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"This webpage is a scientific database where you will find official records of dive depth and duration for most diving species of vertebrates. This project was initiated to answer the questions regularly asked by school teachers, educators, journalists, scientists: "How deep can animals dive?"  Such information is compiled here, using references from scientific articles from peer-reviewed journals, ensuring that these values are the most reliable and current estimates."

The "Penguiness Book" contains information on more than penguins as its title might suggest.  Dive data are currently given for five species of albatrosses and three species of ACAP-listed petrels (as well as for seven species of shearwaters), each one with a map to show where the data were collected.

Here is an example as cited for the Westland Petrel Procellaria westlandica:
Dive depth: avg-max = 3.20 m ± 3.80 m , max = 7.60 m (N= 3 individuals).

"To submit data please contact us via the website. These data must have been accepted in peer-reviewed journals, official reports or conference proceedings."

Have a look!

Westland Petrel.  Photograph by Barry Baker

Selected References:

Freeman, A., Nicholls, D., Wilson, K. & Bartle, J. 1997.  Radio- and satellite tracking Westland Petrels Procellaria westlandica.  Marine Ornithology 25: 31-36.

Ropert-Coudert, Y. & Kato, A. 2012  The Penguiness Book.  Version 2.0, March 2012.

With thanks to Yan Ropert-Coudert for information.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 8 April 2012