The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies Reviews

Such a great experience! We loved the time with the dolphins, petting sting rays, petting the baby alligator, petting sharks... the day could not have been better!

This little gem needs more recognition for all that it has to offer. We did the ‘Job Shadow’ and was amazed at all the things we were allowed to do. We got to feed/interact with dolphins, cow rays, as well as learned about Sea turtle rescue/rehabilitation and training of a baby sea lion learning his positive reinforcement activities. We got to learn about and actually participate in food prep for the dolphins/sea lions. At at the very end you get a final meet and greet with a dolphin (and a photo to prove it). Great time and learned a lot!

Definitely worth the visit and a great place to bring the kids. More than just dolphins and seals. Good show and plenty to see.

While visiting with family in Biloxi we got the chance to Experience the institute. Although our youngest was a little to young to actually swim with the dolphins, the staff made him feel included. our three oldest got to experience what life is as a trainer of dolphins and sting rays. I can't speak highly enough of this experience and what it meant to our family!

The Buchanans from Virginia

as per the food - its a little like a heavy concession stand

We came down to our beach vacation a day early so that we could stop here before heading to Gulf Shores, AL. We thought this would be fun for both of our kids, 8 and 15, since they love animals and it is hard to find something for both of them! Best decision we made for the entire trip!!! We booked a dolphin encounter, originally at a time that the website shouldn't have allowed. We were contacted by the staff and they promptly rescheduled us and apologized. It was just a little later in the day, not a big deal. This is not a huge place so be prepared when you are coming here. There are plenty of things to do for a couple of hours here, for sure, though! We loved the shows and our son would have spent all day in the stingray area, touching every single one that swam past him!!! We also did a dolphin encounter where we could interact and feed a dolphin. (Our son was too small to swim with the dolphins just yet so we will do that in the future!) The encounter was worth every penny! We learned about dolphins and got to feed her! You do have to kneel for 10 minutes or so for the encounter. I had surgery on my knee a few years ago and that time length about pushed how long I could kneel so keep that in mind if you want to book the encounter. We got a few pictures that were printed and also got a USB with other pictures from the encounter, which was so great! We definitely recommend this wonderful place and will be back for another fun encounter, maybe on our next trip down south!

It's not like a Zoo, it's smaller, and compact, but good for kids and us older folks too. We're 60, and we liked it, the wife and I. It isn't a day long excursion, you can do everything within an hour and a half easy.

It was truly an up close personal experience. Every show felt like a privet viewing unlike the mega aquariums I have been to. We will defiantly be back when in town.

We really enjoyed the up close interaction with the animals. It's a smaller place and great for small kids or special needs folks. We purchased the dolphin encounter for our special needs daughter and they were great with her.

We decided to celebrate our son turning 12-years-old....two adults, two teens, the birthday boy & his friend. We had an absolute blast! Even living on the gulf coast, we don't get the opportunity to see the marine animals so up close and personal. We pet sting ray, watched dolphin & sea lion shows, spoke to & listened to the parrots, fed the little birds and of course got lots and lots of pictures / videos!! This was certainly a beautiful place to remember and return to.

We visited while on a quick weekend trip. It was so fun! The staff was very knowledgeable and polite. We did the stingray snorkel and had a blast. The rays were beautiful and our guide was so kind. very family friendly. My toddler enjoyed his time there so much. My 14 year old enjoyed her time there as well. The facilities are small which puts everything within a short walking distance and Its well maintained. The dolphin show was a favorite for everyone in our group. The trainer seems to be so connected with animals and is great at his job. The announcer was enthusiastic and kept the crowds attention. The gift store clerk was very helpful and nice. 5 stars from our family!!

We have been to the IMMS Center/Ocean Adventures several times since our son went there on a school field trip and introduced us to it. It's become a monthly family trip because it's always a fun and entertaining time!
So much so that we surprised our son for his 5th birthday with a Dolphin Encounter (which is the minimum age to participate (w/ an adult to accompany them on the dock))! The encounter allowed him a personal one on one interaction with one of their resident dolphins (ours happened to be Apollo!). And it also gave him the opportunity to be a "trainer" and to receive a kiss from the dolphin as well as 'shake it's hands.' He was able to direct it to do tricks with the trainers instruction and then feed the dolphin for each trick as a reward. It was truly an amazing experience!
I can't praise the staff enough...they have always been super friendly and knowledgeable, but the extra attention we received for the Dolphin Encounter really made my son feel like a V.I.P. on his birthday and for that alone, they get 10 thumbs up! It was truly an unforgettable birthday experience.

I recommend this place on any given day, the facility is neat, clean, never crowded and full of fun things to do & see for the whole family. But if you have a love for dolphins and/or sea lions I would recommend one (or all!) of their Encounters packages a hundred times over! It was worth every penny to see our son's joy and to know he was creating a memory to last a lifetime.

A HUGE thanks to the IMMS Center and it's staff for always being so awesome!

We went today with our three year old. There was so much for him to do and see and all of it is very educational. It was very easy to socially distance, and all employees wore masks. Everyone was very friendly and did a good job catering the different experiences to his age level. All of the animals seem well cared for. There was a very nice playground on site, which was a nice way to end the day. My son was thrilled and it was a day he will not forget.

The staff is all very nice. We had a wonderful time. I definitely recommend doing one of the dolphin packages but be sure to book online in advanced to make sure to reserve yourself a spot. The dolphin meet & greet was amazing. Can’t wait to go back and swim with the dolphins.

Me and my family had a great time. For my daughter's birthday she met Appollo the dolphin. Will be back.

The experience and staff was great overall. I recommend bringing the family and trying all the animal interactions.

We have an annual pass here and we go weekly! Our daughter got to pet a dolphin today and she hasn't stopped raving about it. The staff here is super friendly and everything is always so clean!

We absolutely loved it! My daughter(17) and niece(16) participated in the dolphin interaction. This was not only an educational experience, but also one of their best summer activities ever. The trainers and other employees were very knowledgeable and friendly.

This place is a great way to learn about conservation and marine mammals. The shows were really fun and educational.

This is a fun and informative place for all ages! We loved to interact with the birds and watch the shows. Toddler and grandparents had a amazing time!

I highly recommend this place if you have young ones! We have a 4yr old and a 19mo and they LOVED it! The dolphin show was phenomenal! Definitely worth the $43!

This is a MUST if you’re in the area!!
I can’t adequately explain how impressed my family and I is with this establishment!!
The staff is extremely knowledgeable and kind, you can tell they love the animals and treat them well.
The price is so doable and especially for the time you’ll spend there.
We, were there for almost 3 hours and loved every bit of it!!

This was a great smaller aquarium that my kids enjoyed visiting. It did not take as much time as we were expecting as the park is small, but it is a great place to visit and you can tell the park cares about the animals there.

What an adventure! Great place for kids and adults. We shook hands with dolphins, pet sting rays, and fed parokeets.

We sent 3 grandkids to the week long camp. All 3 girls had a blast! Groups and activities are age appropriate. They interacted with dolphins, sea lion, and rays. The facility is a teaching institute. Field trip to the beach. They went out on a shrimp boat. They want to go next summer.

Took my wife here for the Dolphin Meet & Greet, which was the highlight of the day! We also enjoyed probably 5 other programs and the Discovery Center and Touch Pools. The staff are friendly, helpful and very knowledgeable about the animals they care for. The facility is not very large, relatively new, and well maintained. This is an excellent place to take children to learn about nature, animals, and conservation. There is a small playground area. Can easily spend 3 or more hours here.

Absolutely fantastic! I think my adult daughter of 45, had as much or more fun than the children. There was not a single event that we did not find not only fun but educational.

Dolphin & Stingray Camp...what an adventure at Ocean Adventures!

We have visited Ocean Adventures on a few occasions and have always appreciated and enjoyed the intimacy of the facility, interactive shows, quality received for the cost, and the helped that this institute provides to many dolphins and sea turtles who are in distress. We were not able to take a traditional vacation due to COVID19 this year and so I could not think of better place to invest our money. This summer I decided to send our son to the Dolphin & Stingray Camp at Ocean Adventures. The cost is $300.00 for one week. In addition, for an additional $80.00 you can purchase a bag that contains a USB of camp photos, water bottle, camp teeshirt, and sunscreen. The one week camp is divided into theme days which includes:
Dolphin Day, Sea Lion & Sea Turtle Day, Stingray, Shark, & Reptile Day
Bird & Conservation Day, and finally a field day.
My son loved meeting the sea lion, learning about dolphins, and swimming with the stingrays. If you have a child that is an ocean adventure kid this camp is not to be missed. It is also well suited for children ages 6-12 because it allows for kids to have fun, but also enhance their knowledge regarding conservation as well. My son enjoyed camp so much that we paid for a Dolphin Interaction for $120.00. We had to pay a $20.00 spectator fee (each person) but this fee included our entrance to the park as well. The Dolphin Interaction was nice however, the dolphins are not required to do anything that they wish not to engage. This interaction is not one that might be found on many of the traditional excursions. However, the ultimate goal is to educate the participants. Hats off to Oceans Adventures for being a wonderful and affordable place for families and their children. In addition, thanks for the conservation and rescue work that the organization does everyday. Your work makes a difference for sea turtles and dolphins. Finally, Kailee thanks for all the information you are indeed a wonderful employee and an asset to IMMS. Keep up the great work!!

It’s just amazing what they do as far as rescuing, maintaining and training these critters.

We saw the cutest sea lion show. Then we hung out with the birds. Then we had a dolphin encounter and got to touch it. Then we looked about the aquarium and saw turtles fish and I touched a shark!

This place was amazing!! It is jam-packed with educational opportunities and awesome adventures. My kids are already planning a return visit next summer!

We swam with stingrays, watched a sea lion show, held parakeets. It was a fun way to finish off our trip. Very educational place and super nice staff members. Will go again and swim with dolphins!

We did the Dip with Dolphin(Ms.Bo) experience, it was awesome. The staff was amazing so were the animals..Spend 5 hours here enjoying shows and visiting different amimals habitats..Very educational and a learning experience you want forget.Kids loved it..The dolphin experience is a Must! We will return Soon..

We visited the Marine Mammal Research Center while visiting the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Initially I was discouraged by the few miles off the Gulf. When we arrived I thought it was primarily for small children, but were entered anyway. We are glad we did. We say the Ray Pool where we touched rays and saw then along with sharks and a few fish. We then went to the Discovery Zone were we saw the smaller rays that were not ready for the Ray Pool along with a variety of fish and turtles in tanks and the Aviary which is populated by parakeets. We saw the Dolphin, Sea Lion and Parrot Shows. The shows were short and a bit shallow compared to some of the others we have seen, but were still entertaining.

We visited on a slow day and greatly enjoyed our conversations with the marine biologists in the Ray Pool and Discovery Zone and the attendant in the Aviary. They were very engaging and informative.

Our visit to Marine Mammal Research Center was definitely worth driving off the Coast highway.

IMMS is a hidden treasure. Once inside you are transported to a tropical haven. The staff and trainers are friendly and informative. IMMS makes learning fun. It’s both educational and exciting. It’s obvious that those who work there love their jobs. It’s a great outing for a family trip. I highly recommend!

I recently visited and had an amazing time! The trainers and staff are all so friendly and could answer every question I had about the animals. There are so many things to do and see like stingrays, birds, gators, fish, snakes, sea lions, and dolphins! All of the shows are excellent and are sure to put a smile on any visitors face. The encounters offered with the animals are amazing and 100% worth it! For the stingray encounter, I got to snorkel and feed the stingrays in the large Ray Pool. For the sea lion encounter I got to feed and get a big kiss from McCoy. For the dolphin interaction, I got in the water with Turner and was able to feed and give him a big kiss. I will never forget the time I was able to spend here. This is a must-do for any visitor or resident of Gulfport and your visit also contributes to the conservation efforts of marine life!

I took my 2 nieces and my nephew. And they had a blast. My mom was in a wheel chair and everyone was accommodating which was very nice.

What a wonderful time we had. The facility is not huge which is a plus because you can do and see everything there is to offer without feeling like its too much. We attended all the shows and each show is around 15 minutes long. We also did the one on one dolphin experience which was worth every dollar. My kids had such a great time and this mini vacation will be remembered for many years to come. The gift shop was awesome and VERY affordable! One of the cheapest gift shops I have ever seen. Props to IMMC for having an affordable family friendly gift shop. Oh, and you must get a blue slushy from the food stand, it was soooooo yummy!

My husband and I went to Ocean Adventures on our honeymoon for the dolphin interaction and we had an amazing time! The staff was amazing and they really do take care of you and answer any questions you have. They were amazing and patient with myself and the other participants that were also having a dolphin interaction as well. I would recommend going to Ocean Adventures to anyone in general but the animal interactions are well worth the money. Next time I go back I’m definitely going to be doing the sea lion interaction next!

