<P> Elephant seals spend up to 80 % of their lives in the ocean . They can hold their breath for more than 100 minutes -- longer than any other noncetacean mammal . Elephant seals dive to 1,550 m beneath the ocean 's surface ( the deepest recorded dive of an elephant seal is 2,388 m ( 7,835 ft ) by a southern elephant seal ) . The average depth of their dives is about 300 to 600 m ( 980 to 1,970 ft ) , typically for around 20 minutes for females and 60 minutes for males , as they search for their favorite foods , which are skates , rays , squid , octopuses , eels , small sharks and large fish . Their stomachs also often contain gastroliths . They spend only brief amounts of time at the surface to rest in between dives ( 2 - 3 minutes ) . Females tend to dive a bit deeper due to their prey source . </P>
<P> Elephant seals spend up to 80 % of their lives in the ocean . They can hold their breath for more than 100 minutes -- longer than any other noncetacean mammal . Elephant seals dive to 1,550 m beneath the ocean 's surface ( the deepest recorded dive of an elephant seal is 2,388 m ( 7,835 ft ) by a southern elephant seal ) . The average depth of their dives is about 300 to 600 m ( 980 to 1,970 ft ) , typically for around 20 minutes for females and 60 minutes for males , as they search for their favorite foods , which are skates , rays , squid , octopuses , eels , small sharks and large fish . Their stomachs also often contain gastroliths . They spend only brief amounts of time at the surface to rest in between dives ( 2 - 3 minutes ) . Females tend to dive a bit deeper due to their prey source . </P>
how long can an elephant seal hold its breath
how long can an elephant seal hold its breath
more than 100 minutes
more than 100 minutes