Surface and diving metabolic rates, and dynamic aerobic dive limits (<scp>dADL</scp>) in near‐ and off‐shore bottlenose dolphins, <i>Tursiops</i> spp., indicate that deep diving is energetically cheap

High-resolution dive depth and acceleration recordings from nearshore (Sarasota Bay, < 30 m), offshore (Bermuda) bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops spp.) were used to estimate the diving metabolic rate (DMR) locomotor (LMR, L O2/min) during three phases of (descent, bottom, ascent). For shallow dives (depth ≤ we found no differences between two ecotypes in LMR diving, nor postdive interval dives. intermediate (30 m 100 m) deep > was significantly higher ascent than descent bottom phase by 59% 9%, respectively. In addition, change (meters/second) increased with maximal depth. The dynamic aerobic limit (dADL) calculated estimated DMR predive O2 stores. Bermuda dolphins, dADL decreased depth, 18.7, 15.4, 11.1 min for shallow, intermediate, dives, These results provide a useful approach understand complex nature physiological interactions metabolism, energy use, capacity.