The Wild Dolphin Project is the longest-running underwater dolphin research study in the world.

Since 1985, WDP has studied two resident communities of Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis) and bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) in the northern Bahamas.

All trips leave from West Palm Beach, Florida on a Tuesday morning and return 9 days later Wednesday afternoon.

When we are able to take interns, their responsibilities in the field may consist of:

1. Conduct daily dolphin watches on the bridge.
2. Assist with in-the-water underwater photography.
3. Assist with processing dolphin photographs for photo identification (during the daytime or nighttime) when schedule allows (depending on encounters).
4. Review underwater video in the evenings and assist WDP staff with logging individuals and behavior.
5. Present powerpoint presentation on an endangered marine animal (assignment instructions will be issued in advance).
6. Lead a discussion about a scientific article (assignment details will be provided in advance).

Daytime hours are typically spent looking for, or working with, the dolphins.  Observations occur both from the surface and in the water.  Observations are made from our 62-foot research vessel or possibly in our inflatable boat.

Evening Hours include lectures (if weather conditions permit) on dolphin identification, biology, behavior, and acoustics.

• During all of our trips we document dolphin ID’s, their behaviors and sound, and life history information.  You will learn about their natural behavior and sounds, their relationships, and their lives in the wild.  During the summer, Dr. Herzing and her colleagues focus on specific projects such as our two-way work with CHAT. However, this is very advanced work and is limited to Dr. Herzing’s colleagues and research scientists. We will not be doing our two-way work with the general public onboard, but we can share certain aspects of our attempts and vision of the work with you while you are onboard.