Whales can hold their breath underwater for varying lengths of time depending on the species, with some capable of extraordinary durations due to specialized physiological adaptations.

• The record for the longest breath-hold by a whale is held by the Cuvier's beaked whale, which has been recorded diving for up to 138 minutes (about 2 hours and 18 minutes)

. Another source mentions a record dive of 222 minutes, but 138 minutes is widely cited as the verified record for diving mammals

• Sperm whales can hold their breath for around 90 minutes while hunting deep underwater

• Humpback whales typically hold their breath for 5 to 10 minutes on average, with some exceptional dives lasting up to 48 minutes

• Killer whales (orcas) hold their breath for much shorter periods, generally surfacing every 3 to 5 minutes, with a maximum breath-hold around 15 minutes

• Blue whales usually hold their breath for 10 to 30 minutes during dives

Whales achieve these long breath-holds through several adaptations:

• They have highly efficient lungs that absorb up to 90% of the oxygen in each breath, compared to about 5% in humans

• Whales exhale stale air before inhaling fresh air, maximizing oxygen intake

• Their blood contains high levels of hemoglobin and muscles have abundant myoglobin, allowing oxygen to be stored and transported efficiently

• Before diving, whales exhale most of the air in their lungs to reduce buoyancy and conserve energy by sinking rather than actively swimming down

• They slow their heart rate dramatically and redirect blood flow to essential organs like the brain, heart, and muscles, conserving oxygen during dives

• Whales also shut down non-essential functions like digestion during dives to reduce oxygen consumption

In summary, whales can hold their breath from a few minutes up to over two hours depending on the species, with the Cuvier's beaked whale holding the record at about 138 minutes, thanks to their efficient oxygen use and physiological adaptations for deep diving