The pedestrian docks were essentially a set of half-submerged ramps that allowed the Quinlans to swim up then walk out. They could shoot out of the water like a penguin and land on their feet, but it was considered impolite in crowded situations, since you could easily find yourself in a pileup for the same patch of dock. The Quinlans had a word for the move— poot —which the Skippies had translated as up-diving .