How Long Can Whales Hold Their Breath?

Whales can hold their breath for varying durations depending on the species, with some capable of staying submerged for more than an hour. Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) are among the most impressive breath-holders in the whale world. These deep-diving giants can remain underwater for about an hour, with some reaching depths of more than 1,000 meters (3,280 feet). This remarkable ability allows them to hunt for their favorite prey, the giant squid, in the deep ocean. It is not uncommon for sperm whales to dive for an hour or more and then spend about 10 minutes at the surface breathing once every 10 seconds.

Blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus), the largest animals on Earth, also have impressive breath-holding capabilities. They usually dive for about 10 to 20 minutes, but they can stay submerged for up to 30 minutes if needed. Their massive size and efficient respiratory system enable them to take in large volumes of air, making their dives both deep and prolonged.

In general, larger whales such as the minke (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) and humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) surface every 10 to 15 minutes to breathe. Beaked whales (family Ziphiidae) are another group of deep-diving cetaceans known for holding their breath close to one hour. The record for holding its breath the longest belongs to a Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris), which was reported to dive for 222 minutes (3 hours 42 minutes) in 2020.