The use of rigid scope technology in human and veterinary medicine is expanding as the many advantages of its use are being realized. These include improved diagnostic methods due to direct visual examination and exploratory biopsy, reduced morbidity due to decreased surgical trauma to the patient and a reduction in convalescent time. These benefits become increasingly important when the patients are non-domestic animals that can be difficult to manage during the postoperative period. In the case of marine mammals, invasive diagnostic and treatment procedures are rarely performed due to the added complications presented by anatomical constraints and environmental requirements. Cetaceans are one of the most challenging surgical candidates primarily due to complications associated with anesthesia and surgical wound healing. Minimally invasive surgery, including laparoscopic and thoracoscopic procedures, can provide significant improvement in the accuracy of clinical diagnosis and offer increased treatment options for most animals under our care. Current technology offers a variety of diagnostic capabilities and surgical treatment techniques; our challenge is to adapt these procedures to marine animals. A safe laparoscopic procedure requires the proper hardware and equipment, the creation of a pneumoperitoneum followed by the insertion of trocars for the telescope and instruments and completed by adequate closure of the surgical wounds. We have successfully performed these procedures on several marine mammal species including harbor seals, Pacific walrus, Florida manatee and are currently developing techniques for cetaceans. Cetaceans present several unique problems related to their unique anatomy; these include achieving a safe and adequate pneumoperitoneum, hemodynamic changes associated with insufflation and ultimately achieving a watertight surgical closure. Preliminary work on cetaceans has been promising and with continued efforts should ultimately prove successful. Continuing developments in the technological equipment and expansion of our clinical experiences will allow this field of aquatic animal medicine to develop in the future.