Freediver Breaks World Record: Holds Breath for Unbelievable 29 Minutes!

On a day where some might expect the worst outcomes, Croatian freediver Vitomir Maričić defied odds. On June 14, Maričić submerged in a pool, refrained from breathing for 29 minutes and 3 seconds, and resurfaced not only unscathed but also as the new Guinness World Record holder.

This record surpasses the previous one by nearly five minutes and is roughly twice as long as what a typical bottlenose dolphin can handle underwater. Maričić has arguably outperformed dolphins in their specialty.

Freediver Shatters Record with 29-Minute Breath Hold

Prior to his record-breaking attempt, Maričić didn’t just dive in unprepared; he supercharged his body by inhaling pure oxygen for ten continuous minutes. This process saturated his blood with oxygen, significantly increasing its concentration in his plasma—a crucial reserve for when the body is deprived of fresh oxygen intake.

As mentioned in a video on Maričić’s Instagram, he began the dive with about five times the normal oxygen levels in his system compared to the average person. It’s tempting to think that just about anyone could replicate his feat with access to an oxygen tank, but Maričić’s ability to hold his breath for over 10 minutes without any oxygen prep sets him far apart from the average person, who might begin to panic the moment they are submerged.

While Maričić’s achievement might seem like just another extreme sport stunt, there’s a deeper purpose to his dive—raising awareness about ocean conservation. Given his extensive time spent beneath the waves, Maričić is well-positioned to advocate for marine environments, perhaps even having engaged in the underwater equivalent of mingling with knowledgeable sea creatures.

Maričić is no stranger to setting breath-holding records, and though this latest feat with oxygen assistance is remarkable, the record for unassisted breath holding is still held by Serbian freediver Branko Petrovic, who managed 11 minutes and 35 seconds back in 2014.