The beach scenes in the movie Splash were taped on Blue Lagoon Island and the facility houses Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions.

From 1916 to 1979, the island was owned by John T. McCutcheon, an American political cartoonist and Pulitzer Prize winner.

The island encompasses over 3 acres of natural saltwater habitat, research & educational center with classrooms, photo & video lab, gift shops, restaurant, and guest services.

[4] Some of the dolphins also starred in the Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen adventure film, "Holiday in the Sun.

"[8] The facility offers education and marine conservation programs to local schools and underprivileged children.

[11] In 2009, Dolphin Encounters earned re-accreditation for Excellence in Mammal Care by the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums (AMMPA), an international association representing marine life parks, aquariums, zoos, research facilities, and professional organizations dedicated to the highest standards of care for marine mammals and to their conservation in the wild through public education, scientific study, and wildlife presentations.