I left a few voicemails bc no one would answer the phone when we called so we drove all the way there thinking you could just book the dolphin interaction there. Nope, you have to do it online. The staff at the entrance window was very very rude and wouldn’t share any basic knowledge with us (very simple questions). The lady taking the money didn’t know jack so she had to get the manager just to tell us dolphin programs could only be done online. The dolphin interaction was a JOKE! We paid $120 just for my niece to pet the dolphin for a few seconds, do one command, and take a picture while kissing the dolphin. Everything else was pretty good. Not one employee was actually nice or knowledgeable. The dolphin show was pretty cool but everything else was just okay. Very disappointed that I spent $200 for what we got not to mention the experience sucked throughout the facility.

This past weekend don't owe us anything!!! We visited the IMMS for the 2nd time this year. Our 1st experience, July 2021, was amazing, to say the least! As we celebrated my husband's and son's birthday, our expectations exceeded everything that we expected. As my family and I enjoyed the dolphin and sea lion show, my husband was selected to personally interact with the dolphin by holding his flippers. He was such a big kid in the moment. Additionally, my son was able to rub the tail of the dolphin and assist in feeding it. What a memorable birthday for both of them! We also learned about reptiles, and got to feed parakeets and touch stingray at the stingray pool. For me, the best part was being able to speak with staff and management directly about things that are harmful to these animals' natural habitat, as well as our coastal waters. We were educated on the many ways pollution is harmful to the overall environment, and how long it takes plastic to break down. Before departing, we were provided opportunities to feed the dolphins and take pictures with them. We were also provided education on how IMMS rescued and rehabilitated some of its animals. We were shown distinctive marks that indicated one of the dolphins was a hybrid. The staff is VERY knowledgeable and are able to provide expert level feedback on its animals. They are friendly and willing to speak with guest and provide a memorable experience for everyone.

October 18th, 2021, marked our 2nd visit. Again, we were celebrating my oldest son's and his friend's birthday. It was such an experience for my little ones yet again. This time, we were able to snorkel with the stingray. And again, I think the adults had more fun than the children. We had stingray and fish swimming all around us as we fed them. We were able to snorkel further into the pool for an encounter with redfish, sharks, and more stingray. We loved every moment of our encounter. To top it off, the staff of IMMS surprised the kids with cupcakes to celebrate their birthday.

If you and your family are looking for a family-friendly place to visit while in Gulfport, MS, please visit this place!!!! You will not regret it! I have visited aquariums in Chicago, New Orleans, and Washington, DC (before it closed),and Gulfport, and none of them provide an experience quite like this. The closest may be New Orleans with its butterfly garden and insectarium. The interaction with the animals and the staff makes this experience worth the while for a fraction of the cost!!!

What an amazing experience!! Both of my children attended their summer camp and LOVED it!! They learned so much about marine animals and their environment. We have also attended a birthday party here and it was top-notch!! Would recommend for any local or visitor to the MS Gulf Coast.

Ok so I am young enough to attend camps.
The first day we went to a fun museum of science it was so much fun I played games and played outside.
The second day we, well they call it swim but you actually sit. We got to touch them and feed them and I saw a public group do SO much more than us so not fair.
The third day we swam with stingrays which was actually a lot of fun. You get 5 minutes and it starts WHEN THEY ARE TALKING TO YOU ABOUT IT so we only got 2 minutes actually.
The Forth day was sea lions not that much fun only saw tricks and fed.
The fifth day was reptiles and birds
It was so much fun we got to see a baby alligator paint for us. We also fed parakeets.
My teachers/counsellors were Mr. Josh and Ms. Shannon. I loved them
Please keep them as teachers/counsellors.

Highly recommend for kids and adults!! Went in January and was not crowded. Got to pet the sting rays, went to all the talks and shows, and fed the parakeets. Feeding the birds was my kids’ favorite part. We were there from about 9:00-12:30. The staff were all super friendly and Mr. Moby was especially gracious. Kids got shark teeth and books as souvenirs. Wish we lived closer so we could come more often!

Our family of five (which includes a 7 and 9 year old) visited this weekend on a whim and I’m so glad we did! We heard great things about this place, and it definitely lived up to the expectations.

It’s small enough to visit and do everything in about 2 hours or so. The dolphin and sea lion shows are great, my kids thoroughly enjoyed the aviary room and feeding the birds, the stingray touch pool is huge and well done, the shark teeth dig is a cute addition, staff is fantastic, and it’s incredibly well done. Can’t say enough good things about it.

We LOVED all aspects that we saw. Our 11-year old loved the ray pool the most. Our 2-year old son cannot stop talking about the splashing dolphins. We loved learning from the friendly and knowledgeable staff. Well worth the money in our opinion.

I have family who live in the area that didn’t know about this place. I just so happened to stumble across it online and took my almost 2 year old. We all enjoyed it even her dad and myself.

We went looking forward to seeing the dolphins and were very disappointed to find out that you can only see them through a window until time for a show, then they split the show in half with the sea lion show. They also don't have much to do between show times. We walked through everything in 10 min and had to kill time until it was time for the shows. After waiting a lifetime to see dolphins in person it was very disappointing to find out you couldn't see them the way they advertised being able to see them.

What a great place....though now it's called Ocean Adventures. Was expecting maybe a small Sea World, but it was so much better! Everything is close together, and the emphasis is on ecology and education and getting up close to the animals rather than the commercialism that has overtaken some Marine Parks. Everyone was super friendly and polite, and were eager to answer any and all questions.
the animals were beautiful and well behaved/trained. A great morning's entertainment

We loved the IMMS. The center is very clean and everything is very accessible and close. The staff were very knowledgeable. I like that the shows are not just for entertainment but for education of the animals and the environment they come from. Definitely worth the trip and time to visit.

Went for the first time in July and was very impressed with the place. Plenty to see and not bad priced. Both of our over 21 year olds liked it. One is a teacher so knew he would. Good place to go.

I did the dip with a dolphin and it was more fun than I expected!!! I got to pet and make Apollo do tricks. I also learned a great deal. There is also a dolphin show and a sea lion show and some exhibits included in the price. Staff is very friendly and informative. This is a rescue organization. Highly recommend to anyone interested in marine life!!

I was overwhelmed and really did not know what to expect. What fun! Feeding the parakeets, watching the dolphin show, seeing the sea lion act, learning about sting rays, and the interactive museum. Enjoyed a train ride! Will go back!

We had an absolute blast here. Yes the dolphin and seal shows are too short. However we absolutely enjoyed the stingrays! My son didn't want to leave. He was having a blast. We spent about 3.5 hours here and I'm guessing we were in the spring ray tanks for about 2 of those hours. Such fun. Great to see the animals being taken care of. It is a very small aquarium and you could probably be out within 2 hours. So if looking for an all day place... This isn't for you.

We tried out the Dolphin encounter, this allowed us as a family to pet, feed, and get a kiss from a dolphin. We paid for the add on that allowed for for the staff to take pictures for us, it was worth the money. They took excellent high quality photos, and put them on a USB stick for us. My daughter also got a kiss from a sea lion, and since we did the Dolphin program we were able to watch and take pictures. They have a bird enclosure where you can use feed sticks and the birds will come land on the stick and eat the food glued to the stick. There is also a Ray pool where you can pet them. They also have a Dolphin, and Sea lion show. Its was great fun, the kids loved it also.

This is a wonderful place to spend a couple of hours with the family. Our granddaughter fed and got kissed by a dolphin, we enjoyed a dolphin and a California sea lion show and we spent time with hundreds of parakeets. All in all a special day.

This place is so neat. Definitely a great surprise. My son and I did the dolphin encounter. Loved it!! The trainer was super nice. The whole staff was super nice. A little pricey but worth ever penny.

The Ocean Adventures Marine Park was amazing. The dolphin show was great and informative. The sea lion show left some to be desired, but I still enjoyed it. There were several opportunities to pet sting rays, and it was really cool! In the discovery center, the rays actually enjoyed being pet! The small center made it easier for one-on-one conversations with the animal specialists and care takers. They were eager to engage in conversation and were full of facts! This was a great place! The alligator show was very informative as well, and there was even a photo opportunity after! I definitely recommend this place, just don’t expect sea world. Expect a small center that is really trying to make a difference for marine life.

We came to Gulfport on a short family trip primarily to visit IMMS and it was so worth it! The children enjoyed the dolphin and seal shows and loved petting the stingrays and feeding the parakeets. They also enjoyed all of the educational sessions. These sessions were entertaining and a great learning experience for kids and adults alike. The staff at IMMS is very knowledgeable. We cannot wait to come back when our children are old enough to participate in some of cool experiences offered such as swimming with the dolphins. This is a must see and was definitely worth the special trip from Jackson. A special thanks to Mr. Solangi for showing us around and giving us some history about IMMS. They do wonderful things at this place!

Wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit. They have different shows with the animals and they teach as well and informative.

Very disappointing for the $16 admission price. Even though the advertise they offer a $2 military discount they only give it to active duty personnel, so I guess 30 years in the service means nothing. The discovery center had a few informational boards and a few display cases of shells, etc. It also had a separate room with a few fish tanks that contained 3 or 4 snakes, one turtle and several different species of fish but none of the fish were labeled. We saw 3 dolphins do a 10 minute show and one sea lion, a ffew birds, mostly parakeets, and a pool of sting rays.

We enjoyed our stop at the Institute for Marine Mammals. It was fun to get up close to all of the marine life, and my kids had a blast petting the rays and feeding the birds! The dolphin and sealion show were great! We spent about 2 hours there and did all that was offered, so it isn't a place you go and spend all day. But, we found it educational and could tell the staff care about their animals. Overall we recommend this stop for families.

We are a family of 5 which includes our 23yr old daughter, 16 & 15 yr old sons. This place is geared more toward younger children. The tickets were pretty pricey for how small and brief the shows were. $86 WOW!

I live in the New Orleans vicinity and had never heard of Ocean Adventure. I was thrilled with our experience. It is small and can be done in a day but it is packed with lots to do. The have a petting area with the stingrays and you can also feed the parakeets. they have interesting talks about different animals and show with the sea lions and dolphins. I would encourage anyone traveling in the area to stop by and visit. We also did the encounter with the dolphins at an extra cost but were thrilled with the trainers knowledge and ability to share it with us. Thanks for a great memorable day.

Great experience! Learned so much about marine life. Great for adults and kids. Dolphin show is a must to see.

Surprised our Granddaughter with the meet and great with the dauphin and sea lion
I believe that was the most amazing time she has ever had. She turned 8 so I know she will remember this forever.
I dont I've ever hear her laugh so deeply and truly as with the Sea lion. I believe her soul was giggling. They took pictures that was perfect with both animals kissing her.
So if you are tired of gift wrapped presents that get pushed aside for the next one .....do this !!!! Make a memory that will last

Our family experienced the dolphin encounter and it surpassed all our expitations! The staff was wonderful. The facility is small and that's one thing I love about it cause you don't not have to rush threw it. Even if you do not buy an encounter just going to the park is a wonderful experience . cannot wait to go back!!!

We sent our six-year-old granddaughter to MMI’s week long day camp. We had an incredibly wonderful experience. The instructors were wonderful people who did a great job with fun and hands-on educational activities. This has been a great investment in our granddaughters future and we look forward to next year! Highly recommended!

Our visit to IMMS was the highlight of our weekend getaway. While researching prior to our trip, I learned that they offer different "adventures," including the Stingray Encounter, which allows you to get into the ray pool and feed and play with the stingrays for an hour. Stingrays have been my favorite marine mammal since I was little, so this was an exciting prospect for me and I booked almost immediately.

The *only* downside to this visit was that they initially seemed a little disorganized - we weren't told the right place to go to sign our waivers and wait for our encounter to begin, so we started a little late, but once we were in the pool with the rays, the aquarist was very professional and knowledgeable and we had a great conversation with him while feeding and petting the rays.

The experience itself was unforgettable and I'll gladly do it again! After leaving the ray pool we wandered around the park a while longer while our swimsuits dried and liked what we saw, but with the wet nature of our clothing decided not to stay much longer or attend any other shows - in future I'd like to see more shows and experience more of the park than the specific encounter.

Overall it was well worth the price for the experience we had and the memories we'll keep forever, and I'll definitely be recommending IMMS to anyone interested in their various adventures!

We enjoyed our time here! Very informative and lots of cool facts! Definitely watch the 'dolphin show'! Its much more than just a dolphin show and just really fascinating! My favorite part was feeding the birds. They were beautiful! I went with a group of large group of adults. We all really enjoyed ourselves. This place is a hidden gem! I must go back again with my grandkids.

Was a first time visitor of IMMS a few weeks ago. I thoroughly enjoyed my even short visit to this facility. Not only was the place clean, and the staff friendly, but the experience was very memorable. We were able to learn so much about these animals as well as get some hands on interactions when them! Such a unique offering for the MS Coast! They have lots to do for the little ones, big kids, and even a place for assemblies and business meetings! I will definitely be back soon!

