Dolphin training, Navy Marine Mammal Program, San Diego, USA. Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) jumping out of water to feed from the hand of its trainer. US Navy dolphins also trained to detect underwater mines, deliver equipment to divers, locate lost objects and guard against intruders. Dolphins are highly intelligent animals and proficient swimmers, able to use echolocation to sense their surroundings. Dolphins are trained using food rewards for successfully completed tasks. The NMMP also trains California sea lions, killer whales and beluga whales.