Dolphins are frequently seen swimming in front of boats, and there are various explanations for this behavior.
Dolphins are often spotted playing or riding the waves in front of boats, a behavior known as bow riding. According to the book Encyclopaedia of Marine Mammals by Bernd Würsig, dolphins have been swimming in front of boats since the advent of fast vessels on the oceans; even the ancient Greeks wrote about this behavior in the Mediterranean Sea. In modern times, bow riding refers to the way dolphins utilize the pressure waves formed at the front of boats.
Dolphins swimming in front of a boat. (Video: Columbia Ship Management Group).
Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are particularly famous for their bow riding behavior and are likely the most commonly seen dolphins in dolphin-watching tourism and boat excursions. A study published in the journal Aquatic Mammals in 2009 by researcher Elizabeth Hawkins from Dolphin Research Australia and colleagues explored this species and its encounters with boats.
The research team discovered that from 2003 to 2006, the boats in the study encountered 201 groups of dolphins, 44 of which interacted with the vessels. They concluded that bow riding might help dolphins reduce their energy expenditure while swimming, and it could also serve as a form of play. Factors such as the type of boat, the boat’s activities, and engine status may influence the dolphins’ behavior and interactions with the vessels.
In another study presented at the 28th Annual Conference of the European Marine Mammal Association in 2014, scientists noted that the marine environment also affects bow riding behavior. For example, in the Bosphorus Strait, dolphins often engage in this behavior more frequently at the southern entrance. The research team suggested that in this area, dolphins find it easier to catch fish. They linked bow riding behavior to foraging strategies and activities. However, playfulness could also be a reason.
Dolphins riding waves in front of a boat.
Dolphins are not only seen bow riding in front of boats but have also been observed riding the waves in front of basking sharks (Cetorhinus maximus). Between 2012 and 2019, experts recorded dolphins interacting with basking sharks during six observation sessions off the southwest coast of Ireland, noting 94 instances of bow riding. While this could be a mutually beneficial foraging strategy, the research team believes it is more likely that the dolphins are simply playing. This research was published in the journal Aquatic Mammals in 2020, conducted by Seán A. O’Callaghan from Atlantic Technological University and Nick Massett from the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group.
In summary from the studies, dolphins may engage in bow riding for various reasons such as gaining energy efficiency while swimming, accessing preferred feeding areas, and taking advantage of better hunting opportunities. Additionally, they might just want to have fun. Dolphins are intelligent, social, and curious creatures, which is why they may also ride waves in front of boats for entertainment.