I heard about this opportunity to interact with the dolphins through a friend of a friend. My mom and I signed up as soon as we could make a weekend trip to the area. I was nervous that I was over estimating how it would pan out, but I was pleasantly wrong. Erica met us at the check in desk and explained every part well and with a friendly demeanor. We changed into swimsuits in a provided bathroom area. There is not a place to leave your stuff so bring a small backpack to hold your stuff in. We were able to leave our bag on the bleachers in the isolated area where the interaction occurs. The in the water part lasted a satisfying 15 minutes. The trainer would call our dolphin over and position him for us to see up close his teeth/ blow hole etc as well as for us to rub him. During the interaction you are standing waist deep on a large ledge platform that steps straight off to the deep pool that the dolphin is swimming in. He can freely come around on the ledge as well. We paid the extra fee for a USB full of pictures. Well worth the add on. Erica was on the side of the pool photographing the whole time. Fantastic. The rest of the facility had nice educational opportunities and a nice touch pool with sea life.

We did the dolphin encounter & it was such great fun, we learned so much and loved playing with Bo. Every employee we interacted with was helpful and friendly. Highly recommended!

I just completed an internship here at IMMS and Ocean Adventure! This is an amazing place if you’re looking for an internship, to volunteer, or just visit for the day! They have interactive exhibits and shows for all ages and very informative presentations for learning more about the local marine life and more! The staff is wonderful and are always very eager to help and answer any questions. You can tell they love these animals and are very dedicated to conservation. You can also venture to IMMS and book a program where you are one on one with the dolphins and sea lions! It’s amazing and a once in a lifetime experience!

This was the second time I went to interact with dolphins at IMMS. Even if it is only for 15 minutes that we can spend time in the water with a dolphin it always makes me so happy. Even my husband said after the first time (just observed back then) that he wanted to do it and he did this time. Great memories. We love the IMMS and what they have done over the years. Great work. Very nice marine park. Staff was very knowledgeable and could handle everything. We will be back soon!

We hadn't planned on coming until last minute.... we're so, so lucky we did! We booked a dolphin interaction and stingray encounter.... both were fabulous!!

Everyone was friendly and helpful....we even got to meet Moby, by chance, and he was a hoot!

The dolphin and sea lion shows were a bit hard to hear, perhaps because of the music or because it's sorta "echo-ee" but we were pretty close to the action.

Overall, this attraction was completely worth it. It had been rebuilt after Katrina so the facility is practically brand new and very clean. Of course, it's the people that can make or break your experience and everyone was incredible! Highly recommend!!

My husband and I brought our girls (1 & 2) they loved the dolphins and we all had so much fun and everyone is so nice! It’s definitely a great family place for everyone to have fun and learn We are going back with some of our family in a few weeks!

I took my teenage daughter for an interaction with the dolphins. It was wonderful!! Our trainer was superb. She was so friendly and informative. My daughter stated afterwards that the experience was a dream come true. Most definitely an experience we will treasure forever.

We were really looking forward to this event but were very disappointed. The shows were short and the sound system horrible in the metal/concrete building. The dolphin show was okay, but the sea lion show was very disappointing. Because it was difficult to hear anything the announcer was saying, we didn't have any idea as to what they were trying to show. The sea lion never went into the water, everything was on land and was apparently a response to something the announcer said. Our 4-year old grandson couldn't stay in the sting ray building because of the echoing of kids and the sound system.

With a group of grade school students there, they had the bathrooms at the main building and the museum were closed. It was a almost a two-block walk to a restroom. Again, with a 4-year old, this was not an acceptable situation.

The train ride was about 5 minutes long and there was no narration, just a nice view of the parking lot.

The restaurant was not open, so nothing to eat.

The Mississippi Aquarium was more expensive, but it was so much better than what we experienced here. I wouldn't recommend anyone waste their time.

My parents take my girls every year and they never get tired of visiting! They love all of the shows. Last year they did the Dolphin meet and greet. This year my daughter was asked to participate in the Dolphin show and she was over-the-moon excited to be a part of it! They’re already planning their next visit and the sea lion kiss is on their list! One of their favorite activities is petting the sting rays. The staff is always kind and courteous. We highly recommend this experience to those with or without children!

There's not a huge amount to see here they have a dolphin show, a sea lion show and bird show along with a bird house where you can feed the birds. We had good fun but it seemed quite expensive for what it was. They do provide a dolphin rescue service so I think the money is put to good use.

This place is a must! Perfect for adults and kids! The staff are so friendly and knowledgeable! I can't wait to go back!

The Marine Mammal Institute and Ocean Adventures are the same place, when googling I wasn’t sure. We arrived at 12:00, just in time to catch the dolphin and sea lion shows back to back. Fair warning, this is not what you think of a typical aquarium. Shows are open air, cafe is a walk up window with seating on a covered patio with a fan, be prepared to be sweaty. The shows are short and sweet for short attention spans like my three year old. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and friendly. You can take the train to the museum (one small room with some informative billboards and a fossil dig table), it’s a 3 minute ride maybe. There is a room that has touch tanks with starfish, crabs, and sting rays in the museum building as well. We ate lunch, did the gift shop and 3 shows and spent about 3.5 hours. We loved Sydney, she was very informative and fun to visit with in the touch tank room. We liked that there wasn’t a ton of walking for our wee ones. The thing that made this over the top for me was the parakeets. You buy a stick for $1.50 that’s got bird fees on it, you go into a room with all the parakeets and hold your stick out and they land on it and eat, it was so cool. The only thing I would say was a negative was that the selections at cafe were limited (cheeseburger, corn dog, peanut butter and jelly (it was frozen so none the day we visited) and personal pizzas, potato chips, dipping dots, small selection of candy and soft drinks) and the outdoor seating was pretty miserable when you were ready to eat and cool off at lunch time.

Our favorite place to vacation is Gulfport and Biloxi Mississippi and we always wanted to visit tour the marin Institute but was not open to public till this year. The family loved it! Dolphins, Sea lions, sting Ray's, and much more. My daughter's pet sting Ray's, Sea lions gave them kiss. If you get a chance go visit.

I had an absolutely fantastic time, getting in with Tucker the dolphin and Charlie the trainer. Being a little off season, ingot to be one on one with them, because noone else had signed up. It was incredible being able to pet Tucker, feed him fish and give him commands for all his tricks (he does an awesome bang you're dead). Everyone was super knowledgeable and willing to share that knowledge with you, not just with the dolphins, but the sting rays (that you can touch) and seal lions as well. It's a worthwhile couple of hours (I didn't get to do the discovery centre due to other commitments but will come again I'm sure).

Seriously, it's worth every penny you will spend here, and it also helps with costs for rescuing and rehabilitating these animals. I can't recommend it highly enough!

The staff, the animals, all were amazing!! The facility is very well maintained, and the animals are extremely well cared for!!

I brought my 2 neices (6 and 18) for the Dolphin Encounter, which was a great experience. The facility is very clean and well kept. The animal trainers are knowledgable and friendly. Could use a few more signs or people to direct where to find the different “exhibits” as one or two could be easily missed. Overall great experience!

My wife did the dolphin encounter and it was amazing! We loved the educational talk about her dolphin and it was a bucket list item checked off. BE SURE TO VISIT! We will do the sea lion encounter next time. Dolphin show was amazing

It was quite smaller than we expected, very much off the beaten path. The shows were super short and the admission was kind of pricey for such the small place. A magnet was $12.The one thing we wanted to do was sold out which I thought surprising considering the amount of people that were there when we were.

Enjoyed a nice afternoon with some of my younger relatives during an afternoon visit. Not too crowded. Lots of stuff to see.

Amazing visit as part of our girls trip. I can’t even decide what was my favorite part!! We hope to come back soon!

My wife and I went with my daughter and grandkids. They loved it. Make sure you take in the dolphin and sea lion shows. My grandkids particularly enjoyed petting the sting rays.

We recently spent the morning here with our teenage grandkids. Seriously, if you are anywhere on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and looking for a family-friendly adventure, do not hesitate to go here. Not only is it fun and educational for kids of all ages, but likewise for adults, as well as being budget-friendly. You will see dolphins, sea lions, exotic birds, little alligators, snakes, a pool full of manta rays, and so much more. The dolphin show and sea lion show were are outstanding, and you can actually touch the rays as they swim by. It's also nice that there is a trolley between buildings for those who need assistance or if it's just plain hot. Everybody here was friendly, informative, and professional, would definitely recommend. Also don't be confused if you see the term Ocean Adventures MS on Facebook or elsewhere, as it seems to be interchangeable with the IMMS, being the same destination on your GPS. We spent about two and a half hours here, you can spend a little more or a little less, there is a schedule of all the shows on their website.

My wife and two little girls (4 and 2 years old) visited IMMS last weekend and highly recommend it to anyone traveling through the Gulfport area. It is truly a hidden gem in the state of Mississippi. We experienced feeding birds in an interactive aviary, a dolphin and sea lion show that was very educational, touched stingrays-also very educational (with help from very enthusiastic interns), and toured the museum. The turtle cafe offers ice cream and treats for the kids, and of course the gift shop has tons of stuff your kids will want! Overall, can’t believe I have never been and will be back any time I am on the MS Coast. Cheers!

We are 4 adults who was looking for something to do before lunch. Other than petting a sting Ray and the dolphin show it wasn't for adults. Great place for young kids

Thoroughly enjoyed swimming with the stingrays and sharks. The instructor was extremely knowledgeable to her audience. She made them feel at ease and even knew each swim animals' names. So impressive. I enjoyed it immensely.
Thank you for taking carving out time for us to enjoy this activity from your busy schedule.

This was truly a spectacular experience! I got to kiss a dolphin, pet stingrays, hold birds, and more. I have had many experiences with animals at aquariums and zoos, but this was absolutely the most interactive. The staff is passionate about the well-being of the animals, and it shows! Hands down, my children, husband, and I recommend this hidden-gem as one of the great treasures of the Gulf Coast!

Our family had a great time here. Feeding the birds and petting the stingrays was such a fun experience. My husband was able to shake hands with a dolphin and my kids were able to toss them a fish during the dolphin show. Truly a memorable experience. We will make this a regular stop when passing through Gulfport.

We had the best time! Started our day with the dolphin meet and greet and stayed until close. The shows were very entertaining and the staff were super friendly and knowledgeable. My son loved the playground and riding the train! You can’t beat the price. Definitely a must for a families!

Fantastic organization for all who want to learn about the marine life and mammals in the coastal region. Staff is friendly, grounds are well taken care of and the animals are looked after.

Our family loved this place. The shows were well-planned and awesome. Learned a lot of valuable, interesting and information. Dolphins and stingrays were my favorite. Oh, and loved the parakeets.

We are a retired military family. My children were so excited to visit this weekend (19 NOV) for the swimming with stingray experience. Unfortunately, my 13-year-old daughter became sick with the flu today and we had to cancel our entire New Orleans and gulf coast visit that was supposed to start tomorrow. All other attractions we paid for were kind enough to refund our money when we called them.

Unfortunately, not only would you not refund us, but you charged me another $43 for a voucher to be used at another time during the year. I cannot guarantee we will be able to do that, so I either pay this extra money and hope we can come again or lose it all.

I understand it is a business, but a little kindness in this situation would have been appreciated, especially for families that watch their budgets carefully. Maybe we will visit, but I will definitely ensure my veteran community knows to be careful making reservations here.

My husband and I were going through Gulfport, MS this past weekend and were looking for something to do to kill some time. We came across Ocean Adventures online and it looked nice.

The place is tucked away down a back road which makes it nice not having to find parking. General admission was affordable. I paid extra for the dolphin experience.

The grounds were small but nice and clean. The shows need some work. The bird show was 5 minutes long with only one bird doing a couple tricks. It was mostly the lady talking about them. This would have been fine but it was very dry. Same with the dolphin and sea lion show.

The discovery room was very nice but it was hidden. Took us a while to find it. When we walked in, there was a large ray touch tank with families feeding the fish. A staff member lady started yelling at a older man bc he started to feed the rays without paying the extra cash. I really did not appreciate that. There were no clear signs saying you couldn't and she was very rude to that poor man.

If we would have not bought the dolphin experience, It would have not been very fun. The dolphin experience was very organized and enjoyable.

This place is so cute! And, the staff is amazing! I loved feeding the parakeets, the Ray pool, and the dolphin show. I spent a little extra and got into the pool with the sting rays and feed them. It was one of the most fun things I have ever done. They provided us with a picture! Please go check this place out. Super kid friendly, as well.

My children enjoyed our trip to Marine Mammal Studies Center! Our favorite activities were a tie between touching the fish and watching the dolphin show.

My husband had an absolute amazing time at IMMS and our encounter with Bo was a once in a lifetime experience!

This place was recommended by a friend, but it was so much nicer than we expected! We have 6 kids ages 4-15 so it is tricky to find fun places that all ages enjoy. The staff were all super friendly and informative. When the speaker in the dolphin show chose my 6 yr old birthday girl to pet the dolphin during the show, I almost cried. She truly made birthday dreams come true for my little girl. There were so many talks and shows to see between exploring and interacting with the Rays, touch pools, and bird room. It was worth the 2 hour drive for us.

My fiancé & I went to have our pictures taken with a sea lion kissing us. We enjoyed that experience & the whole park was amazing!

