Understanding the Science of a 29-Minute Freedive Breath Hold Record

Most individuals can hold their breath for anywhere between 30 and 90 seconds, a capacity limited by our body's natural involuntary reflex to breathe due to rising carbon dioxide levels in the blood. However, elite freedivers like Vitomir Maričić have pushed these limits dramatically. Maričić recently set a new Guinness World Record by holding his breath for an astonishing 29 minutes and three seconds while lying at the bottom of a 3-meter pool in Croatia. This duration surpasses the previous record, set in 2021 by Croatian freediver Budimir Šobat, by nearly five minutes.

All existing world records for breath-holding are achieved by freedivers, individuals who train extensively to extend their apnea times through specialized physical and mental preparations. These athletes utilize advanced techniques to delay the body's natural response to oxygen deprivation.

One key factor in extending breath-hold duration is increasing lung capacity and oxygen storage. Freedivers focus on cardiovascular training—like swimming, jogging, and cycling—to boost overall cardiovascular health, and practice breathwork to enhance lung expansion. They also train their diaphragm and throat muscles to maximize oxygen uptake and optimize how oxygen is transferred from the lungs to the bloodstream. Maričić, for instance, inhaled pure oxygen for ten minutes prior to his record, significantly increasing the amount of oxygen available during his breath-hold.

Understanding the body's response to breath-hold is crucial. The involuntary urge to breathe is triggered primarily by high carbon dioxide levels, not low oxygen. To overcome this reflex, freedivers desensitize their brains to elevated carbon dioxide levels through repeated practice. They also control their diaphragm and muscle contractions to suppress the physiological break-point—the point when involuntary contractions of the diaphragm force a breath—allowing them to hold their breath longer.

Mental discipline plays a vital role. Freedivers employ relaxation, meditation, and mindfulness techniques to maintain calmness, reduce oxygen consumption, and manage fear that can trigger premature breaths. Maričić noted that mentally, the longer he held his breath, the easier it became, especially after surpassing the 20-minute mark.

Despite the extraordinary capabilities of these athletes, such feats are inherently risky. Prolonged breath-holding can cause loss of consciousness or oxygen toxicity if not performed under strict safety measures. Maričić warns against attempting such endurance without professional training and proper guidance, as the risks of high carbon dioxide and oxygen toxicity are severe.

In conclusion, the achievement of a 29-minute breath-hold illustrates remarkable physiological and psychological adaptations—achieved through rigorous training, lung capacity enhancement, and mental focus. It highlights how understanding human limits and training can expand them, but also emphasizes the importance of safety in attempting extreme breath-hold feats.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-science-freediver-minute-world.html