27.09.2026 – Deep divers

Which marine mammal can dive the deepest and for the longest time?

No, it is not the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), which we were able to observe on all our trips today: They can descend to depths of a full 2 km and stay submerged for up to 2 hours. The dives we actually recorded ranged from 30 minutes to an hour. After such a dive, the animals remain at the surface for a while to properly replenish their oxygen levels. This is a stroke of luck for us, as it allows us to observe them beautifully and respectfully and accompany them for part of their journey. We had fantastic sightings of sperm whales today, and our boat “Steno” even got a little bonus in the morning: a visit from bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).
Both the dolphins and the sperm whales can be identified easily. For the dolphins, this requires a photo of the dorsal fin, while for the sperm whales, the fluke, their beautiful tail is needed. 

Juliette, one of our marine biologists, will handle the identification process. Perhaps one of them is already listed in the catalog of resident dolphins, or there might be a match for a sperm whale previously sighted elsewhere in the world. 

A special thank you goes to the two lovely Dutch ladies who sent us their photos of the fluke, as I had forgotten to put a memory card in my camera for our first sperm whale sighting 🙁
But now, to answer the question: Cuvier’s beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) hold the record for both duration and depth, capable of diving to 3 km and staying submerged for up to 4 hours. It is truly incredible and magnificent what these deep divers are capable of achieving.

by Claudia Gomes