Having an interaction with the dolphins is an amazing and fun experience! Not only is there touching, feeding, and interacting with the dolphins it is very educational! It is well worth it and also for a great nonprofit cause!!! A win win!

Favorite part of the experience was the sea lion kisses and the dolphin show. Would 10/10 recommend doing the interactive shows and experiences offered.

We loved this stop on our trip! Two of our kids did the Dolphin encounter and has so much fun! The parakeets were beautiful and a fun experience. It was perfect not too big or crowded. Would do again :)

We are so furtunate to live close to a place like this. My 6 year old grandson and I visit often. All I have to do is tell him we are going to visit "Gabby" and his face lights up. We never get tired of touching Stingrays or learning about the eggs that are in the nursery tank. Typically a little shy, after a few visits my grandson touched a snake! The staff is always encouraging, patient and so good about answering questions. I love that the dolphins and sea lines are rescues! This is absolutley our happy place.

My grandchildren and I experienced the meet and greet with a dolphin. It will an experience they will remember for a very long time. Nana will have a hard time trying to top this activity. All the activties were excellent and I will recommend to my friends to go there.

We had a wonderful time here. Learning about the history of the area, the water and the rescues was great. The history goes back quite a ways but a good portion of this facility is very new due to the loss during hurricane Katrina. Beautiful facility and friendly staff made our trip wonderful. The shows and talks are must a must do while here. We also enjoyed the pools that allowed for you to touch different species and interact. Live experiences make this very special. Our children were not with us but would have loved this visit probably even more than we did.

We had a great time , we did the dolphin and stingray interaction . The staff were very friendly and informative . One of the things I really loved was it wasn’t crowded . We will be coming back

What an amazing place to visit while on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. We had a great time with our grandkids. The dolphin, sea Lion, bird, and reptile shows were all informative and very entertaining. The staff was great and you can tell they work hard for the animals. I highly recommend this place. We randomly found it on Google and I’m glad we did. They need to advertise more because this is truly a gem. Also, the price point for admission was very good as well. A must-visit if you are visiting the area and enjoy marine life. The staff was very friendly and helpful. Really lots to do and see.

Visited with small kids last summer and was very pleasantly surprised. I did not expect the number and quality of things to see and experience. There are hands on exhibits at kid level where they can touch stingrays, horseshoe crab and such, while other displays cover animals as diverse as snakes and seahorses. There are shows that feature sea lions and dolphins with excellent seating and viewing. The kids were thrilled. They can see above and below the water line. You can easily spend several entertaining hours on site and it's a great, almost hidden gem of a family attraction.

Fun & educational!!! It is top notch and well run! Staff was welcoming, kind and professional. So much to see and do. The organization has greatly expanded since our last visit. Glad we went again! Highly recommend going for all age groups. Kids-teens-college-parents-elderly. Special experience!! The dolphin & sea lion shows were amazing. There is a stingray pool to touch stingrays. Touching the dolphin with Marcus and the trainer Megan we will never forget! The bird expo is magical!! Don’t miss it!!

The dolphins, sea lion that I love, the information about the animals. First time I ever petted a snake .

So much information about the animals excellent for the children.
The one thing my granddaughter enjoyed was searching for a wale tooth they just love that.

I have only been there once since you remodeled the place
Hope I can get back there this summer. I think adults enjoy this just as much as the children.

It’s a small place and easy to get to. The price is reasonable ($15/adult - Gen Ad). They have some really cool animals and good presentations. The reptile/fish exhibits in the back are really cool. Ray pool is a fun experience, as well. Sea lion show was good. We missed the dolphin presentation because we weren’t watching the time, so we viewed them from the sub-surface viewing area. All-in-all, I would definitely go again and hope they grow the facility and the shows to a larger scale.

Hidden gem. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit. Different shows that rotate around every 15-30 min. Birds, sea kions, dolphins, alligators, etc... Staff were all great and very informative. Clean bathrooms.

We also paid for a dolphin meet and greet. Definitely worth the cost. The visit is short, but so worth it. Our host Julie and our trainer were very informative and we learned alot about the dolphins. My daughter loved the interaction. It was all fantastic!

Everyone there was so helpful and informative. A great place to visit.
Nice size without being crazy huge. Easy place to manage with young children.
There were lots of viewing areas.

Best attraction in Gulfport. Awesome for animal lovers; Go early in the day since crowds are lighter

My 6 year old granddaughter and I visited Ocean Adventures on July 31, 2019 and had an awesome time. We participated in the dolphin encounter, and it was a once in a lifetime experience for both of us. I can't wait until my granddaughter is old enough to participate in the in-water dolphin experience. Petting the stingrays was also another highlight of the day. The Discovery Center was really nice with the touching pools in there. The talks and shows were very educational and entertaining. We will definitely be back.

Our group participated in the Dozing with Dolphins adventure and loved it. The staff was so helpful and accommodating to our group’s specific needs. We had a wonderful time and learned so much!

This is a great half day option for the family. Several animal shows which are spaced apart perfectly so you can see them all during a casual three hour visit. Very affordable option for the family.

Highly recommended for all ages. Very educational. Expect to spend a little over 2 hours here. We did the sea lion kiss, loved it.

Dolphin, sea lion, bird shows etc were informative and fun and were included with the general ticket price. You could also meet and pet stingrays! There is also a really fun touch pool and aquarium area that's not super obvious if you've never been there - you go to the museum (which is in a separate building, behind the main area) and it's in a room in the back. The gift shop was also nice and lots of options for under $5, which is great! There is also a free little train ride that you can take around the outside of the property, which the younger kids enjoyed.

We also opted to do a meet and greet (poolside) with Dolphins. I had so many questions about this experience and was a little hesitant due to the cost - but it was amazing!!! In our group were 2 adults and 5 kids (ages 15, 14, 10, 7 and 5). Everyone loved it!

You were led to the area by your guide, sat on bleachers directly next to the pool to get the rules and run down (so if you are an observer, you will definitely be up close and able to see your family interact, plus see the dolphins in a really fun setting - much closer than in the shows!) This was a great opportunity to snap a few quick cell phone pictures, because you will not be permitted to take pics during the event BUT they have a photographer on hand who takes them for you (or if you have an observer in the stands, they could too). We each received one complimentary keepsake photo of our experience, which was a nice surprise!

While on the side of the pool, our trainer showed us some behaviors that the dolphins had learned, then guided us one at a time through trying one with the dolphin, we all got to feed the dolphin several snacks, got to pose for a "kiss" picture with the dolphin, and got to pet them for a few minutes as well! Don't let the time of the program deter you - it was just the right amount of time and allowed you to have plenty of time to explore the rest of the amazing property.

Breakdown of cost: $55 (when we went) per person, but it included the keepsake photo for free (I've paid $20+ other places for keepsake photos), general admission ($13 value I believe) and the dolphin experience! Ends up being a great bargain!

I am so glad I didn't talk myself out of trying this and would recommend it to anyone!

TIP: Go to the window early to fill out paperwork before your meet and greet so you can enjoy shows etc while you wait and save time!

Had an amazing time, staff was friendly and knowledgeable, the sealion experience was so cool. My daughter and I loved it.

The dolphin interaction was amazing! They keep the groups small (6 people for 2 dolphins) so you get plenty of time to interact. The program is scheduled for 45 minutes but we spent well over an hour with plenty of time in the water. We got the $30 photo add on which was fantastic. We got a USB with over 140 photos, many of which are priceless shots. Would highly recommend to anyone who loves dolphins.

This is an absolute must-do for anyone in the Gulfport area! Between animal shows, touch pools, and interactions there is something for the whole family. Best part? Everyone will learn something during their visit. The staff and trainers are personable and knowledgeable, and are more than willing to answer any question. Everyone who works there clearly enjoys their job and truly has a love for the animals and marine life in general. If you're lucky enough to do an interaction, you won't regret it! Spending one-on-one time with the animals is an unforgettable experience that allows you to truly connect with them and gives you the opportunity to ask the trainers any questions you have. This place is also great because when you visit you are not only supporting the care of the resident animals, you are also supporting an organization dedicated to research and rehabilitation of local marine wildlife. I cannot recommend IMMS enough!

Our family had a great time and would recommend this to anyone. We were from 4 years to in our fifties and we all had fun!

We arrived 2 days ago and here for a month. We visited and my toddlers loved it. We were going to book a dolphin interaction for me, however decided not to as you pay for bystanders and on top pay for pictures. That being said, they loved feeding the birds and touching the sting rays. Price is good, the dolphin show was super fun and entertaining. Not too big though, friendly staff. They dont sell food to feed sting rays. Snack cafe was nice.

Small size made it more accessible for family member who had difficulty walking. Shows are short but loaded with fun and personality. Loved the birds.

this place is absolutely fantastic! it was like a smaller version of sea world! except more friendly and personal! we did the dolphin adventure and my children had the time of their lives! maggie was the trainer and she was so personal and friendly and patient! we are so blessed to have found this little hidden gem!

My favorite part was the information to trainers provided about the all the animals we saw. Loved the dolphin & sea lion experience. We took our granddaughter on a mini-vacation and she loved it. The price of the visit was very affordable and the interaction was awesome. Highly recommend for families.

This is my son's 4th year to attend the IMMS Summer Camp, and he absolutely loves it. The program is well organized, educational with many hands-on activities, and an absolute fun experience for the kids. The cost is well worth the week of summer camp, including swimming with dolphins and stringrays, the beach trip, and all the learning experiences.

This was a great place to take the family. My 8 year old son said this was a dream come true. We truly enjoyed it. Staff was very friendly and they had some cool shows they put on, Dolphin , sea lion, bird shows. I highly recommend. My son did the dolphin encounter and it was the best experience ever. You can tour the whole facility within a couple of hours, but I would recommend doing one of the private adventures that you have to pay extra for. It was well worth the money and made it that more special.

The shows were cute and most of the staff were friendly. The dolphin show was especially enjoyable.

However, we asked some questions regarding local gulf water life and where met with an obvious lack of knowledge. Disappointing to say the least.

The grandkids had an excellant time. The swim with the stingrays was epic, something they'll always remember. The staff was so friendly and helpful. This is a great educational place for kids!

The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies/Ocean Adventures park in Gulfport, MS is an experience that all families should partake in given the opportunity. My son and I made memories that will last us both a lifetime. The park offers many educational opportunities and hands on experiences for children of all ages. The staff members are very dedicated to the mission of the institute and are very welcoming and helpful. We enjoyed the dolphin and sea lion shows so much that we actually stopped back by on our way out of town to see them once more. As an added bonus, we bought tickets for the dolphin encounter which allowed us to touch/feel, feed, interact, and see our dolphin up close and personal. Thank you IMMS for the work you put into protecting our sea life as well as providing these experiences and memories for generations to come!

We went on New Year's Eve and it was so much fun. Many of their animal interactions are indoors and can be done during cold weather. We did the Dolphin meet and greet, which is outside. The high the day we did it was 60 degrees and we were not cold.

Leadership Gulf Coast visited IMMS this week. It was a special treat for us all. The team has great customer service and the dolphin show was excellent. You definitely want to visit IMMS on your spring break or summer vacation! Thank you Moby and team!

Delinda H.

If you are looking for a once in the life time experience with dolphins I highly recommend doing the dolphin interaction. The ray pool is a cool experience being able to touch the sting Ray's. The dolphin show that the host is a MUST see.

Also called Ocean Adventures, this was a nice spot to stop by on our way to NOLA from Atlanta. We stopped by on a Sunday afternoon and there were practically nobody else there. We were the first to arrive at the dolphin show so we got selected to touch the dolphins! Though it was a bit chilly, they still had the bird and alligator show. Nice collection of marine animals on display (got to see an Axolotl!). The only thing was closed was the cafe, but fortunately we had brought a stash of snacks. Our entire family enjoyed the visit.

The staff was friendly, and my daughter and her friend had a great time at the event. However, we had to wait for 1 hour and 45 minutes before things really got started, and we were close to leaving. The check-in process was a bit frustrating. We had to stand in line to turn in participation waivers and sign in. It seemed like they could have been more efficient by having two or three lines for collecting forms instead of just one. In my experience with events that require waivers, collecting waivers electronically before the event is a much smoother process. Because of the long and frustrating wait during check-in, I wouldn't recommend this event.

What an amazing experience! Kind and helpful staff and so many interactive activities for children of all ages!

Our Granddaughter loves Dolphins and she got to feed and pet one and she was so happy. We like it there, so much to see and also to watch her face seeing these beautiful Dolphins

We gifted our 15 year old daughter and our 14 year old grandson the stingray encounter for a Christmas gift. It was the absolute highlight of their holiday vacation. Both have done the summer camp and have visited but this was just the 2 of them and they received lots of one on one from the employees and had just the best time ever!! My daughter can’t wait to go back and do the dolphin encounter!!! Thanks IMMS for a gift that will not be forgotten anytime soon!!!

Our visit was beyond our expectations! Ocean Adventures was an amazing place! My kids (8 & 12) were super happy that they could interact with so many animals. We also were pleasantly surprised that so many shows/talks were included in admission price and that so many extra experiences could be added on at a fairly low cost! The place was also filled with knowledgeable and friendly staff. We would highly recommend this place and would love to come back one day!

