A Western Pacific leatherback turtle named “Uke Sasakolo” surprised scientists by diving as deep as 1,344 m to feed in March. This dive broke the current Guinness World Record for the deepest dive achieved by another leatherback turtle. For comparison, US Navy submarines can dive to 900 m, while the deepest human dive with oxygen is 332 m.
Leatherback turtles have evolved adaptations for deep diving, such as the ability to hold their breath for up to 90 minutes underwater. They have specialized shells that expand and contract with changes in pressure, allowing them to survive the extreme pressures of the deep sea. Female leatherback turtles come ashore briefly to lay eggs, but spend most of their time at sea. The nesting population in the Solomon Islands is critically endangered, with an estimated 1,400 breeding-age adults.
Since 2022, researchers have tagged 17 nesting leatherback turtles in the Solomon Islands to track their movements. Another turtle named “Aunty June” swam across the Pacific Ocean to a feeding area off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, surprising researchers. Further research will help confirm migration patterns of these remarkable creatures.
Peter Waldie, a marine scientist with The Nature Conservancy’s Solomon Islands Program, described the deep dive and migration as “truly astonishing.” Leatherback turtles are one of four species of sea turtles found in the Pacific Ocean and are known for their ability to travel long distances between breeding grounds and feeding areas.
