The data from these behavioural observations indicate that the daily activities of both
dugongs and manatees predominantly take place in less than 3 m of water. However,
maximum dive depths of 9 and 33 m (inferred from feeding scars) and dive durations up to
24 and 10 min, respectively, have been reported for manatees and dugongs, (Reynolds,
1981; Anderson and Birtles, 1978; Anderson, 1982; Marsh and Rathbun, 1990; Bruce
Ackerman and Holly Edwards, personal communication).