What's the reason behind why dolphins like to swim beside/in front of a boat/ship?

Answer 1

Bow waves is part of the answer. They can swim more easily in front of a larger boat, but it doesn't help them fish or anything else which would be helpful to their basic living needs, so the other part of the reason is it's probably for fun.

In large pods, you'll see them swim back and forth in layers under the bow. And you always get a show-off or two with spinner dolphins that seem to have spinning and tail slapping contests.. although tail slapping is considered by some to indicate signalling - like a "listen to me" or indication of something important like a direction change.

Answer 2

curiosity.
When I was kayaking once, I met a school of dolphin and I could swear they were sticking heads out of the water to look at me.
Now just imagine how much more fun a large boat is.

Answer 3

Unlike humans, Dolphins are able to use each hemisphere of their brain seperately. Because dolphins would drown if they slept, they have the ability to allow one half of their brain to sleep while the other remains active. When the left side of the brain is sleeping the right side is rambant with personality!

Answer 4

They like to ride in the bow wave the ship puts out in the water. The wave is travailing in the same direction as the ship. They can ride this wave with little effort. They obviously enjoy this. Kind of like us surfing.

Answer 5

They like to surf on the bow wave created by boats. Dolphins also like to surf waves.

Answer 6

It's usually fishing or shrimping boats, and they're catching scraps falling from the boat.

Answer 7

They're surfing. It allows them to move faster, and presumably is fun.

Answer 8

cuz if they swim directly behind it they'll get chopped up

Answer 9

Its fun for them...a form of play.