It takes many hours of relationship building prior to training before the animal may respond to the trainer. There is always the possibility of danger when working with wild animals, however if the trust between trainer and animal is solid the chance of injury is reduced. Trainers regularly dive safely in the beluga habitat to train and play with the belugas. The whales do recognize individual trainers. If a trainer happens to be in the underwater viewing area, they will come by the window to see what's going on.
Trainers wear wet suits and scuba gear to dive into the beluga habitat.
While training above the water they wear waterproof clothing and rain boots, and their whistles around their necks. A target pole, which acts as an extension of the trainer's arm, may be used for the more high-energy behaviours. As well, enrichment items are brought out for the marine mammals such as shaped ice and frisbees for the sea otters. These marine mammals are most trained for husbandry and enrichment purposes, not to perform for audiences. The Steller sea lions, in particular, are trained for research.