Posted by Bailey Kaufman | 03.28.2025 | Conservation, Sea Turtle Camp, Turtle Talk

How Long Can Different Sea Turtles Hold Their Breath?

Sea turtles are incredible ocean explorers, spending most of their lives underwater. But even though they’re great swimmers, they still need to come up for air! Different types of sea turtles have different abilities when it comes to holding their breath. Let’s take a look at how long each species can stay underwater!

Leatherback Sea Turtle 🏆

The leatherback is the largest sea turtle—and also the deepest diver! It can hold its breath for over 85 minutes while searching for jellyfish in deep waters.

Green Sea Turtle 🌱

Green sea turtles are known for their plant-based diet, but they’re also impressive breath-holders. When they’re resting, they can stay underwater for up to 5 hours by slowing their heart rate to just one beat every nine minutes!

Loggerhead Sea Turtle 🦈

Loggerheads have powerful jaws and love eating crabs and shellfish. While foraging, they hold their breath for about 20 minutes, but when resting, they can stay submerged for a few hours.

Hawksbill Sea Turtle 🐚

Hawksbills are reef explorers, using their sharp beaks to reach sponges and other small creatures. Since they’re constantly moving and searching for food, they usually surface for air every 15 to 30 minutes.

Olive Ridley Sea Turtle 🏝️

One of the smallest sea turtles, the Olive Ridley is often seen in large groups called “arribadas” when nesting. They can hold their breath for around 30 minutes while swimming and feeding.

Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle 🌀

Kemp’s Ridleys are the rarest sea turtles, but they’re also quick divers! They usually hold their breath for 20 to 30 minutes, but when resting, they can last much longer underwater.

Flatback Sea Turtle 🌊

Found near Australia, flatbacks prefer shallow waters. They don’t dive as deep as other sea turtles, so they come up for air more often—usually every 10 to 20 minutes.

Turtle Superpower!

Even though sea turtles can hold their breath for a long time, they always need oxygen to survive. When they’re active, they surface more often, but when they sleep or rest, they can slow their heart rate and stay underwater for hours!

Next time you’re at the beach, keep an eye out for a sea turtle surfacing for a breath—it might have been holding it for longer than you think! 🐢💦