What Is the World’s Record for the Longest Time Someone Has Held Their Breath Underwater?
The world record for the longest time someone has held their breath underwater is 22 minutes and 22 seconds. This incredible feat was achieved by Swiss freediver Stig Severinsen during an attempt in 2020, besting the previous record of 19 minutes and 21 seconds set by his mentor and another freediver, Peter Pedersen, in 2016. What’s even more remarkable is that Severinsen’s record-breaking dive was done on a single breath of air, a technique known as “static apnea.”
What Is Static Apnea?
Static apnea is a form of underwater breath-holding that requires apneists (breath-holders) to control their breathing, heartbeat, and body temperature while remaining perfectly still and preventing strain on the organs and muscles. To achieve a successful static apnea dive, apneists must hold their breath while carefully monitoring their lungs and body position as they limit their energy output and keep their heart rate as low as possible.
How can One Achieve This Extraordinary Endurance?
Reaching these kinds of extraordinary feats of endurance is not an easy task, and takes intensive training and practice. Apneists will often begin by practicing “dynamic apnea” which involves swimming underwater for a certain distance on a single breath of air. With regular practice, apneists can become proficient enough in their technique to be able to push their bodies further and break records.
Those attempting to break endurance records must also take into account their diet and mental state. Apneists must eat nutritious foods and get plenty of rest in order to stay well-fed and energized. In addition, having a positive attitude and a good mental attitude is crucial for staying focused and successful during long static apnea dives.
The window for static apnea dives is incredibly small and incredibly difficult to master, requiring as much technical and mental proficiency as it does strong lungs and an iron will. However, thanks to the efforts of individuals like Stig Severinsen, the limits of what humans can achieve under the sea are being tested and pushed ever further.