieve stress and improve the health of anyone. Communication with them lifts your spirits, pacifies you and gives you a charge of vitality. Sessions are conducted both individually and in groups, and include not only swimming with them, but also performing various simple exercises.
The health program is developed individually for each person, and the lesson lasts on average about 25 minutes. The recommended duration of procedures is 10 sessions. It is important to know that healing dolphins do not take part in entertainment show programs. Dolphinarium "Starfish" is open all year round. The price of a visit depends on the row: the cost of an entrance ticket for an adult is from 500 rubles, for a child – from 350. All additional services are paid separately.
Show program
The performances are designed for family viewing and will be of interest to adults and children. The inhabitants masterfully perform complex tricks, paint, and dance. The family of bottlenose dolphins especially delights the audience. These mammals are not only intellectually developed, but also very friendly, sociable, and have natural charm.
In the dolphinarium, visitors will get acquainted with acrobatic performances by Black Sea bottlenose dolphins and will be captivated by the artistry of a large beluga, a sea lion juggler and an elegant white polar whale. During the performance, the mammals perform graceful movements and communicate with the audience and trainers, and after the end, everyone will be able to take a photo with the artists. For an additional cost you can swim in the pool with the dolphins. Representatives of the marine world not only perform tricks, but also paint pictures right in front of visitors, which can be purchased after the show. With the money raised, the mammals will receive a tasty addition to their diet.
The show program is very rich and interesting, accompanied by pleasant music. Spectators in the front rows may be doused with water, so it is advisable to have a jacket or raincoat with you. During breaks, visitors will not be bored, because they will be entertained by a fire show.
© Sergey Kolesov
Address, prices, schedule
- Address: Pobedy street, 153, Lazarevskoye, Sochi, Krasnodar region, Russia.
- GPS coordinates: 43.918937, 39.318514.
- Phone: 8-862-290-60-25.
- Official website: https://www.delphinoterapiya.ru/
- Schedule: programs run at 11:00, 15:00, 18:00 and 20:00.
- Ticket prices: for adults – from 500, for children – from 350 rubles.
Reviews from everyone who has ever seen dolphins or come into contact with them speak about one thing - they are incredibly sociable, kind and affectionate animals that give only positive emotions. Dolphinarium “Starfish” is a great way to have a fun and unusual time, lift your spirits and meet amazing inhabitants of the depths! At the end of the text, watch a video about it.
Dolphin therapy services
An alternative non-traditional method of psychotherapy, which involves communication between a person and a dolphin. This process takes place under the supervision of specialists: psychologist, veterinarian, trainer. Dolphin therapy is also useful for healthy people, but most often it is popular among children with mental retardation, cerebral palsy, hearing loss, delayed speech and mental development, after psychological trauma, with Down syndrome, autism, enuresis, epilepsy, with seizures, viral and skin diseases .
Back in 1978, in England it was found that dolphins have a beneficial effect on human health, and America already ranks first in the prevalence of dolphin therapy. Ultrasound emitted by sea creatures has a positive effect on internal organs and has a pain-relieving effect.
At the Starfish Dolphinarium, a rehabilitation program is created by a specialist, taking into account the complexity of the disease, the general condition of the body, and age. Systematic and regular training is important. Therapy with children is presented in a playful form, it includes tactile contact: stroking, hugging, as well as dance elements, ball games, singing, drawing. Several sessions in a row have already given good results.
Such psychotherapy replenishes the deficit of positive emotions, helps to survive loneliness, adaptation, activates the sensorimotor development of autistic people, the functioning of brain structures, stimulates interest in the outside world, nature, people around them, and oneself. Joint creativity with a dolphin, namely drawing, opens the way to expressing one’s own fantasies, unconscious ideas and allows you to explore the world, because both the baby and the dolphin draw together, they interact, and the little person feels protected by a large and kind mammal.
"Colosseum" in Lazarevskoye
The Coliseum Dolphinarium in Lazarevskoye was opened in 2013. It is located in the very center of the village, on the territory of an amusement park, next to one of the largest Ferris wheels in the country, on the very shore of the Black Sea.
The Dolphinarium is known for its amazing program, which is updated every year. Dolphins and other inhabitants of the seas will not leave any visitor to the show indifferent. Not only animals, but also their trainers participate in the performance. Together they perform unique tricks and charge the audience with the most positive emotions.
This place is open all year round. All the necessary infrastructure for the normal functioning of the dolphinarium is equipped here. The central pool was built with the latest technology. The spectator hall in the dolphinarium is designed for 800 people, its seats are arranged in such a way that almost every viewer can see the animals in close proximity to themselves.
Information for visitors to the Riviera Dolphinarium
The complex is open from Tuesday to Sunday inclusive, sanitary day is Monday. During the tourist season, the dolphinarium holds three performances daily. Tickets cost 500 rubles for adults, children under 3 years old are free. Where is the Sochi Dolphinarium located? Exact address: Sochi, st. Egoryevskaya, Riviera Park. This place can be reached by public transport. Choose any bus or minibus that goes to the Sportivnaya stop. In addition to the marine animal show, the complex also offers a variety of additional services, in particular swimming and photography with dolphins, as well as diving.
Information for visitors to Aquatoria
During the tourist season, performances at the dolphinarium are held daily. In winter, you can watch dolphin shows on weekends and holidays. Where is the Sochi Dolphinarium "Aquatoria" located? The exact address of the organization: Sochi, Adler district, st. Lenina, 219/2. The Dolphinarium can be reached by public transport in Sochi; any route departing from this city in the direction of Adler is suitable. You need to get off at the Izvestia Sanatorium stop. The duration of the performance is 1 hour, the cost of an adult ticket is 500-1000 rubles, depending on the row. Children under three years old can watch the show for free if accompanied by their parents.
Diving
At the Lazarevskoye Dolphinarium you can not only watch unique performances, but also dive into the underwater world with dolphins. Diving takes place under the guidance of qualified scuba instructors. Diving underwater with experienced instructors is absolutely safe. Here you can not only gain diving skills, but also interact with dolphins. After the entire event, diving participants will receive excellent professional photographs and videos as souvenirs that will always remind them of this exciting adventure.
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