The kids loved the Goliath Grouper and the hands on pond. We are happy to have a nice aquarium in Mississippi

Signed the grand kids up for the Dolphin meet and greet. Unexpectedly surprised with the park in general, bird demonstrations, Dolphin and sea lion shows, stingray petting area. Truly a miniature, more personalized sea world. But, the dolphin meet and greet was amazing. The trainers are extremely good and the kids petted and kissed a dolphin! They were beyond excited. Advance reservations are required and the park is fairly small, so earlier times are better. Fantastic experience.

This was a wonderful experience for our granddaughter. Our trainer was superb. She was so friendly and informative. My granddaughter stated afterwards that the experience was a dream come true. Most definitely an experience we will treasure forever. We also liked that the shows are not just for entertainment but for education of the animals and the environment they come from. Definitely worth the trip and time to visit.

Hard to find a bit, not well advertised but worth the effort.
Rescued and rehabbed marine animals available to see and get hands on with.
Dolphin, sea lion, manta Ray's, exotic birds. Discovery Center and museum.
You should bring the kids!

I went here with my child field trip. The place is clean, neat, and organized. The staff were professional and very helpful. All the animals looked happy and friendly. The staff explained about all things we need to do before we touch certain things, either animals, rocks, and everything else. Fun activities like digging for shark’s tooth and get to take it home as a souvenir, dolphins show, sea lion show, were really get the children’s attention. It was overall fun experience at IMMS Gulfport.

I took a group of 16 scouts and their parents for the Dozing with dolphins sleepover. First, all the positives. The facility and program are great. The program director was easy to work with in booking. The museum was fun and educational. We then proceeded to the auditorium where we watched a brief slide show about the IMMS. After that, to the touch pool. The scouts loved looking at all the creatures in the tanks and touching the sting rays in the touch pool. From there, they did the art activity which was a reusable tote bag. Then it was back to the auditorium where the scouts had a race to see which team could rescue a dolphin the quickest. We finished the night off with popcorn and a movie before turning in. The next morning after packing and breakfast we had our own personal dolphin and sea lion shows before departing. The trainers were friendly and knowledgeable. The kids also got a very nice patch. They had a memorable time. One recommendation is this: The cost per person was $30-$35 a person. I think entrance to the Oceans Adventure Park for the next day should be included with the package if you sleep over. Now for the negatives: While there are expectedly a full list of rules and dos and don’ts, the guide for the evening was not flexible while dealing with kids. We were constantly “reminded” in a stern voice that they would end our program early if they had to correct the kids more than once. The mantra for the trip was “We have rules and they are there for a reason.” Keep in mind this group was ages 5-11 on an overnight adventure. Rather than speaking to us in a positive tone, like the way the trainers say they use to train their animals, everything was in a negative tone. After a night full of “Don’t do this” and “Stop doing that”, our morning began with the guide walking in, flipping the lights on and yelling out “I have breakfast, but you can’t have it until you pack up and get ready to leave. Adults, that includes coffee for you! We have a schedule to keep so get moving!” Our guide was not good at all with dealing with kids. Or people in general. It seemed like she was bothered that we interrupted her Friday night. I’ll end this review with a quote from my son who loves marine parks and animals. He said, “Dad, I really like this place. I want to come back and visit the park. But I don’t want to sleep over again because that lady acted like she didn’t want us there!”

This was our first time here. We booked the encounter online for my daughter's birthday along with her friend. It was fun and an enjoyable experience. We had a party of 5. The kiddos enjoyed the touch pool as well. The dolphin and Sea lion show were cute. Feeding the parakeets was fun as well. We will be back

My daughter and I had a wonderful experience at IMMS. The employees were all friendly and helpful. The experience was very educational. The dolphin show was phenomenal. My nine year old did the dolphin encounter and had a blast interacting one on one with Maddie, the dolphin. She can’t stop talking about it. The train on site will be a blessing in the summer when it is too hot to walk everywhere. It was fun to feed the birds in the aviary. They were very active! We cannot wait to return. IMMS is a wonderful addition to the Mississippi coast!

My kids had a fantastic time swimming with the sting rays and sharks. My daughters also interacted and kissed the sea lions. They want to go to do this again. The program directors let us spend lots of time with the animals also. Erica also called me to let me know I forgot my pictures.

Great place. Very clean. The staff is always very sweet! My daughter has so much fun every time we go.

We took our first graders to IMMS and they loved it. We only stayed for two hours but this was plenty of time since the day was hot. The students really enjoyed the dolphin show. That was definitely the highlight! They also liked to touch the stingrays, learn about birds, and the sea lion show. IMMS is very organized and stays on schedule. All the staff is very friendly and helpful. The day was enjoyed by all!

My wife went to the Dolphin Research Center as a child. She spent a week there working and playing with the dolphins. She always talked about going back so we did. She was very pleased and excited to spend the day there. We are going to return December 2019. Hopefully she will be able to spend another week there.

We went down to Biloxi for a quick family get away. There was a tropical storm moving along the gulf on its way to Texas and we had no idea it would dump so much rain on Biloxi! We were looking for rainy day activities and the campground had a flyer from Ocean Adventure. My daughter chose the sting ray encounter over the dolphins! It did not disappoint ! We paid for the USB and the pics were great but honesty if you pay to be a spectator you will be pretty close and can get lots of pics.
Oh and initially I was a little bummed that there were no more spots for the snorkel and swim experience but after seeing both I feel like the one we did was better! My daughter (13) had way more interactions with the rays by just sitting and feeding them that those who were able to swim over to the deep section. They just kinda swam and floated around while the other group kept feeding the rays so they were all in the shallow part with my daughter’s group!
Next time we go to Biloxi we will definitely go back and will either do the dolphin or the sea lion encounters.
The rest of the park was super fun also! Great rainy day activity for sure! The shows are all under cover so you won’t get wet while watching the shows.

We went there attempting to get in the place and there were loads of School Kids, not a place recommended for just tourists showing up.

Too Kiddy and Too Crowded Unable to park and then gain admission, it was over capacity each day we tried! Too Many School Buses full of kids

We were visiting the area and my hubby and I decided to try this place! It was pretty neat!! The price of admission is very reasonable!

What a wonderful experience! You can’t beat this opportunity to meet the friendly dolphins and staff. I will never forget this experience and I’m so thankful for the tour and fun memories at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies. This organization truly cares about the rehabilitation of sea life, and they give a glimpse of this process to the public in such a unique and personal way. Enjoy the show, pet some sting rays, and go home with a smile!

Aleah/Addison’s Birthday Celebration. We had a Blast! We will go again for sure. Not expensive at all, lots to look at. The Dolphins were superb! I learned a lot too.

This experience was top notch for me and my kids. Great way to spend a week in the summer learning so much about marine life and jobs in that field. Very educational but also a ton of fun! No complaints from anyone! Hope to be back next year.

Recently gifted my 13 yr old with a Job Shadow experience here. Great time! Staff was wonderful!....

We took our kids, ages 8 & 7. Due to its size, it creates an intimate opportunity. No matter where you are in the park, you are always close to the animals. The staff is very friendly & provide a lot of great information. There are not a ton of different activities, but the ones they do have are high quality. The park itself is reasonably priced. Highly recommend it for a half day activity.

We participated in the dolphin encounter. It was both fun and educational. There were many exhibits and shows to attend as well. Overall, the staff was both knowledgeable and friendly, and it's a great place for a nice day trip!

Visiting from Michigan, my sister and I participated in the Dolphin Interaction - Take a Dip at IMMS. It was fantastic and well worth the cost! The trainer, Stephanie was great and our dolphin, Mo couldn’t have been better. We were able to touch and pet her several different times during the Interaction and it was an amazing experience. She performed tricks and we fed her fish and jello. It felt wonderful to be in the water standing next to such a beautiful animal. We also enjoyed the Discovery Center and learned a lot about conservation. Can’t wait for other family to visit so I can Dip again!

Had a long weekend in Gulfport. Kids wanted to “swim with dolphins” Older kids got into pool with dolphins, littler kids did meet and greet. Overall great experience. Did it first thing in morning, by lunch we were done and it was getting too hot! Staff was great and very knowledgeable.

Everything was really interesting !! It's amazing what they are doing. It's not just dolphins. Sting Rays. Sea lions. An aviary. Snakes. All kinds of fish. It's really fascinating.

There were three dolphins in the show, All three had been with marine institute since it reopened after Katrina, But the only reason I found this out, because I asked one of the staff, The show part was very wonderful to see their amazing athletic ability, but that was the essence of the show. And it only lasted twenty minutes at most.

I feel the show could have been more informative on each of the three dolphins. Like their personalities, their diet, their intellectual capabilities. Like more could have been done to show the relationship between the trainers and the dolphins. It was just kinda short, and creativity/imagination was lacking, more information on their intelligence, their usual behavior when not captive, and how they are kept well would have been interesting, and more activities/games in the show would have been worth the trouble to get there,

We came down from Kansas City on spring break and decided to let the 2 girls do the dolphin experience. The trainers were excellent and the girls had a great time. The shows and exhibits were very good also.

We did the dolphin meet and greet and my 8 year old really loved it. The dolphin and sea lion show are not to be missed!

We had family with us that live in the area who were unaware this was here. We did a meet and greet is was an amazing experience and we're all learned new things

It was surprising to see the interactive experiences available at the Institute. They have dolphins, stingrays, alligators, birds, and much more. If you have a chance to visit, please do. If you have children they will love it!

My Husband and I did the stingray swim encounter. Highly recommend doing an animal encounter. The staff are awesome and very full of information. They bird experience is great 😀 be sure and get the bird seed sticks

My daughter in law had heard about this place and it was on our way to Alabama. They set up a dolphin experience for the kids and they all three really enjoyed it. They have a walk-in parakeet habitat where you can feed the birds, which is fun. They have a parrot show, a sea lion show, and a dolphin show as well. It's a lot of fun and I think you would enjoy it whether you have children or not. They are doing a great job in their rescue work as well.

We purchased the dolphin encounter for the teens and the dolphin meet and greet for our little one and Dad. Everyone loved the day! Thank you for the wonderful staff and being careful of food allergies with our kids.

My 2 daughters and I visited here today for the first time. We had a blast!!! We booked sea lion kisses and swimming with the sting rays online ahead of time. Both experiences did not disappoint! I now want to own a sea lion just for kisses. Mr. McCoy’s sweet demeanor made him irresistible! The ray swim was fantastic as well. My girls got to feed and snorkel in the tank with the rays and sharks. Definitely worth the money to book! The dolphin and sea lion shows will not disappoint either. The touch tanks by the museum were a lot of fun. One of them acts as the sting ray nursery for the baby/younger rays. Basil was our favorite and extremely friendly! There is also a parakeet house and for $1.50 you can get bird seed on a stick(it’s a must do). Once you’re inside the sweet little parakeets will come visit on you arms, shoulders, feet... EVERYWHERE! I am so glad we made our way to this place on our vacation to Mississippi.

8 and 10 years old daughters went for the dolphin experience. It was very affordable and the facility was amazing. The trainers also worked well with the animals and everything seemed well maintained. My personal favorite experience was the "tweeter post" where you feed birds. We will definitely be back.

We visited here during our vacation/family visit and loved it! Our kids couldn't get enough of the parakeets. We saw the dolphin show and the sea lion show and loved it. Our kids love animals and nature so this was a great experience for them. We definitely plan to return on our next visit to the Mississippi Gulf.

My seven year old and I went for the Sea Lion kiss encounter...it was definitely worth the money. All he can talk about is when we go back...Can we do the dolphin petting? (dolphin encounter) He laughed and really enjoyed the visit.

My husband and I brought our 2 children while on vacation. The dolphin show was my personal favorite. However, all of the shows were great! They were fun, interesting, and educational. I would absolutely recommend checking it out. This was our first time going but it certainly won’t be our last!!

Maybe we did it wrong, but we just bought the pass that didn’t have any swimming with rays and dolphins. Maybe it would have been better if that was included, but their basic plan is not worth it. The “park” is a very small and barren midway between the different exhibits. There was a dolphin show which was pretty cool, but that’s where it peaked. The sea lion show was pretty uninspired but it kept my attention for a little bit. By the time we got to the manta rays, we were the only two people left in the park. The manta guy was nice, but you could tell everyone just wanted to go home early. We tried to go to the bird show, but we waited five minutes past the scheduled time and no one showed up. Even if everything had gone according to plan, I think it still would have been mediocre. At least the money helps the animals

There is no better way to spend your day in Gulfport! The facility offers plenty of opportunities to interact and learn about the incredible animals. The staff is friendly and willing to answer questions and educate!

Also, I love knowing how involved the Institute is in rescue and rehabilitation!

Several of my Girl Scout troop came to Ocean Adventures/IMMS on May 25th. They all did one of the additional adventures - sting rays or dolphins. We were pleasantly surprised at how long they had with the adventures - about an hour! the dolphin show was fun, the sea lion show was cute but we wanted a longer one. I wish there was more seed on the sticks for the parakeet encounter - they are so cute.

