Marine mammals dive to various depths continuously throughout their lives. They dive to feed, rest, play, and numerous other activities. However, the physiological changes their bodies incur during these dives is not fully understood. As part of this study, we are looking at the heart rate of diving marine mammals and how it may change over the course of a dive during different levels of activity. Could heart rate be a key factor in why it is believed marine mammals do not suffer from pressure related illnesses like human divers? This is one of many questions we hope to help answer.

In order to measure heart rate accurately, our resident animals have been trained to wear a specially designed wetsuit. The wetsuit, as well as the time invested to design it, was generously donated by O’Neill wetsuits. They have created numerous wetsuits for us over the years to fit bottlenose dolphins, Beluga whales, and other large cetaceans. The wetsuit carries heart rate monitoring equipment that rests against the body of the animals and is able to measure their heart rate during all stages of their dive. We are working in collaboration with animal facilities around the world to help us gather heart rate information from a wide variety of cetacean species in a range of water temperatures and depths.