Whales enjoy a challenge and one of the ways to provide a challenge is to teach them new behaviours. There is no set time - it may take months or even years to train a marine mammal. It requires patience since the training has to take place in gradual steps called approximations. 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.