Great White Sharks at Ocean’s Depths – Thursday 23rd November 2023

Great White Sharks at Ocean’s Depths – Thursday 23rd November 2023

Some months ago I was looking into whales’ diving depths. When I realised that certain Orca hunted whales, I was concerned as to how Sperm whales managed because of their limited jaw and gentle nature’s.

I discovered that the Orcas jaw pressure was immense, as I recall it was above 20,000psi. Whereas the great white sharks was only about 4000psi.

So I wondered how the Sperm whales were able to defend themselves and it occurred to me to check their diving depths and time limits for breath-holding. Sperm whales can hold their breath for over an hour, the Orca around fifteen minutes and Sperm whales can reach the ocean floor at a depth that Orca can’t reach. So if a Sperm whale family are alert, and sense an Orca group, they can dive and evade the Orca in this way. And they must do this because a Sperm whale family could not fight off a pod of mammal eating Orca.
In the same way, a great white cannot fight off Orca, those sharp teeth need to be sharp for the lesser jaw strength, but they still aren’t a match for the Orca teeth and jaw strength.

Whether people can agree or not as to our fishing activities affecting the marine way of life, when a good source is in short supply, another has to be found or wasting occurs and ribs will be visible in some species. It may be that climate is affecting their food supply but it also may be that an alternative is in short supply also, because we are taking it.

If food is short then it can lead to a species finding different food or food where we can’t fish, so that could be part of shark behaviour diving to depths, but also, they seem to be a target of the Orca. Whether they always have been or it’s fairly new I’m not sure, but if it’s new then diving would perhaps save them. I would also like to add here that Orca don’t seem to like eating shark because they only eat a certain small part. As far as I know though, they do eat whole tuna, so if tuna is in short supply, which for some Orca is their preferred food, then they may be having to eat things they would prefer not to. Which would probably displease them and as well would cause changes in behaviour of the food they’re having to make do with. My question here is; are their favoured tuna in short supply where the Orca are vandalizing the boats? They remind me of a disgruntled group of people with that activity.

Whether you’re a whale or a shark, it is very fortunate, to be able to hold your breath for longer than an Orca that’s chasing you.

Fiona MacLeod (C)