Help keep One Green Planet free and independent! Together we can ensure our platform remains a hub for empowering ideas committed to fighting for a sustainable, healthy, and compassionate world. Please support us in keeping our mission strong.
Seemingly it would go without saying that we shouldn’t swim with dolphins in captivity because they are wild animals that need an ocean of space and don’t belong in tanks. But, for those who need more:
- Wild dolphins in captivity have been taken from their family and pods, a traumatic experience. This is still happening to feed the captive dolphin industry.
- Dolphins bred in captivity will come from forcibly impregnated mothers to continue having more captive dolphins tourists will pay to swim with.
- The condition of tanks is not suitable for dolphins to live long, happy, healthy lives, so they shouldn’t be kept in tanks.
Source: UNILAD Adventure/Youtube
With this being widely accepted, tour companies in select locations have started offering swims and dives with wild dolphins. After all, if those dolphins live with the entire ocean at their disposal, with their families intact, if they can come and go as they please, shouldn’t we be able to swim with them?
The answer is no. Swimming with dolphins, even in the wild, isn’t a great idea. More so, it is an irresponsible tourist attraction, unhealthy for the animals and potentially the humans involved.
1. Swimming With Dolphins Disrupts Their Natural Behavior
While it can happen naturally from time to time that dolphins join humans for a swim, it isn’t a normal occurrence and certainly not one that occurs with regularity. Swimming with humans doesn’t benefit the lives of dolphins, and when coerced or persuaded to do so by tourist vessels, it downright disrupts them.
- For example, this is especially the case with wild spinner dolphins near Egypt. These animals feed at night and rest during the day. The onslaught of tourists and boats coming into their space has caused dramatic drops in population numbers because they aren’t getting sufficient rest.
2. Wild Dolphins Attack Humans Several Times a Year
Source: CNN/Youtube
Humans and dolphins aren’t really meant to occupy the same habitats, and because dolphins are amazing, it’s easy for humans to forget they are also incredibly large, efficient hunters. They are capable of seriously injuring people and even killing them. They aren’t sharks, exactly, but dolphin attacks are on the rise in recent years.
- Another thing to be aware of is when food becomes involved in the interaction. Dolphins shouldn’t be fed by people in the wild. It creates an unnatural expectation between the two animals that can result in aggressive behavior from the dolphin. Or a person whose food isn’t being taken.
3. Boats Are Dangerous For Dolphins and Swimmers
Perhaps the most dangerous aspect of swimming in the wild with dolphins, particularly on popular tours, is that it creates a situation where boats are moving around in areas full of swimmers and dolphins. This greatly increases the chase of either a person or an animal being harmed by the boat.
- Additionally, if dolphins became accustomed to the sound of snorkelers and the boats carrying them equating to food, then they are likely to change their behavior and go towards the boats in search of food. This can equate to more dolphins being struck by boats and/or propellers, as well as getting tangled in fishing gear.
4. Handsy People Could Spread Diseases To Dolphins
As sure as we are tempted to dive into the ocean to swim with dolphins, many of us will struggle to resist touching them while in the process. However, dolphins aren’t meant to be touched by humans, and we represent a possible carrier of bacteria or viruses that can have a negative effect on these fellow mammals.
- Dolphins have many of the same diseases and viruses as humans. Our Pollution has caused a lot of this, but exposure to infected humans—even in the disinfecting salt water—may cause issues.
5. It’s Ilegal to Harass Dolphins
Source: NOAA Fisheries/Youtube
It is actually illegal to feed or harass wild marine mammals, including dolphins, porpoises, whales, seals, sea lions, and manatees. The NOAA suggests staying at least 150 feet away from marine animals when observing them.
- “Harassment” includes disturbing their natural behavior, which intentionally going out to swim with them does.
In short, it’s great to be fascinated with dolphins. It’s great to go to places where they might be seen and have a look for them. It’s a different story when we decide we have the right to swim with them as a tourist attraction. Wild animals are put in danger and are often dangerous when humans take things too far.

Not Your By Tiny Rescue: Animal Collection
Related Content:
- Boy’s Wish to Swim With Dolphins Granted by Sea Shepherd (In a Different Way)
- Thinking of Swimming With Dolphins This Summer? Here’s What You Need to Know
- Amazing Video Shows Dolphins Swimming Alongside a Surfer
- Hong Kong Theme Park Ends Dolphin Shows But Allows Visitors to Feed, Swim and Take Selfies With Dolphins?!
- New Zealand Bans Swimming With Dolphins in Bay of Islands Region After Population Decline
- Petition: Demand an End to Swimming With the Dolphins!
Easy Ways to Help the Planet:
- Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals, and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
- Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take the initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that raise awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade over and over again.
- Support Independent Media: Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
- Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
- Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
- Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!
Comments