Participants often get to stroke, hug, or give hand signals to the dolphins. At the Dolphin Quest facility, guests can rub and examine the dolphins. We show them how the dorsal fin works much like a fin on a surfboard, and other physical parts of the animal. The point of these programs is to give humans a chance to know the dolphins better so they can be better stewards of their world. Hazards to dolphins in the wild range from fishing nets to plastic six-pack holders.
Participants learn methods that everyone can employ to help protect dolphins and their world.
These tactics include participation in recycling programs, encouraging wise fishing practices, and reducing pollution, which particularly affects coastal dolphins. Another way in which people can interact with dolphins is through swimming sessions in international waters. The operators of open-water tours and the curators of the ocean parks often have different views, however. Dolphin Quest's Jeffrey Smith, for example, feels that any attempt to interact with dolphins in their natural habitat is dangerous. They are four to five hundreds pounds and can launch themselves 10 feet in the air.