The fastest whales and dolphins in the ocean

The short-finned pilot whale is known as the ‘cheetah of the deep sea’ for good reason—it dives to extreme depths at rapid speeds to chase after squid. These dives can reach speeds of 32 kilometres per hour (20 miles per hour), during which the whale holds its breath. Their behaviour contrasts with that of beaked whales, which dive more slowly and deeper, conserving their energy while hunting squid and other deep-sea fish. Short-finned pilot whales can be found in temperate and tropical waters across the globe. Like killer whales, short-finned pilot whales are actually part of the dolphin family. 

#7 Bottlenose dolphin 

Found off the coast of every continent except Antarctica, the common bottlenose dolphin is known for its fantastic leaps out of the water, its social nature, and its intelligence, but it’s also notably one of the fastest dolphin species. Bottlenose dolphins can swim at speeds up to 35 kilometres per hour (22 miles per hour). For comparison, Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps reportedly can swim at about 8 kilometres per hour (5 miles per hour). Like us, dolphins are mammals, so they do need to come up for air every few minutes while they’re swimming. Typically, dolphins breathe through their blowholes about 4-5 times per minute. 

#6 Minke whale 

Minke whales are smaller whales that can be difficult to spot. While the common minke whale inhabits the Northern Hemisphere, the Antarctic minke whale’s range extends from the equator to Antarctica. Minke whales can reach speeds up to about 39 kilometres per hour (24 miles per hour). 

#5 Fin whale 

Nicknamed ‘the greyhound of the sea’ for its speed, the fin whale can reach speeds of 40 kilometres per hour (almost 25 miles per hour). The second-largest whale species, fin whales are found in the deeper waters of temperate to polar regions, and their large size doesn’t prevent them from being one of the fastest swimmers on the planet. Interestingly, fin whales are often spotted feeding in large groups comprised of multiple species, including humpbacks, minke whales, and dolphins. 

#4 Dall’s porpoise 

Recognised by its striking black and white colouring which resembles that of a baby killer whale, Dall’s porpoise is a species native to the North Pacific Ocean. Regarded as the fastest swimmers among small cetaceans, they can reach speeds of up to 55 kilometres per hour (34 miles per hour). They also can dive to depths of up to 500 metres (1,640 feet) to hunt fish, squid, and octopus. Due to their social nature, these porpoises are often attracted to fast-moving boats and will bow ride—swimming in front of a moving vessel in the wave it creates. 

#3 Sei whale 

A long, thin, blue-gray whale, the sei whale is one of the fastest whales in the world. They can swim at speeds over 55 kilometres per hour (34 miles per hour), and they can be recognised at the ocean’s surface by their columnar or bushy blow that reaches 3 to 4 metres (10 to 13 feet) high. Sei whales can be found all over the world, in subtropical, temperate, and subpolar climates. Because they were often spotted among pollock in Norway, their name comes from the Norwegian word for pollock (‘seje’). 

#2 Orca 

Also known as the killer whale, the orca is actually a member of the dolphin family. Orcas are found in every ocean and off the coast of every continent, though they are most common in colder waters, around places like Antarctica, Norway, and Alaska. Living up to their name, they are apex predators and often hunt other marine mammals. Orcas are also one of the fastest animals in the ocean. The record-holding orca reached over nearly 56 kilometres per hour (almost 35 miles per hour). 

#1 Common dolphin 

Highly social and full of energy, the short-beaked common dolphin takes the title of the fastest dolphin species, reaching incredible speeds of up to 60 kilometres per hour (37 miles per hour). The short-beaked common dolphin is close to the size of a typical human, at about 182 centimetres (6 feet) long and weighing around 77 kilograms (170 pounds). It’s the most abundant dolphin species on Earth, found primarily in tropical to cool temperate offshore waters. 

Want to help protect cetaceans and other marine life? Learn more about how IFAW’s Marine Conservation programme protects animals around the world. You can also check out our new Dolphin Rescue Center and Marine Mammal Rescue programme.