You can set him in the sink if you'd like, be he's more than likely going to try to get out so you'll end up handling him most of the time anyway . It's ok if his head gets wet, i just wouldn't hold him under or anything. They're pretty good natural swimmers. My male does laps with his head completely under water in his water bowl sometimes, hehe. Patting dry with a clean towel is what i do to dry them off afterward.