Thread: How long can you hold your breath underwater?

My record is around 1min 20sec. Any tips to increase the time?

Mine is barely 5 seconds. Well, you could get lung problems so don't do it.

I could hold mine for 3 minutes and 15secs. Here's how I did it.
1. warm water, like a swimming pool in summer. around 80 f.
2.something to hook two fingers into on the bottom of the pool like a drain or a grate or a weight.so that the only voluntary muscles in use are those in your fingers.
3.hyperventilate. breath deeply in and out, in and out for about 20 or 30 seconds infusing extra o2 into your blood and tissues and purging much of the co2.
4. carry a weight to the bottom so you don't have to burn o2 swimming down.
5. meditate. once you're down and hooked in, clear your mind. If you're not good at that then concentrate on just counting,one thousand one, one thousand two... or just watch the second hand on your watch go around.
6 have someone topside ready to pull you out if you loose consciousness (black out) they'll know if somethings wrong because your two fingers will go limp releasing you to float up but remain face down in the water.

The trick is to totally relax your body and control your breathing for about a minute prior to going under. Never hyperventilate, especially if you are freediving (snorkeling). This is how many people have died from shallow water blackout. Instead, slowly take deep, full breaths and exhale completely prior to your next breath. Completely relax your body and clear your mind. Do this for about a minute and you will probably increase your bottom time quite a bit.

Aloha!