CREDIT: MARTEN, PSARAKOS AND WHITE, Earthtrust

The human-like behavior of dolphins has long been noted. Now they have revealed yet another trait: just like humans, they seem to enjoy blowing bubbles. Bottlenose dolphins in Hawaii can create shimmering, stable rings and helices of air as part of their play. These images and videos were captured at Sea Life Park Hawaii as part of Project Delphis, a program of dolphin study run by the non-profit conservation organization Earthtrust, in cooperation with the Park.

The dolphins of Sea Life Park Hawaii playfully contemplate the scientists who are studying them.

CREDIT: MARTEN, PSARAKOS AND WHITE, Earthtrust

The adult male dolphin Kaiko'o produces a ring and follows it up through the water. Occasionally, he emits two rings in succession and fuses them into one large ring. The halo of air becomes thinner and expands in radius as it is carried to the surface by a vortex flow through the center of the ring; the vortex also stablizies the ring, preventing it from breaking up into smaller bubbles.

Download a video clip (324K) of this event.

CREDIT: MARTEN, PSARAKOS AND WHITE, Earthtrust

DOWN RING

Laka, an adult female bottlenose, exhales into the vortex created by her tail fin. The air is drawn along the center of the vortex, forming a ring bubble that travels horizontally and slightly downward through the water. Laka then examines her temporary creation.

Download a video clip (576K) of this event.

CREDIT: MARTEN, PSARAKOS AND WHITE, Earthtrust

TWO DOLPHINS

These dophin brothers, Keola and Kaiko'o, sometimes blow bubbles in tandem, as seen here.

Download a video clip (340K) of this event.

CREDIT: MARTEN, PSARAKOS AND WHITE, Earthtrust