Whale sharks can hold their breath for approximately 30 minutes to an hour. However, this duration can vary depending on several factors, such as the activity level and the individual shark’s health.
These gentle giants are known for their slow and deliberate swimming style, which allows them to conserve energy and oxygen while they are submerged. During this time, they are capable of diving to depths of around 1,200 meters (about 4,000 feet), although they typically prefer to stay in shallower waters.
Interestingly, whale sharks breathe by swimming to the surface to gulp air, which they then filter through their gills to extract oxygen. This means that while they can hold their breath for quite some time, they still need to periodically come to the surface to breathe.