They are going out along the coast of Virginia Beach to look for bottlenose dolphins. The bottlenose dolphin is the most common marine mammal found in Virginia. They come in the spring and stay until late fall. In the fall they swim south to find warmer water. The students try to get pictures of the dolphins' dorsal fins.
Scientists use dorsal fins to identify individual dolphins.
Each dorsal fin is unique. They are different shapes and have nicks and cuts in different places. Many of them have different light and dark patterns that can be used as identifying markings. Many of the fins have black strands hanging from them. This is a barnacle called Xenobalanus.