Albatrosses use dynamic soaring, i.e. a form of flight not involving flapping of the wings. "Albatrosses repeatedly dive into the troughs between ocean waves and then use the rising air deflected off the waves to wheel back into the air. The bird glides down toward the sea surface, gaining momentum. Near the surface, it suddenly turns into the wind and the increasing wind speed makes it climb sharply".

Bird, The Definitive Visual Guide, DK Publishing, New York, 2009, p35, 493

Grandma, the Oldest Albatross, Natural History New Zealand, Dunedin, New Zealand, 2005.