Dolphins have many times been caught swimming in front of boats and there are many different explanations for this behavior.
Dolphins are often seen playing or bow riding. According to the book Encyclopaedia of Marine Mammals by author Bernd Würsig, dolphins have been swimming in front of ships since the appearance of fast ships on the ocean, even the Greeks wrote about this behavior in the Mediterranean sea. In modern times, bow riding refers to dolphins taking advantage of pressure waves that form in front of boats.
Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncated) is especially famous for riding waves in front of ships and is probably the most frequently encountered dolphin species on dolphin watching tours or boat observation trips. A study in the journal Aquatic Mammals In 2009, expert Elizabeth Hawkins at Dolphin Research Australia and her colleagues learned about this animal and their encounters with boats.
The research team discovered that, between 2003 and 2006, the boats in the study encountered 201 groups of dolphins, of which 44 groups interacted with the boats. They believe that riding waves in front of the ship can help dolphins reduce energy consumption when swimming, and may also be part of the purpose of having fun. Factors such as vessel type, vessel performance and engine status all have the potential to influence dolphin activity levels and interactions with the vessel.
In another study presented at the 28th Annual Meeting of the European Marine Mammal Association in 2014, scientists found that sea area also affects wave riding activity in front of the ship. For example, in the Istanbul Strait, dolphins more often perform this behavior at the southern entrance. The research team believes that the reason is that in this area, dolphins catch fish more easily. They linked wave riding behavior in front of the ship with foraging strategies and activities. However, having fun can also be a reason.
Not only do dolphins ride the waves in front of ships, but they have also been seen riding the waves in front of basking sharks (Ceterinus the greatest). From 2012 to 2019, experts encountered dolphins interacting with basking sharks during six observations off the southwest coast of Ireland and recorded 94 wave rides. While this could be a mutually beneficial foraging strategy, the team believes it’s more likely that the dolphins were just playing. Research published in journals Aquatic Mammals 2020, conducted by experts Seán A. O’Callaghan from Atlantic University of Technology and Nick Massett from the Irish Whale and Dolphin Foundation.
Summarizing from research, dolphins can ride waves in front of ships for many reasons such as gaining energy benefits when swimming, accessing their favorite feeding grounds, and taking advantage of better hunting opportunities. Additionally, it’s likely they want to have fun. Dolphins are intelligent, social and very curious creatures. Therefore, they also ride the waves in front of the ship for entertainment.
