Deep-Dive Champions

Cuvier's beaked whales dive to nearly 10,000 feet below the surface and can stay down for over two hours on a single breath. To survive the crushing pressure, their lungs collapse on the way down, which keeps nitrogen out of the blood and prevents the bends.

Sperm whales hunt giant squid in total darkness using sound instead of sight. They fire loud clicks that bounce off prey and echo back, building a kind of acoustic picture of the world around them where eyes would be useless.