# Why do dolphins swim like this?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dolphins-swim-like-this/984488>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 24, 2023, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dolphins-swim-like-this/984488 "2023-05-24T02:28:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2023, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dolphins-swim-like-this/984488/21 "2023-05-25T18:17:35Z")

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> [@LurkMeister](#):
>
> Minor hijack: At the Shedd Aquarium they have a large dolphin tank with a viewing area where you can watch the dolphins swim underwater. On one of my visits I noticed that some of the dolphins would roll over and swim upside down, sometimes for a fair distance. I can’t think of any reason they would do this, and there wasn’t an employee around who I could ask about it.

To see what’s above them. From [here:](https://www.tangalooma.com/dolphin-feeding/behaviours)

> Dolphins have limited flexibility in their neck, and are unable to see above them – their eyes are oriented so that they can only look forwards, sideways and down. When a fish is swimming above them, the dolphin simply turns upside down to be able to see the fish. Inverted hunting enables dolphins to catch prey that is sitting very close to the surface of the water

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**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2023, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dolphins-swim-like-this/984488/22 "2023-05-25T20:53:45Z")

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You learn something every day. It never occurred to me that dolphin vision might be restricted like that. This was a while ago, so I can’t remember if there was any pattern to how the dolphins were swimming around the tank which might have indicated if they were food hunting, or possibly just monitoring their surroundings.

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**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2023, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dolphins-swim-like-this/984488/23 "2023-05-30T21:54:23Z")

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> [@The\_Stafford\_Cripps](#):
>
> Dolphins do swim like this when there are no boats around, I’ve been on land and seen them doing it.

I’ve been stood on a a beach and watched dolphins bodysurf.

“You call that a good long ride? Hold my beer and watch this.”

It all seems like innocent fun until someone gets beached.

(Note: kidding aside, Ivreally have seen small dolphins playing in the waves.)

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**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\
**Post date:** [June 1, 2023, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dolphins-swim-like-this/984488/24 "2023-06-01T06:59:53Z")

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It’s a dolphin gang ritual.

If you think that’s bad, the killer whale gangs are tipping boats.

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