Looking back
Some of our visitors have followed us from the time we first started our programs in Panama City in 1995. That was 31 years ago. For those of you, who may have done an internship with us, or for the families, who attended one of our first dolphin therapy programs with their children, for those of you who joined our first Educational Dolphin Encounter Program, you probably can remember and attest to the uniqueness and to the pioneer aspect of the work we have been carrying out until now. Some of you may remember that we started this adventure with nothing but ideals, creeds and passion for the uniqueness of our Ocean Planet, most likely the only water planet in our galaxy. The name Water Planet could not be more representative of our mission: facilitating the experience of the marine environment for those who need that connection to readjust their focus. Experiencing the beauty and the power of the ocean will give each of us the opportunity to reconnect to what we have forgotten to feel. The sense of wholeness, inclusion and recognition we all need to fulfill our purpose. Animals cannot forget. They do not have the luxury of disconnecting from their purpose. They surrender to the laws of nature as the only guidelines to their survival. They would not have lasted through the ages otherwise. Marine mammals have adapted from land to oceans about 40 million years ago. It took us humans less than 300 years to throw off the delicate balance of our planet to a point where our survival is seriously compromised. After 31 years of learning and of sharing with so many interesting people, we came to conclude that it may be time to step down and let the next generation take over the mission. As one of the founders of this company, I am so proud and honored to have been able to facilitate this dolphin experience most of our patrons, interns and staff have called one of the most significant of their life. I am equally proud to have built this company from the ground up with the help of so many extraordinarily gifted and dedicated people and to have brought our brand to the level it has reached. But it is time for me to slow down.
Going forward
Ideally, we would like to talk about passing our company on to someone with the drive to capitalize on the potential such a unique enterprise still has to offer for many years to come. Through the years, this company has become a leader in the Dolphin Tour Industry. The Emerald Coast is still in full expansion. So is tourism in our area. Florida is currently one of the most sought-after states for relocation in the U.S., attracting many new residents due to its warm climate, no state income tax, and job opportunities.
As one of the founders/owners, I am committed to staying with the company for a minimum of 1 year as a consultant and captain if needed, to ensure a continued success and seamless transition by introducing the new owner to the privileged relationships we have developed and entertained with our customer base, with our suppliers and merchants through the years.
We have compiled a full package of information available to serious potential buyers
Please contact Denis and Nathalie Richard – Water Planet Inc. owners at [email protected]
How we built this
Some background to give you an idea of where Water Planet came from and what the company has achieved so far.
I first came to Panama City in the summer of 1994 to prospect the logistics of setting up a non-profit organization for a Belgian investor, Mr. Michel Atlas, whom I met at Dolphins Plus in Key Largo, FL where my ex-spouse was in charge of desensitizing young bottlenose dolphins to prepare them for the human-dolphin interactive program the Borgas family had started at this facility.
I moved to PCB in 1995 as Executive Director of the Human Dolphin Institute to organize and implement educational, therapeutic and eco-tourism programs for this nonprofit company. I received valuable help from another local non-profit organization: Friends of the Dolphins. Some of the key help in establishing our programs came from Allen Lark and his wife and from Peter and Galina Brower. The Human Dolphin Institute Programs were financed by grants, donations from networking, from educational eco-touristic dolphin tours and from fundraising events. A grant from Toshiba Corporation paid for the free marine eco-system awareness programs we implemented in the Bay County Schools science classes K7 through 12. One of the main fund-raising events we organized was a silent auction at the Hilton Hotel in Destin for which renown European artists had donated pieces. The Prince Laurent of Belgium (who has an animal welfare foundation in Brussels) and his entourage were the guests of honor for this event. The dolphin assisted therapy program was financed by an international internship program for students in the field of mental health and by our swim-with-the-dolphins eco-tours. That is when I met my present spouse Nathalie, who came to us to do the field research part of her master’s degree dissertation in 2000. When the Human Dolphin Institute Non-Profit Organization was dissolved, Nathalie played an instrumental role in streamlining and improving the therapeutic programs for children with special needs by innovating new guidelines and protocols and by creating a dynamic interface between our Internship Program and the Harmony Program , which became the first-in-the-world structured dolphin therapy program using wild dolphin encounters as catalyst for promoting social skills and integration for children of all ages. Water Planet was born.
The second children’s program we created was the result of our collaboration with Pam Davidson PT. and her husband Tim of Excellence in Therapy (Unique therapy Services) in Roswell, GA. The Serenity Program targeted children with severe neurological and genetic disorders resulting in mental, emotional and mobility issues. This program ended in 2018 when Pam and Tim Davidson retired.
The cement connecting all our programs is of course our staff. Our strength lies in the human qualities of the people who participated in building this company. The former interns, the captains, the friends. To name but a few: Chloe, Whitney, Grace, Glenn, Josh, Peter and so many more. All contributed by adding their diverse skills and passion to our common cause.
In 2013, I created the BAD TO FEED program: Bay Association of Dolphin Tour Operators for Environmental Education Excellence Distinction . The program was designed to stop the feeding and petting of wild dolphins by the local tour industry. The training course Water Planet put together was a complete success thanks to the active participation, sponsorships and delegations of the following organizations and individuals: Major Thompson and Captain Parramore with Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, NOAA Enforcement Niceville Field Office, Ron Hardy and Gulf World Marine Park’s veterinarians, Dan Rowe of the Tourist Development Council, Ted Davison of Marine Max in PCB, sound engineer Jesse Deese of Emerald Coast Audio Visual Solutions.
We also worked tirelessly on promoting and sponsoring Research Programs dedicated to marine mammals by hosting international researchers, lending our equipment for them to use as platform for field observation and data collection. We always tried to help protect marine species by educating our customers for example during an injured sea turtle rescue or by denouncing poachers capturing a giant manta ray for export to Abu Dhabi. Our video of the capture was instrumental in laying the foundation for the Manta Protection Act.
Our Research Program Page testifies of such efforts through the years.
We will gladly answer any questions you may have. In person or Zoom meetings are available.
