Elephant Seals Spend About Nine Months a Year at Sea

People usually see elephant seals lying on beaches, but that is the smaller part of their lives. NOAA Fisheries states that northern elephant seals spend about 9 months of the year in the ocean. Most of that time is spent underwater. The seals dive to depths of about 1,000 to 2,500 feet for 20 to 30 minutes at a stretch, with only short breaks at the surface. They are big animals. NOAA Fisheries calls the northern elephant seal the largest of the true seals in the Northern Hemisphere. Fully grown males can reach lengths of over 13 feet and weigh nearly 4,400 pounds. The name comes from the males. At about 7 years old they develop a large inflatable nose, or proboscis, that overhangs the lower lip by about 8 inches.