Visit Crystal Cove in California

California travel expert Veronica Hill visits the cottages at Crystal Cove State Park in Newport Beach California. This 1930s beach community is one of the most unique places to stay in Southern California.

I think every child dreams of becoming a dolphin trainer when they grow up but very few people know what it takes. Today, I'm at Sea World, San Diego where we’re going to learn how to become a dolphin trainer. One of the world’s most sought after careers, dolphin trainers are a talented life combining a deep understanding of these intelligent ocean mammals with strong swimming and public speaking skills. To find out more, I joined Sea World’s dolphin interaction program where dolphin trainer Mary Sears showed me some basic training signals with resident dolphins Sandie and Ripley. After our dolphin encounter, Mary explained some of the requirements for becoming a dolphin trainer. Mary Sears: What we look for trainers here at Sea World are people who are very strong swimmers, at least 18 years of age, people who know how to scuba dive, people that are very comfortable with public speaking and then we also look for people who have a four-year degree and possibly some other animal experience. Veronica Hills: Is there any particular degree people should go for? Mary Sears: There are various trainers and backgrounds neither Psychology nor the Biology field but our training here is all on-the-job-training so there are sometimes trainers who have a variety of background who come into the neighborhood. Veronica Hills: And how many tricks or behaviors can dolphins learn? Mary Sears: Endless. However many we can train on. So training for the dolphins is ongoing throughout their whole lifetime. It’s a really good stimulation for them and often they learn a lot of behaviors. We can start pairing behaviors together to get them access simulation and more things to learn. Veronica Hills: And what exactly goes into the swim test to become a trainer here? Mary Sears: The swim test has three main components. There is a freestyle swim of about 120 yards. There is an underwater portion of the swim that’s about 120 feet I believe where we have to make it all the way across off in the stadium without any bras underwater and then a surfing side from the water down to the bottom of our 26-54. Veronica Hills: Can you tell me any stories about working with dolphins, anything that’s been particularly rewarding for you? Mary Sears: I think the most rewarding thing here is getting to build a relationship with the animals and seeing how as you spend more time with every single day with them and they get to know you and you have that history with them and they respond well to you. I think that’s definitely the best thing I have about this job and the most rewarding. Veronica Hills: Can you tell me about the adventure camp that you have. Mary Sears: We had some day camps and we also have a week long visiting camp. So the students will stay here. They can’t to stay persist to stay for the week long. They lived in our dormitory facilities and do a variety of activities so they kind of get to understand what the trainers do on a regular basis, what are annual keratin does, what are Aquarian pharmacist do, just learn a whole lot about all the different places here. Veronica Hills: My advice for becoming a dolphin trainer, study, work hard, volunteer when you can and maybe one day your dream will come true. For more California travel videos, advice and tips, log on to californiatravelexpert.com.