Western Pacific Leatherback Turtles Surprise Scientists with Deep Dives
Leatherback turtles have long been known for their remarkable abilities, but recent discoveries by scientists have taken their adaptations to new heights. The Western Pacific leatherback turtle, in particular, has caught the attention of researchers due to its ability to dive as deep as 1,344 meters to feed. This impressive feat was reported by The Nature Conservancy and published by Live Science on June 14.
The turtle that broke the current Guinness World Record for the deepest dive achieved by another leatherback was a critically endangered Western Pacific population in the Solomon Islands. For comparison, US Navy submarines can only dive to 900 meters, while the deepest human dive with oxygen is just 332 meters.
Scientists are monitoring these turtles using satellite data in an effort to protect them. One turtle even swam across the Pacific Ocean, leaving marine scientist Peter Waldie amazed. He described the deep dive and migration as “truly astonishing” and emphasized the special abilities of leatherback turtles. These turtles have evolved adaptations for deep diving, including the ability to hold their breath for longer periods and survive extreme pressures.
While most of their time is spent at sea, Western Pacific leatherbacks do come ashore briefly to lay eggs. The critically endangered population in the Solomon Islands is estimated to have around 1,400 breeding-age adults. Since 2022, scientists have tagged 17 nesting leatherback turtles in the Solomon Islands for tracking purposes. These turtles often migrate to southern Australian waters and New Zealand after the breeding season, but further research is needed to understand their migration routes fully.
One remarkable turtle named “Uke Sasakolo” set a new deep diving record shortly after leaving its nesting site on March 25. Another turtle named “Aunty June” migrated eastward across the Pacific Ocean to a feeding area off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, surprising researchers with her journey.
Continued research into these amazing creatures’ behavior and migration routes will undoubtedly shed light on their incredible abilities and help protect them from extinction.
