How long can a sea lion hold its breath?
Sea lions can remain underwater for an average of 8 to 20 minutes. Unlike dolphins, sea lions exhale before diving. Naturally, their nostrils are closed, but they have special muscles to open them in order to breathe. Sea lions can dive to depths between 450 and 900 feet (135 – 272 m). The reason they can dive so deeply and stay underwater so long is because they have a high tolerance for carbon dioxide. The oxygen in their body concentrates in their heart and central nervous system rather than in non-vital organs. Their relative, the elephant seal, can hold its breath for 62 minutes and dive to depths of 4,100 feet (1240 m). Where do California sea lions live? The majority of California sea lions live in California, but the population range extends from Vancouver Island, British Columbia, to Mexico. Do the sea lions at DRC take vitamins? Both of DRC’s sea lions take vitamins orally each day. The fish they receive are flash-frozen from the north Atlantic and lose nutrients during the f
