The short answer to this question is “yes. Whales can drown underwater,”
However, to give you a more detailed and scientific explanation, we need to go further in-depth about how these marine mammals breathe and how they can drown due to their aquatic environment.
Unlike fish and other aquatic species, whales are marine mammals, meaning they have lungs for breathing instead of gills, and because whales possess lungs, they must come to the surface and breathe air to survive.
On the other hand, fish and amphibians are born with gills (instead of lungs).
It allows them to extract oxygen directly from the water.
This difference plays a huge role in determining how fish, amphibians, and marine mammals breathe.
Just as a whale can drown underwater, fish can suffocate above the water’s surface because most gills are not designed for breathing air.
There are some exceptions with amphibious species, as some amphibians can survive in both environments for an extended time.
When a whale dives underwater, it holds its breath just like a human or other mammals would if they were to dive underwater.
Because whales have lived in the ocean for millions of years, they have adapted their lungs, vital organs, and body to allow them to be a more efficient swimmer and diverse than most land mammals.
Some whale species have been recorded diving underwater for up to 90 minutes before resurfacing for air during deep dives.
The length of time a whale can dive underwater varies, mainly depending on the whale’s species.
Other cetaceans have been recorded taking dives for as little as 5 – 15 minutes on average before resurfacing for air.
In terms of how far a whale can dive, some whale species, such as the sperm whale, can dive more than 3,000 ft. under the water’s surface, while other species may prefer diving to depths of 1,000 ft. or less.
In addition, some dolphin species, such as the Amazon river dolphin, may live in only a few hundred feet deep waters.
Another exciting characteristic of whales is that, unlike land animals, whales do not breathe through their mouth.
Instead, these marine mammals breathe through their blowhole, located on top of the whale’s head.
So when you see a whale spout water from its blowhole, it signifies that it is exhaling.
The water shooting up into the air is caused by surrounding water on top of and around the whale’s blowhole being forced up by the whale’s powerful exhaling abilities.
Contrary to what many people think, the water does not come from inside the blowhole or water the whale swallowed.
It’s simply water collected around the outside of the blowhole.
When the whale dives back underwater, it contracts the muscles around its blowhole, allowing it to dive underwater without worrying about taking in water.
If the whale took in water through its blowhole while underwater, it could drown.
There are cases of whales that became stuck in shallow water and drowning because the water was shallow enough to prevent the whale from swimming but deep enough to cover the whale’s blowhole and prevent it from breathing.
As for why their blowhole is located on top of their head, it is believed to be an evolutionary adaptation designed to make breathing more efficient and effortless.
Throughout evolution, the whale’s nostrils are moved from the front of its head to the top, and the air passage and esophagus are separated to make hunting and breathing easier.
A separate hole for breathing and eating helps ensure that the whale doesn’t accidentally take in water while hunting for and swallowing its food.
In addition to holding their breath for extended periods, whales can extract significantly more oxygen from the air than land animals which helps these marine mammals fill their lungs and bloodstream with clean, high-quality oxygen, ultimately increasing the quality of each breath and allowing the whale to stay submerged for more extended periods.
Because these marine mammals are constantly surrounded by water, they are always conscious of their breathing and oxygen requirements.
Even during periods of rest, whales are aware of their breathing because if they weren’t, there is a good chance they would drown.
Due to their constant awareness of their breathing, these marine mammals are known as conscious breathers because they are always aware of their need for oxygen.
To better understand how these marine mammals survive in the water, electroencephalographs have been attached to a dolphin’s head to observe what goes on when it is resting.
Studies have shown that half of the dolphin’s brain remains conscious when it rests if it needs to come up for air or make a quick escape from a predator.
This mental process and respiratory control also exist among the whale species.
Whales, dolphins, and porpoises are all marine mammals belonging to the cetacean family, and they all share many of the same physiological characteristics as one another.
Aside from being similar in terms of respiratory control and the way their mind works, these marine mammals share several other common traits that can be found in almost all mammalian species, such as:
- Breathing oxygen – Mammals are born with lungs that allow them to take in air and filter poisonous/toxic fumes from the air they are breathing.
- Being warm-blooded – Mammals are warm-blooded animals, so they frequently eat to maintain their energy and stay warm.
- Body fat/Blubber – Mammals develop body fat or blubber to keep them warm in cold environments.
- Having hair – In addition to developing body fat, mammals may also grow thick hair to maintain body heat in cold environments and protect themselves from the sun.
- Giving birth – Mammals are known for giving birth to their young rather than laying eggs. However, a handful of mammal species are capable of laying eggs.
- Producing milk – Mammals feed their young by making milk from the mother’s nipple. Milk is often full of fat and nutrients to help the child develop and remain healthy during its early stages.