Drone battery and altitude management during an extended wildlife search

During a wildlife search flight, Lauren Landers Sailing keeps an eye on both altitude and battery level simultaneously. At 40 metres (about 120 to 130 feet) the drone still provides a useful overview, but for spotting smaller species like black tip reef sharks you need to descend much closer, which consumes more battery. At 50 percent battery the return trip to the boat becomes the priority, even when the temptation to keep searching is strong. The general rule is that the higher you are, the harder it is to pick out a moving animal, but you can still see a shark if it is active enough.