Touch pool at the IMMS was fun.

only down side was when we ordered food - because there were about 15 of us, it overwhelmed the snack bar - my corn dogs were still cold, even after they nuked a second order.

Our daughter's first experience here was through a school field trip at which time she started begging to attend the summer camp. Camp is a bit pricey, but was well worth it! It sparked a new passion for rescue and volunteering to help animals! I can see her going back for years to come!

Very interesting place. My Grandsons loved all of it. Dolphin show, Stingray tank, Bird show. After a show we ended up at the Rays tank, they loved playing with the Rays. We went down some stairs to view the sea lions and the dolphins under the water. And it seemed like the dolphins were playing with us. Great fun.

We enjoyed feeding the birds with seed sticks. Our grandson thought this was the highlight of the visit. The dolphin and sea otter shows were entertaining. The guide at the sting ray exhibit was very helpful in answering our questions. This is a must especially if you have small children.

I simply can not say enough good stuff about IMMS!!!! The girls (11 & 9) LOVED it!!! Even my husband enjoyed it!!! The girls and I got in the water with Ms. Bo!!! This was an amazing experience and I'm so blessed to be able to do it with my girls. Highly recommend!!!

1st timers in Biloxi and we took a chance on this place and so glad we did. We did the dolphin interaction and was not disappointed. Actually never wanted to leave. The staff were friendly and the facility will hold a place in my heart for a long time. We fed birds and pet the stingrays and played with the dolphins, a must do if you can.

Had such a great time with my children. Fun for all ages and will certainly be getting season passes

My 17 year old loved the dolphin meet and greet (with a dolphin kiss!) and we all enjoyed the museum and exhibits as well as the bird show and parakeet room.
All of the staff was very knowledgeable and friendly.

We purchased 3 Dolphin Meet and Greets and 1 Spectator ticket. The animal trainers were very friendly and knowledgeable. The dolphin experience was awesome! Following the dolphins, the aviary was my kids’ favorite exhibit. Overall, we had a great experience.

However, I cannot rate this a 5 because I have a complaint about the photographer at the dolphin experience. When I picked up my photos from the gift shop, I noticed my son’s eyes were nearly closed in the picture. I politely asked if the staff could review the photos taken to see if there was a better option, considering I just paid $200 for the total experience. Instead of being helpful, the guy who took the photos was extremely arrogant and rude. He not only responded extremely unprofessionally, but he was also mocking me 5 feet away to the gift shop cashier. He was the epitome of terrible customer service!

I would be happy to provide additional information about said employee if messaged privately.

This is a must do if anywhere in the area. It was about a 20 minute drive from where we were staying in Biloxi. It's a great place for all ages. There were a lot of small children there laughing and squealing and having a blast. Our girls (ages 17 and 13) absolutely loved it and my husband and I did too! (We may have been the ones doing some of that squealing!)
They have talks about the animals and different animal shows every 15 to 30 minutes. Very informative and very fun. Every staff member and volunteer that we talked to seemed to love their jobs and were all very passionate about the animals. The animals are all so loved and seem so happy there.
You can also pay extra for "experiences" with the animals. I highly recommend this! We did the dolphin experience. It was worth every penny, especially knowing that the money goes to help rescue injured sea animals. The facilities are very clean and very nice.
Oh and the BIRDS! So cool. You can buy a feeding stick for an extra $1.50. The birds love them. Very cool experience. Interacting with the birds, touching the stingrays, and all the shows and talks are included in the general price of admission. Plan to spend about 1/2 a day there.

What a wonderful experience! A family member surprised me with a dolphin encounter and it was truly a dream come true! I love what they do there and how the staff truly LOVE what they do! I went two days in a row because it was such a joy to meet all of the birds, dolphins and much more! I would definitely recommend this place to anyone! Thank you to the wonderful staff for making our experience a memorable one!
Jennifer R.
Wyndy W.

Spectacular experience! My daughter Chloee attended the 10-12 age group July 8th thru 15th 2019. Well worth the money and our 52 mile drive from Slidell. The staff and director Jessica were so friendly,cheerful and helpful. In one week my daughter got to swimm with dolphins,snorkel with stingrays,feed sealions and even dissect a shark! Every day was exciting. The cost for just 3 of the animal encounters exceeds the cost of the camp for the week. It also includes a fun field trip! We will be back next year and every year!

Highly recommend for families. Inexpensive fun that can be done in less than a day. The shows and exhibits are short and sweet. Everything is in close proximity to each other. They allow you to exit and return. They have food available there but there are several restaurants/fast food places close by. We brought our 5yo granddaughter and she absolutely loved it. We did too.

Absolutely worth every penny to see my child’s face for the dolphin interaction.. got to get up close and personal with Bo.. We waited 2 years for her to be tall enough!! 😊

We did the Dolphin Meet and Greet. Family of 4. The 9yr and 11yr did the experience and we adults were observers. Definitely worth the cost. Only 4 kids with the trainer. They got to touch, feed, do a trick, and get a free dolphin kiss picture. We did that and then enjoyed the back to back dolphin & sea lion show. It's a small facility so I'm not sure I'd go without paying the extra for an experience.

Ocean Marine Adventure Park. well kept park. The shows, exhibits are timed so you can move from one event to another and experience everything well under 3 hours
Dolphin, Sea Lion shows we’re great! My grandsons age 5-9 had a wonderful time
Just 1 1/2 hour drive from New Orleans

Informative and fun for kids and adults alike! Highlight of our trip. Recommend the dolphin meet and greet experience. It’s in a separate, quiet, back area. Really memorable. The staff and trainers are knowledgeable and seem to take great care of the animals. Enjoyed the conservation information and other exhibits as well. Happy to support their mission. Would go again!

We loved this experience!! I was able to go to Dolphin experience in Orlando and loved this as much!! We got to do so many things. The parakeets were amazing. Birds are beautiful and not afraid. We could not even see everything in three hours. It was just too hot for older folks’
Planning a trip soon to take the grandchildren!!and wear a fan!

My children and I enjoyed our visit to meet the dolphins and other sea creatures. The animals are so sweet and so are the people working here. You can really tell that they love these animals and the animals love them. We did the Dolphin interaction and encounter. Both programs were fun and educational. We loved it here and will be back again real soon

We spent 5 hrs here!! We also bought the “in the water with dolphin” passes for10 yr old twins. Due to thunderstorms, our time slot was moved 2 hrs later.
Shows: They are made to be educational instead of entertaining
Discovery Room: My 10 yr olds enjoyed this room (saw it twice)
Food: pizza were good at $9
Bird stick of food: Overpriced
Being in the water with the dolphin: expensive but the girls will always remember it.
Bathroom: clean
Staff: nice

Great place. Very interesting and informative. Staff was very knowledgeable and helpful. It was similar to Sea World!

Took the family and a few friends to ocean adventure for the day and let the kids each choose the encounter they wanted to do. My son snorkeled with the rays and sharks with 3 other boys. He had an amazing time and the trainer did a great job watching all 4 boys snorkel and helping them feed the rays. My daughter did the dolphin encounter from the dock. She had a great time feeding, touching and being kissed by the dolphin. My friend’s kids got a kiss from a sea lion. They were excited and had a great time interacting with the sea lion and afterwards the trainer gave us a private show. We all had a blast and will defiantly be retiring to make more memories.

I highly recommend a visit to IMMS - it is educational, fun, and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable about out marine animals and birds. The sea lion and dolphin shows are very entertaining and such a small venue that you feel like you are right in the middle of the fun!

What an experience!! My son wanted to swim with the string rays and participate in the dolphin encounter for his 10th birthday. He enjoyed both events and it exceeded all of our expectations. The dolphin show was cute too. The staff was very friendly and it was a clean environment. It was a wonderful and special day that we will all remember.

We did a dolphin interaction. It was amazing. I can’t say enough about the whole experience. Everyone I talked to especially ,Dorothy on the phone , we’re so friendly. Our guides/photographer treated us like best friends. They went out of the way to lead us through the experience. Our trainer, Brittany, was knowledgeable and friendly. She seemed to enjoy it as much as us. Our photographer (sorry I can’t remember her name) went above and beyond. She was excited and eager to make our trip the best it was..if you have the chance to do this, don’t hesitate. So worth it.

My grandson & niece had a dolphin interaction, they absolutely enjoyed every minute
of it. Every thing was really nice they can't wait to go back. The only thing i might suggest is to have a place to shower r at least rinse off & change clothes after the interaction.Other than that we had a good time Great Pictures and a memory of a life time. Everyone was really nice..we will be back!

We went to the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies because our family really loves marine life and dolphins in particular. In honor of a birthday, one of our family members experienced the dolphin encounter. While it was fairly expensive for us, it was well worth it. First of all, it went for a good cause because the work this institute does for the marine life in the gulf is priceless. Secondly, my family member loved the experience and made memories that will last a lifetime. The staff is friendly, and the educational value of the experience was invaluable. We loved it, and we will definitely return.

This place is amazing!!! All of the shows and areas of the park you get to explore for the price of a general admission ticket is great!!! Awesome value. The staff was very nice. The bird show and sea lion show was nice, but the dolphin show was very fun and very very entertaining. A must stop for families in Gulfport. Only negative is that the Turtle Cafe is pricey.

We visited IMMS Saturday July 20, 2019. We took our almost 2 yo granddaughter and it was perfect!!! It’s not a huge place that is so overwhelming but just the perfect size esp for smaller kids. All of the shows ie. dolphin show, sea lion show, alligator show, bird show, we saw were very informative and just long enough to keep the attention of the kids. Not long and drawn out were kids would start to get bored and were interactive with the kids which kept their attention. We were able to pet sting rays and feed parakeets. There were many things to keep us having fun for a few hours. It was a great time!

Great fun for the entire family! I loved it and my young grandchildren did too! We did a dolphin Meet & Greet which can be done by younger children, 5 years and up, my granddaughter is 5.. Plus, I didn't want to get in the pool! It was a great experience for us both! We loved it all, including feeding the birds! Everything was so entertaining and educational at the same time!

This place is amazing for both, kids and adults. Feeding the parakeets is my granddaughters favorite! There is something for all (young and older) to enjoy! Nearest steak and seafood restaurant is “Captain Al’s” which is absolutely awesome! They offer indoor and outdoor dining and have picturesque views over their marina.
One of the best venues on the MS Gulf Coast, offering great food, entertainment, and outdoor activities.
Gotta visit IMMS and Captain Al’s for a great experience!!

Fantastic staff and wonderful family fun filled day! The staff was very knowledgeable and taught safety as well as fun facts about the different creatures. We did the dolphin meet and greet and the kids, as well as the adults, had the most memorable experience! From the sea lion show to the aviary and the touch tank it is all well worth the visit and we will definitely be back!! Thank you IMMS and Ocean Adventures for such a great time!

This was my husband’s first Father’s Day and let me tell you, this place is amazing! He absolutely loved it!! We all did. We have a 4 month old son and he even enjoyed it, laughing at the dolphin and even got splashed. We had an amazing time!! Thank you Ocean Adventures!

My family had never heard of this marine park before! It was amazing! The staff were knowledgeable and the facilities appeared well equipped to handle all their various animals. The shows were obviously well rehearsed and informative.

AWESOME! VERY accessible. Neat and well cared for. Beautiful murals and landscaping. Educational and fun. We will definitely be going back; I highly recommend for anyone, young and old. Things we saw: The bird show, fed parakeets, dolphin show, sea lion show, stingray pool and we did the dolphin experience. The dolphin experience was amazing and they are very accommodating for anyone with a disability. My son is short and the water in the dolphin experience came up to about his waste. You step on to a large very wide ledge in the pool. The trainer tells you exactly what to do. You can give the dolphin commands and he will follow them and you will feed them. You get a photo souvenir to take home and you can either kiss or hug the dolphin. My son and his friend (both with disabilities) were very hesitant to get into the water with the dolphin at first. So another trainer changed into a wet suit and got in. All she did was reach out her hand to them and there they were...in the water with no problem. They were ALL so wonderful to the boys. Each and every stop along the way was educational and all were a lot of fun. The work they are doing rescuing sea life is amazing. This experience was worth every. single. penny. Highly recommend.

We visited the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies on a recent trip, it was a totally unexpected and pleasant surprise. The entire place has been newly remodeled with a beautiful playground, mural, landscaping. They have really engaging and professional staff, informative shows including dolphin, seals, alligators, and an interactive bird center where the kids can feed birds. On top of it all, the director personally greeted us and welcomed us to the center. We couldn't have been happier with our visit, was definitely a highlight of our trip and hoping we have the chance to visit again.

Great experience for pre teen-to se with the sting rays. Well informed staff. Well maintained facility.

We had a blast here. It is an excellent experience for all ages. It took us about 3 hours to do all the exhibits. We loved it!

