Making a splash: dive into the life of a dolphin trainer.

What's longer than you are tall, weighs as much as five teenagers, and "smiles" all the time? It is one of Alexis McKenzie's favorite students--an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin.

McKenzie is a dolphin trainer at Discovery Cove in Orlando, Florida. There, she cares for 33 dolphins and educates the park's guests about these aquatic mammals, or warm-blooded animals that live in the ocean. The best part of her job? She gets to teach dolphins how to perform certain actions, like hitting a target positioned far across a pool.

McKenzie grew up as a competitive swimmer, but she never considered working in the water until she met a dolphin trainer for SeaWorld, who inspired her. "The fact that I could have a career in the water was very appealing," says McKenzie.

Most dolphin trainers study biology or psychology in college. McKenzie studied English, so she did not land her dream job right away. Her first job after graduating from college was as a dog trainer. Soon after, she made the move to Discovery Cove, where she learned how to train and care for dolphins. "My office is in the water in sunny Florida. What can be better than that?" McKenzie says.

JUMP RIGHT IN

McKenzie's day begins at 5:00 a.m. in the kitchen of the park, preparing the dolphins' food--500 pounds of raw fish! By 9:00 a.m., McKenzie jumps into the water and greets park guests in the pool. Visitors to Discovery Cove can swim with dolphins and learn about how they live from trainers like McKenzie. Many visitors are surprised to discover that dolphins don't drink water. They get all the water they need from the fish they eat, says McKenzie.

In the afternoon, McKenzie enters a larger pool to train the dolphins. During these sessions, she teaches the dolphins how to perform. For example, if McKenzie shakes her hand a certain way, the dolphin is supposed to shake its head back and forth. If the dolphin does it correctly, McKenzie will cheer, rub the dolphin's back, or toss it a fish as a reward.

It can take McKenzie less than a month to teach a dolphin a simple act like waving with its flipper, but up to six months for a more challenging task, like a front flip high above the pool's water.

GET YOUR FEET WET

If you are interested in becoming a dolphin trainer, McKenzie recommends volunteering at a local animal shelter or veterinary clinic. There, you will learn that working with animals is more than a day job. "It takes a lot of hard work to work with any type of animal," McKenzie says. Trainers at Discovery Cove, for example, sometimes have to stay overnight at the park to care for the dolphins and to clean up for the next day.

Still, the rewards make it all worthwhile, says McKenzie. "The minute a new trick clicks in the dolphin's head, it just feels great!"

Did You Know?

* To become a marine mammal trainer at a marine park, such as SeaWorld, a job candidate must be athletically fit. The applicant must undergo a rigorous test to prove that he or she is a good swimmer. Also, the candidate must demonstrate good public-speaking skills. This is because the trainers usually host the shows in which the marine mammals perform.

* Dolphins in marine parks are regularly monitored for their health. Veterinarians draw and test their blood and other body fluids, take X-rays and perform dental exams, and give the dolphins medicine. To ensure these procedures go smoothly, many trainers teach the dolphins how to behave and be good patients.

* Under the Marine Mammal Act of 1972, a special permit is needed to remove dolphins from the wild. It's also illegal to approach or feed a wild dolphin.

RELATED ARTICLE: Becca Cook.

FUTURE MARINE BIOLOGIST

Meet Becca, a 16-year-old volunteer at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Florida. Becca volunteers at Mote for several hours each week. One of her assignments is working with students when schools make field trips to the lab. "I love when schools come. I play games with the kids to teach them about ocean life," says Becca. Her other favorite tasks include feeding the fish and helping the scientists.

Ever since she was 3 years old, Becca knew that she wanted to become a marine biologist. In addition to working with aquatic mammals like dolphins, there are many career options for scientists who study sea life. Volunteering at Mote has helped Becca to zero in on her interests: She's decided that she wants to become an aquaculturist, or a person who raises fish and other sea life.

Some fishermen catch too many fish to allow a population to thrive. Aquaculturists ensure that you can still eat healthy fish without harming the environment, explains Becca. "I don't like that some people catch wild fish from the water, so I want to help farmers breed (raise) fish for us to eat," she says.

So, what advice does Becca have for teens who are interested in studying marine biology? "Be ready to get dirty. You can't stay clean in the water, but it's a lot of fun!"

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Learn all about dolphins and their relatives at: www.acsonline.org/ factpack/map-dolphins.html

RESOURCES

* To learn more about careers in marine mammal training, visit: www.imata.org/index.php? option=com_content&task=view&id=20&ltemid=39

* Find out more about dolphin-training techniques at: www.seaworld.org/animal-info /info-books/training/index.htm