Leatherback turtle sets new world diving record at 1,344 meters

Scientists, led by expert Peter Waldi, recorded the leatherback turtle's feat while conducting research to protect this species.

The feat in the Solomon Islands region is the deepest dive by a turtle in history. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the previous record stood at 1,280 meters, set in 2006 by another leatherback turtle. The 1,344-meter result surpasses the previous record by 64 meters. Although numbers don't lie, to speak of a true Guinness record holder, we must wait for the official confirmation of the result and its entry into the book.

To explain the spectacular nature of the turtle's feat, it is worth comparing the depth it reached with that currently reached by submarines. These vessels typically operate at depths of about 300-400 meters. National Geographic notes that the deepest-diving vessel has descended to over 900 meters, which is still a worse result than the turtle's.

In a conversation with Live Science, a spokesperson for the Guinness Book of World Records said that the deepest turtle dive requires consultation with experts for accurate verification. In the case of scientific and natural records based on data, such as this instance, we usually wait until the results are verified and published in a peer-reviewed journal before considering them, the spokesperson said.

Leatherback turtles spend their entire lives in the water, with females only coming ashore briefly to lay eggs. Scientists have discovered that these animals can stay underwater for up to 90 minutes. A specially specialized shell, which contracts and expands with pressure changes, is helpful.