So this visit started out a bit rough. It was all by my own fault. I had pre ordered our tickets for the wrong day. When we showed up a day early my heart sunk! The staff was very accommodating and we were allowed to enter the park since they were not at capacity. My daughter loved the being kissed by a sea lion experience and was also chosen at random to participate in the dolphin show! We all loved the touch tanks and feeding the birds! My son loved to see the fish and the other animals! The park was well worth our time and money. It was clean, fun and educational. The staff was amazing and we will visit again!

My husband and I took our 13 year old and friend. You can move around the institute at your own pace. Make sure to get the showtimes so you don’t miss anything. The dolphin and sea lion show were exceptional. We loved learning how they rehabilitate the marine mammals and release them. When we return we will book a dolphin or sea lion encounter.

My children and I had a wonderful time during our visit. The dolphin and sea lion shows were fun but educational as well. Being able to touch so many different animals and to learn that the mammals that live here are animals that have disabilities is a huge plus...giving those animals a fighting chance.
My son and I did the Dolphin Experience and loved it! His favorite part was being able to feed the dolphin.

We visited with our two children, 14 and 9. We did a sea lion kiss and a dolphin meet and great. The staff took the time to answer all of our questions and were genuinely invested in making sure the kids were having a great time. To our surprise, the price also included pictures. I would definitely recommend!

I love this place! I learned so much about dolphins on my visit, and it's always a joy to see them swimming around and playing. They are just such amazing animals.

This place is wonderful for small children and teenagers my family found it very interesting the shows were great it's very short and it was kind of expensive for a big family but for a small family the price is right, Its a must do

My husband, myself, and our daughter (15) who has special needs and requires the use of a wheelchair, thoroughly enjoyed our visit. The staff was all very friendly and the facility was easily accessible for the wheelchair which is very important to us. Our daughter loved seeing the dolphins and looks forward to visiting again soon!

This is a great place to visit! My family and I had such an amazing time while we were there. We enjoyed the dolphins, sharks, stingrays and much more! My daughter enjoyed snorkeling with the stingrays and sharks, the sea lion encounter was great and taking a dip with the dolphin was the best!!! Mr Marcus was our program guide and he was great along with all of the staff!!! Be sure to watch all the shows and visit the museum and while there grab a quick snack for a nice picnic at pirates cove then visit the gift shop on your way out!!!

The Dozing with the Dolphins program with our Cub Scout Pack was an awesome experience. The staff was wonderful and accommodating. Adults and children all had a great time! I highly recommend this program!

My husband and I took our 3 kids and everyone loved it!! There was something for everyone. I would definitely recommend it to anyone.

We enjoyed our tour at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport, MS. We had the opportunity to interact with birds, dolphins, sea lions, sea turtles and sting rays. It was so much fun! Dr. Moby Solangi and his staff were wonderful hosts to us and taught us so much while we toured their facility. They are extremely knowledgeable in their field of study/research and work very hard to protect our ocean wildlife. They have a true passion for the work they do. We appreciate their kindness and look forward to visiting IMMS again soon!

My family and I had a great time. My son’s favorite part was touching the starfish. Mine was the dolphin show of course. I like how you guys do multiple shows of the same type in case we miss one. I like how the shows are relatively short so that the kids won’t get so antsy and frustrated.

We brought our 5 year old son and 7 year old nephew here to do the dolphin interaction and they had a blast. The place is so clean and the staff are great, very friendly. we will definitely be returning once the kids are older so they can swim with the dolphins.

What an experience! You can’t miss this. We went in February, but still had a great experience. Marcus checked us in and walked us to the Dolphin Encounter. He was great. There is a large indoor pool with adult Sting Rays in it that anyone, any age can pet with no fee or booking required. Julie you as the employee in there and she was very nice. It was awesome! We did a Dolphin encounter ($75 each) which was so special! We got to pet the top and bottom of the Dolphin and give it a smooch! The Dolphin did tricks for us. It is apparent that the trainers love the dolphins. We watched a Dolphin show and a Sea Lion show. The shows run throughout the day. In the Discovery Center we got to see tons of fish, seahorses, starsfish, and best of all... baby sting rays! Tyler was very knowledgeable and friendly. I would highly recommend taking the time to visit this amazing place!!!

This was my second time going to the Marine Life Institute and it was just as much if not even more fun the second time! It’s very entertaining and the way the animals seem to be treated is so comforting and makes it that much more enjoyable. It’s a great place and has an incredible mission behind it.

We went with my family on a school field trip. The kids loved the place. The kids get to interact with the marine life.

It was amazing to watch our grandchildren interact with the animals and watch the dolphins! The staff was hands on with helping with making this a memorable visit. We will definitely be back!

Big Fun !! in a small location.. We had a big group (10 - adults to toddlers) it was so much fun and hands on for the most part. Fish, birds, seals and dolphins and so much more!! Ride the train be a kid again!! Talk to the workers you can find out more details about the animals and habits. We will be back to explore more options offered.

This was our second visit to the IMMS. Our grandchildren loved it. It has changed considerably since we were there eight years ago! The children loved the dolphin and sea lion show! The train ride was fun. We enjoyed the parrot. I wish they still had the "digging for treasures" part. The ray pool was ok, but the children were a little afraid of them. A fun day anyway!

Institute for Marine Mammal Studies makes for a great educational experience for children. The Institute is not very large but do not let the size deter you from visiting. The entry fee is $15.00 for adults and $13.00 for children ( special pricing for Military personnel). The Ocean Adventures Park which is part of IMMS is open from 9:30am-4:30pm. There are a variety of shows (bird, alligator, and stingray talks in addition to Dolphin and Sea Lion shows) that are scheduled throughout the day. Fortunately, the shows/talks occur more than once a day which allow for families to enjoy.
Show/talk schedule:
9:45 AM Bird Show
10:15 AMDolphin Show
10:45 AM Stingray Talk
Alligator Talk 11:00 AM
Sea Lion Show 11:30 AM
Bird Show 12:30 PM
Dolphin Show 12:45 PM
Sea Lion Show 1:00 PM
Snake Talk 1:30 PM
Bird Show 2:00 PM
Alligator Talk 2:15 PM
Sea Lion Show 2:45 PM
Snake Talk Stingray Talk
3:00 PM
Dolphin Show
3:30 PM
Bird Show 4:00 PM
The main goal of this park is truly to educate the community regarding marine life and other animals. The park is small, intimate, educational, and very enjoyable. Parents with younger children will not become so overwhelmed which can happen in larger parks. There is a cute train that brings patrons over to the touch pool area, small museum area, and the auditorium. In addition, there is a small playground for kids as well. Feel free to purchase ice-cream and a variety of other snacks that can cool you off on a hot summer day. Ocean Adventures is a wonderful park to support because they educate the community but they also rescue dolphins and sea turtles that are injured or ill. We have visited on two occasions and have enjoyed each visit. Also, my Girl Scout Troop participated in Dozing with the Dolphins which is a fantastic overnight program. This program which is $35.00 per person minimum 20 guests provides a more personalized understanding of the work of IMMS. I highly recommend this adventure for both scouting groups and families. Enjoy your day at Ocean Adventures a visit that truly makes for a wonderful day.

My 8 yr old grandson and I did the dolphin encounter and were not disappointed - well, he was a bit disappointed that he didn't actually get to swim out with the dolphins LOL. We explored the park and saw the sting ray pool, sea lion show, and tropical bird show while we waited for our appointment. just as we were about to begin, a thunderstorm with lightning moved in, and looked like it wouldn't move on any time soon. We moved to safety and were told we would be able to do the encounter in the indoor performance pool after a wait of about 1hr 45 mins. While waiting we explored the discovery room and museum. The personnel were all very knowledgeable and friendly, and we learned a lot while we waited. Finally, we were able to meet the dolphin in his territory - what a fun experience! My grandson agreed that it was definitely worth the wait - and we are neither good at waiting! As we drove a couple of hours to get there, we were grateful they accommodated us with the indoor location instead of re-scheduling our encounter. We almost took away one star in the rating because the concession stand was out of everything but chips, candy, and dippin dots on a busy weekend at lunch time when we were stuck with a long rain delay and no other options. The entire facility was very clean with friendly staff, and the marine mammals are all rescues who are unable to survive in the wild for a variety of reasons. We highly recommend a visit to IMMS - it's a great value and interesting for all ages, with no lines to stand in.

Second trip w/ grandsons....huge success for both (12 & 11). Doesn't take all day to see everything, which is nice. They LOVED petting the stingrays, feeding the parakeets, & learning about snakes & alligators. Definitely worthwhile!

Dolphin Show very entertaining and informative. Kids enjoyed the stingrays and seals. Good to do on a rainy day.

Last summer we brought our 6 year old granddaughter to Biloxi when we attended a conference. We were looking for things for her to do and discovered The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies. We all had a wonderful time and she is looking forward to coming back when she is 8 years old (old enough to swim with a dolphin).

While looking for a memorable birthday experience for my young cousin, a friend recommended we take her to the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies. I cannot express enough how much of an amazing experience we had. A day later, I am still blown away by the personal interactions we had with the dolphins and the learning experience with multiple marine species.

Dr. Moby Solangi and his team at IMMS have truly built something amazing. Their emphasis on marine research, conservation, and education is second to none here on the entire Gulf Coast. Their professionalism and capabilities for rescuing and rehabilitating marine life is extremely impressive. From Singapore to the Bahamas, IMMS is at the top of my list of conservation/educational facilities I have ever visited.

A tip I would recommend would be to go online and purchase the tickets for the types of programs you would like. The prices are very reasonable to what I have seen at other institutions, and the fact that IMMS is a non-profit, you know your money is going to a good cause like saving a stranded dolphin. Grab a map from the gift shop and don’t forget the shows. Also, don’t forget to feed the parakeets, pet the stingrays, check out the tide pools, and say hello to the sea lion.

TLDR; IMMS is the best marine life experience on the gulf coast, and better than any aquarium.

Very nice and relaxing place. Loved the dolphin show and parrot show.
Very nice staff. We have enjoyed it every time.

Our kids did the dolphin activity and they had a great time! It was nice that parents were able to stand nearby and take pictures too. The encounter was on the short side, but they got a lot of value. The ray tank was interesting as was the alligator talk. If the birds are too cold they will hide in their roost, but they sure came out later and were hungry! You won't need more than a couple hours here, but you will remember it.

We took a group of 10 girls ages 5-13 to the dolphin meet-n-greet! It was FANTASTIC! The dolphins were amazing and the staff were kind and upbeat! We’ll definitely be going back!

It was a pleasant place over all. I paid extra to “kiss a sea lion” but unfortunately had to miss the sea lion show to do so. Not sure why they decided to schedule it like that. The picture was not of best quality. Very grainy print. Weird how “on-lookers” had to pay almost as much as the person getting the kiss just to sit with their family. Seemed like a rip off. The gift shop was small with little memorabilia, mostly kids toys that you find at Chuck E. Cheese. Dolphin show was good but pretty short. Cute animals, over all nice staff. Not large and extravagant as other marine animal centers so have other plans during the day. Not an all day visit.

We absolutely loved our visit. The dolphin show was great. My son loved feeding the birds. We did a dolphin encounter and enjoyed it. My son is only 5 so he couldn't do the experience of getting in the water but will go back once he's 8. The staff and trainers are great with the children and very knowledgeable about the animals.

I'm originally born and raised in Mississippi and am back home for the holidays with my son who is six. We've visited this aquarium before and have never been disappointed. The staff there are fantastic and knowledgeable. They have a full schedule of things to do throughout the day and if you miss a show there's sure to be another! This is a hands on learning experience and it's so much fun to spend the day walking around. It wears him out and I get to pet some stingrays too, I can't complain. Sharks too. It's pretty lit. Oh and a pretty important person in the park who used to own the aquarium that was open before Katrina overheard we were in town and gave my son a super special back scene pass making his day unforgettable. Next time we come, we're swimming with the sharks and meeting the dolphins for a longer visit than this one's surprise allowed. ;) so thank you to the girl in the parakeet room, bless I'm horrible at names but you're a sweetheart. To the girl in the baby sting ray exhibit, thank you for telling me all the names of the fish while trying to keep my son from attempting to swim with your sting rays. Thank you for initiating things with all the kids you encountered. Oh and all this happened on New Years Eve, a less than merry way to spend the holidays. Shout out to you guys, we'll be back in May for more. Hopefully it's warmer then!

I was impressed with the facility. Alligators were a high light as were the otters. The dolphins were interesting and always a crowd pleaser. This is a pricey place but the upkeep must be quite expensive. I like the aviary. I did not do the sting ray petting thing but it was fun to watch. I recommend going as I did to my sons and their families.

it isn’t clear exactly what’s on the menu at this place if you look at the website. I was hoping for a little more adult-level info but the Ocean Adventures park is aimed primarily at children….and that’s not a bad thing. I don’t have kids, but I wholly support educating them about nature and our role in preserving it. There are several shows: Birds, dolphins, sea lions, rays, and snakes. The shows are not in-depth and designed to hold your kids attention for 15 minutes or so. Not for us older folks looking to learn more about wildlife. Recommended

This was a great experience. I love that their main goal is to rehabilitate the dolphins and release them. All of the experiences and tickets pay for the facility to run. Worth everything. I paid for the photo package and the pictures turned out great.

