What is the deepest-diving whale species, reaching depths over 2,900 meters?

What is the deepest-diving whale species, reaching depths over 2,900 meters? Cuvier's beaked whale is the answer.

Cuvier's beaked whales (*Ziphius cavirostris*) hold the mammal record for the deepest documented dive. In 2014, a tagged whale off California descended to 2,992 meters (9,816 feet), far below the depth reached by most marine mammals. The species also holds the record for the longest documented mammal dive, remaining underwater for 222 minutes.

These whales hunt squid and deep-sea fish using echolocation. Their bodies are adapted for extreme pressure: they can conserve oxygen, slow their heart rate, and tolerate the physiological stresses of deep diving. Typical foraging dives are much shallower than the record, often exceeding 800 meters and lasting 30 to 90 minutes.

A common mix-up is the sperm whale, which is also an exceptional deep diver and can descend beyond 2,000 meters. However, the documented depth record belongs to Cuvier's beaked whale.