Why Dolphins Ride the Wake of a Boat: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know

Find out what it means when dolphins swim around your boat & what kinds of boats they follow

Co-authored by Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA

Last Updated: January 31, 2023 References

Why do dolphins like to follow boats?

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What type of boats do dolphins follow?

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When are dolphins active?

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How fast can dolphins swim?

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Attracting Dolphins to a Boat

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Are dolphins harmed by boats?

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Warnings

Dolphins love to dazzle people with their swimming abilities, so it’s no surprise they follow boats. Watching them jump and dive is exhilarating, but you might be wondering why they do it. We’re here to help! We’ll tell you all the reasons why dolphins follow boats (as well as some other key facts) so you can be safe around these beautiful mammals next time you're out on the water.

Things You Should Know

Dolphins follow boats because they can swim faster in the wake.
They’re also super curious, love to entertain, and want free fish.
Dolphins will follow any boat, but they prefer to swim with ships, shrimp trawlers, and fishing boats.
Dolphins are sometimes injured by boats, so it’s important to keep a safe distance from them.

Section 1 of 6:

Why do dolphins like to follow boats?

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The wake from ships allows dolphins to swim faster. Ships displace the water beneath them, which is called a wake. Dolphins can ride the wake to swim faster than usual or to reach high speeds with less energy. Plus, it’s super fun!^{[1]
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- When a dolphin swims in front of your boat, try your best to stay the course. Any sudden movements could accidentally hurt the dolphin.
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Dolphins are super curious and find boats interesting. As boats zoom through the water, they make lots of noise and cause the water around them to vibrate. Plus, people tend to be rowdy and sometimes play music. Dolphins like to get in on the action, so they follow the boat.^{[2]
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- Dolphins are social animals, so they seek out others.^{[3]
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  Research source} They’re definitely open to interacting with humans.
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They love to show off—and steal attention from other dolphins. Dolphins are natural performers, and they’ve got mad skills. They love to show humans how well they jump and swim, especially if you cheer them on. Not only that, but dolphins tend to travel in groups, and it’s fun for them to outperform each other. Boats full of people make great audiences for their spontaneous shows.^{[4]
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- In some cases, different pods of dolphins will follow the same boat and compete for claps and cheers.
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Fishermen may toss fish to dolphins, so they’re hoping for a meal. Dolphins are super smart, so of course they’re down for a free snack. Why waste all their energy foraging for dinner when they can just snatch it from a fisherman? Dolphins are notorious for stealing fish and shrimp from nets, but they also sucker the occasional human into throwing them the catch of the day.^{[5]
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- While dolphins really appreciate the free meal, it actually harms them in the long-run. Dolphins can easily get stuck in nets or harmed by fishing boats if they get into a habit of getting their food from humans.

Section 2 of 6:

What type of boats do dolphins follow?

Dolphins will follow literally any boat, but like fishing boats best. They prefer to follow large, steady ships and barges so they can ride the ship’s bow or wake. Additionally, dolphins love shrimp trawlers and fishing boats because they love to munch on the day’s catch.^{[6]
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- When it comes to smaller vessels, they may inspect speed boats to check out their noise and follow their wake. However, they sometimes hide from speed boats because they don’t follow a steady path.^{[7]
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Section 3 of 6:

When are dolphins active?

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Dolphins can be active at any time of day. If you’re dolphin watching, they can appear at any moment. However, you’re more likely to see dolphins on clear, cloudy days because it’s easier to spot them on the surface.^{[8]
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- Look for dolphins swimming around other boats, especially big ones. You can enjoy a great show even if they don’t swim near your boat.
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Dolphins can actually swim while they sleep. Since dolphins decide when they breathe, they’d drown if they went fully to sleep. So, dolphins only sleep with one side of their brain at a time. In the meantime, they’ll float on the surface of the water, rest on the seafloor, or swim slowly in the shallows.^{[9]
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- They’ll only close one eye when they sleep because the other eye is monitoring their surroundings.

Section 4 of 6:

How fast can dolphins swim?

Bottlenose dolphins swim can swim at 21 miles (34 km) per hour. They use their tail to propel them forward.^{[10]
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Research source} However, the fastest dolphin—Dall’s porpoise—can reach a speed of almost 35 miles (56 km) per hour.^{[11]
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Research source} As you can see, they have no problem keeping up with boats.

Section 5 of 6:

Attracting Dolphins to a Boat

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Legally, you have to stay at least 50 yards away from wild dolphins. Like you, we’d love to get up close to a dolphin, and maybe even toss them a tasty fish. Unfortunately, it’s just not safe for the dolphin and can really disrupt their habitat. You can totally watch the dolphins jump and play from your boat, but it’s a bad idea to interact with them.^{[12]
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- Still wanna get up-close-and-personal with a dolphin? Go on a dolphin tour! You’ll get to see the dolphins up close, and might even get to swim with some.
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Put your motor in neutral if you’re watching the dolphins. Remember, dolphins are attracted to noise, so they might swim over to inspect your boat. Getting near your propeller is super dangerous for the dolphin, so keep your motor in neutral until you’re ready to move along.^{[13]
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- Enjoy the show! Dolphins love to jump and play with each other, and they’ll be even more animated if you clap and cheer them on.

Section 6 of 6:

Are dolphins harmed by boats?

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Boats sometimes strike dolphins, which can be deadly. Unfortunately, dolphins sometimes misjudge which direction a ship will go, leading to a collision. Similarly, propellers can slice or cut dolphins if they run into them.^{[14]
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Research source} You can protect dolphins by staying away from them.
- Dolphins sometimes survive encounters with boats, but they may end up with a scar on their body or a notch on their fin.^{[15]
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Nets from fishing boats are also a big danger to dolphins. While dolphins see fishing boats as an all-you-can-eat buffet, they come with big risks. Dolphins can easily get stuck in nets or snared by fishing gear.^{[16]
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Research source} It’s up to humans to help keep dolphins safe.
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Boats can distract dolphins from other activities, like eating. Because dolphins are fun to watch, tour boats visit their habitats so people can see them swim and play. While dolphins love to swim around the boats, it can be really disruptive to their normal routine. Dolphins may stop socializing with each other and sometimes stop hunting for food.^{[17]
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PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
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- When you’re booking a tour, you can always check with the boat tour company to make sure they’re being considerate of local wildlife.

Warnings

If you’re a recreational boater, it’s not a great idea to attract dolphins to your boat. It’s much easier for the dolphin to get hurt, so just watch them.^{[18]
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Dolphins who rely on boaters for food are more at-risk for injury, so resist the urge to feed them—no matter how cute they are.^{[19]
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