This is a bit smaller scale than I was expecting (perfect for kids), but the informative talks are quite well done! I really liked that the talks were scheduled to flow from one to the next! Staff appear dedicated and seem to genuinely enjoy what they do!

IMMS was such a wonderful experience. The staff was very friendly and always available to answer any questions we had. Everything was very clean, which can sometimes be an issue at animal park attractions. The dolphin show and wildlife chat were so fun! In the bird exhibit you can actually feed parakeets with little feed sticks! Petting sting rays was fun too! Definitely take your family to this exciting and educational attraction - it is truly a jewel on the MS Gulf Coast.

Worth a trip, if a little hard to find, along the intercoastal waterway in Gulfport. You will learn about many Gulf species, not just mammals.

This place has something for everyone! My 16 year old really enjoyed the aviary and learning about the animals. The worker in the aviary was extremely helpful and knowledgeable! The otter show was enjoyable for everyone, to watch. The toddlers had a blast on the playground and shopping in the gift shop. The kids loved being able to touch the stingrays and watch them swim. The grounds were well-kept and clean. I highly recommend checking this place out, especially if you have any animal lovers in your group!

Let me start with the dolphin, sea lion, and bird show (that's the ones we were able to see), they were absolutely the best we have seen. And we have been to sea world and alot of places. They way these trainers interact with them shows they really care about them. We were totally impressed. For $1.50 a stick you can feed the parakeets (totally worth it but suggest getting more than1 stick as they ear fast). Area is well kept and very clean. We did the train as it just goes around the property. For $15 an adult we felt that we got our money's worth just from the shows. Will be back again.

What a wonderful experience! After leaving the aquarium this morning because they wouldn’t let me pay in cash, we were pleasantly surprised by this amazing place. No more disappointed kids or mom. It was cheaper than the aquarium and WAY more fun! I highly recommend! Amazing, knowledgeable, and friendly staff throughout all of the encounters!

Had such a great time at IMMS! Highly recommend it. Everyone was SO nice. It was great seeing all of the animals and hearing about what they do. Perfect experience for any age.

The favorite part of the Ocean Adventures for me was watching the Dolphins perform. They had one dolphin that was really big and could jump 15 ft in the air. The 🐬 are so smart and they are privided excellent care by the staff.

We did this for an anniversary activity! It was a lot of fun and everyone was super friendly! Would recommend!!

I brought 16 International campers to IMMS for the day. We had private classes on amphibians, reptiles, fish, and walked the facility to see the Dolphin Show, as well as the Sea Lion Show. We completed the day with a shark dissection where the campers were put in small groups and were completely walked through each step of cutting and identification of shark body and organ parts. The day was full of constant movement and held the attention of all 12 - 15 year old campers. We will return next summer!

We had a pretty good time here, but it wasn't exactly overwhelming. The dolphins were the main draw for us, but the dolphin show lasted only about 10 minutes, followed by a 5 minute sea lion show. The birds were cool, and the ray pool was too, but nothing great.

I was sad that my daughter, who is handicapped and couldn't walk into the pool unaided, couldn't have a dolphin "encounter." She had experienced a wonderful encounter in Florida, but then that had cost us much more too. So, for the price, this place is pretty nice.

We had the beat time!! We booked the dolphin encounter and could not be happier!! The instructors were so friendly and so knowledgeable! We had a 5 year old with us and they payed attention to her and answered all her questions!! I loved how interactive the whole facility was!! You cannot go wrong doing this!!

This was a great family destination in Gulfport, MS. There were fabulous shows: porpoises, stingray, snake, and bird. Great for young children. Definitely take the train ride and visit the Dolphin Rescue Exhibit that has snakes and various aquatic animals in tanks such as eels, and has stingrays that can touched. Allow about 3-4 hours to take in all the scheduled shows, gift shop, concessions, and train ride. Pretty close off interstate.

There are no sea turtles on display and since this is what I knew them for, rehabbing and releasing sea turtles, I thought that we would at least get to see the facilities where they do the work. You only see trained animals and stingrays for the entrance fee. Had I known this, I would not have wasted my time and money because I do not think healthy animals should be held in captivity in the first place. This is a low-brow SeaWorld.

We had a great time here. They offer dolphin shows and sea lion shows, one on one with sting Ray's and a bird show. They also offer encounters with dolphins (which we did not do) however. They have free train rides around the property and a cafe, the treats are very expensive($6 for a small bag of dip'n dots) but over all nice experience. Also a gift shop

My group and I from the Ocean Springs High School SEAL Club (Student Environmental Awareness League) took a trip to Ocean Adventures in order to see the animals in our ocean as well as on our land. We experienced a very informative trip and as a group we had a lot of fun seeing the Bird Talk, Sea Lion show and especially the Dolphin show. This trip proved to be fun and exciting and helpful in being aware of the environment. We would definitely recommend coming here.

Great for the whole family! We went as a group of 1 senior, 2 adults, 1 child, and a baby and all had the best time. Even in a hot month like June, this place was fun. They have shows with all the animals and plenty of hands on opportunities. We got there at 9:45(they open at 9:30), saw just about every show they had and stayed till 1pm. It’s definitely something that will take 2 hours at least, but was worth every minute/penny!

My entire family had an amazing time visiting Ocean Adventures Marine Park! It was smaller than I expected, but my kids loved how you could get so close to the animals, especially touching the stingrays. All of the animal shows and talks were wonderful. We decided to pay extra for one of the animal encounters and it was definitely worth it! We did the dolphin meet & greet and it was an experience we will never forget! I was expecting to have to pay extra for the picture of each of us taken during the animal encounter, but those were included in the price! I would highly recommend that you visit here if you are in the area!

I agree with the reviews. It is over-priced for such a small aquarium. The main attraction are the dolphins. It's still a cool aquarium and worth seeing. We spent about 2hrs here and walked thru it twice.

This attraction was an exceptionally fun encounter for myself and my 8 year old daughter. There are opportunities to swim with Sting Rays, enjoy a hands on encounter with Dolphin and even get a Kiss from a Sea Lion! My daughter loved her kiss from the Sea Lion named Maya! (although the budgies that she encountered were a close 2nd as her favorite)

The price is very reasonable and the staff is very nice and knowledgeable!

I highly suggest that if you are in Mississippi to take to time to visit this wonderful hands on attraction and the exceptionally friendly people that are employed there!

Excellent place to visit on a family vacation! The dolphin interaction was incredible, my kids loved it!! Very informative, entertaining, and fun!! The staff was amazing!

This institute offers so many unique experiences, and I would totally recommend booking a stingray swim, The stingrays are so cute, and being able to snorkel and feed them was an unforgettable experience.

I took my Grandma, my parents, and my sisters (20 and 9) here and everyone enjoyed their experience. My parents and grandma did the Dolphin Interaction, and the trainers were awesome and made their experience so special. They highly recommend it for anyone, and they plan to take my sisters to do the interaction another time.

After the interaction, we just explored the park. My grandma and little sister loved the tweeter post where she could feed some of the birds. The dolphin and sea lion show was interesting. The discovery room is my favorite place since you can see reptiles, fish, and baby stingrays.

Overall, everyone in my family was able to find something fun at this place, and the price of everything goes towards a great cause. Would totally recommend this place; fun for the family and for a good cause.

Three times I was standing beside employees who were openly bad mouthing their coworkers and the visitors. They didn’t bother to change the subject even when I was approaching. It was very unpleasant. They were difficult to work with, extremely incompetent, messed up reservations, entrance procedures, contacting people, resolving issues. It’s so sad, y’all please pray for these people and their work environment. Don’t pay them for anything extra, they will screw it up. Dolphin show was in open sweltering heat with just a few umbrellas to cover a few of the people and the trainers were in the shade. Don’t worry though, it’s only about 10 minutes long. Diner was closed. Gift shop was small and didn't have much. You can visit the parakeets but the other birds are roped off so you can’t get near them. I don’t know if you can during the birds showtime. There’s nothing to do in between times so it was a pretty short visit which was disappointing especially considering the cost. The stingrays were awesome, the dolphins were pretty. In short, the people were awful and some were kind of weird, the animals are amazing, but don't think zoo because there's not a lot to see or do here.

It's a very welcoming, and the camp is unbelievably fun. My favorite part of the whole shebang was the animal interactions. Swimming with stingrays, having six parakeets on your shoes (they loved chewing the laces), feeding the sea lion (at the camp. Well, a lot of this was at the week-long summer camp) and getting in the pool with Turner the dolphin. All amazing. And you can have these experiences even when you're not at a summer camp! To me, that is truly special.
IMMS is one of those places where it can attract tourists and still take care of the animals. A lot of places can't, or don't do that.

Also, the shows were really cool. The bird shows were informational, the dolphin shows were crazy (as in good crazy), and the sea lion show was both funny and teaches you a lot. I have learned so much more than I knew when I first came.

And if you're looking for a summer camp? IMMS is your place. You get to do all kinds fantastic things, and the camp instructors are really nice and understanding. The activities are almost always interesting, even when it rains.

This place can also teach you so much when it comes to the ocean. I did not know what micro plastics were before I came here. I didn't know how they cleaned oil spills off of sea turtles, or that cow nosed stingrays were like the slightly slimy, smoother version of friendly dogs. Or the difference between a parrot and a parakeet! You will learn this and so much more. I definitely recommend this place for any fellow ocean lovers and learners!

I'm from Kansas and really enjoyed my time at the Institute of Marine Mammal Studies and Ocean Adventures. It was a very educational, clean, and friendly place. Great for all ages

It was absolutely amazing. The animals were very well taken care of n looked happy. It's definitely for all ages. I did the sea lion kiss. McCoy the sea lion was so sweet very gentle n greatly excited to kiss u on the cheek. Worth every penny. We will be back in may. We're gonna do the other animal encounters as well

This is a wonderful place to visit with family of all ages. The kids loved being up close and petting animals they were never have the opportunity to touch. The shows were educational and entertaining. The staff is wonderful - very friendly and knowledgeable. Will recommend to anyone visiting the Gulfport/Biloxi area.

My family loved our visit. We enjoyed all the animal shows and the information provided about the animals. We all did the dolphin encounter and could not have been more pleased. We took home memories that will last a lifetime. We will be coming back to do the dolphin experience when my youngest is old enough. The staff was soooooo friendly and the park was very clean.

My 8 year old grandson enjoyed the dolphin interaction. I recommend this place to take your kids to. I have been several times and have enjoyed it very much. I will be taking my granddaughter soon since she saw how much fun her brother had.

We had a great time visiting! Many interactive talks throughout the day. My kids participated in the Dolphin Interaction and absolutely loved it!

This place was absolutely amazing. It was so fun and interactive. I mean, I got to tickle a dolphin!!!! How could it possibly get any better!!! Definite must go

I took my teenager to interact with the dolphins and it was amazing. The staff there was knowledgeable and very friendly. We had our session and left with huge smiles. I recommend this activity to anyone wanting to make lifelong memories. Well worth it!

Beautiful facility with wonderful staff. My 8 year old did the dolphin encounter and loved every minute. We will definitely be making a return trip soon!

Amazing experience with getting in the pool with a dolphin! So special! Friendly staff, clean and organized park, and a joy to pet sting rays, visit the birds, and see the shows! Highly recommend this place to anyone who loves animals! The highlight of the trip was definitely meeting, petting, feeding, and getting photos with the sweet dolphin we met! Five stars all around!

We toured the facility and saw all of the shows. Our grandchildren, ages 4 and 6, were totally engaged with the informative and entertaining presentations.

This was our 1st visit to the institute....It is very family oriented. The staff were very sweet and helpful. We had children from ages 21months to 9 years old. All of us enjoyed our visit.
This will not be our last visit.

Interacting with the dolphins and birds are awesome!
Children and adults alike love this place.
Great for family outings and entertainment.
Really nicer than imagined.

My brother and I took our families to IMMS for a much needed break from the monotony of sitting at the beach for our annual trip to Ocean Springs, and we are so glad we did. We saw the alligator show, sea lion show, pet sting Ray's, played with parakeets, and saw the incredible dolphin show. My children, ages 10 and 11, and my brother's son, age 3, loved all of it and had an awesome time. The shows were quick, entertaining and educational. The park is neat and priced right. Would definitely recommend for people of all ages.

A must experience on the Mississippi gulf coast! Very interactive and great for all ages!! Family friendly prices and wonderful customer service 😀🐬

Went with daughter for a field trip. Great amount of time spent on each event. Excellent employees who care about their visitors and animals

Enjoyed the varied talks given by the staff and the stingray tank. Glad to know my price of admission goes to rescue sea creatures in distress. If you're looking for a fancy aquarium with glass panels for viewing then is not the place for you. This institution is for the benefit of wildlife, not you. But on the other hand, if you enjoy short presentations on the goals and operations of this facility you might enjoy. There is also a trained dolphin exhibit with a meet and greet for an extra charge where you actually enter the tank and interact with the dolphins. I wouldn't recommend this with people with babies and toddlers. Will be hard to keep their attention.