Underwater births have become popular among women in recent years — but how about adding a pod of dolphins?

A Big Island institute specializes in just that: dolphin-assisted births.

The Sirius Institute, committed to the “dolphinization of the planet,” made news in Charlotte, North Carolina this week where a couple is getting ready to head to Hawaii for just such a birth.

Heather Barringer hopes to deliver her baby in the open ocean off the coast of Pahoa on the Big Island’s windward coast, the Charlotte Observer reports. 

Not everyone thinks it’s a good idea, however, judging from comments posted at the end of the story and reporting done in this TIME Magazine piece. Some say dolphins can be aggressive — they might even attack you. There can also be heavy waves and sharks. 

It’s not clear if the Institute has actually carried out any ocean births with dolphins. Its website says it’s still working on developing the Dolphin Attended, Water, Natural and Gentle Birth Centers in Hawaii, but that it receives three to four inquires a week. 

(Photo: Flickr, SteveD., Spinner dolphins off the coast of the Big Island)

— Sophie Cocke