Holding your breath underwater for as long as possible is a discipline in freediving known as static apnea. In a standard static-apnea attempt, the diver remains still with their face submerged, trying to stay relaxed while holding their breath. Some widely publicized records, however, have been set after breathing pure oxygen beforehand. Those performances are not directly comparable to competitive static-apnea records.
This list looks back at notable breath-holding milestones and performances, rather than ranking today’s athletes. The figures come from different record categories and rule sets, so they should be read in context. Here are 10 remarkable underwater breath-holding records and achievements.
1 Goran Čolak (Croatia)
Croatian freediver Goran Čolak became known for extraordinary breath-holding performances. In 2013, he reportedly held his breath underwater for 22 minutes 30 seconds in an oxygen-assisted attempt. This was a Guinness record at the time, but it is no longer the current mark: Vitomir Maričić set a new Guinness record of 29 minutes 3.07 seconds in June 2025, also after breathing oxygen. These oxygen-assisted feats are separate from AIDA’s competitive static-apnea record.
2 Tom Sietas (Germany)
German freediver Tom Sietas set a notable oxygen-assisted breath-hold record of 22 minutes 22 seconds in 2012. His performance was part of a series of high-profile attempts that helped bring international attention to extreme breath-holding. It should not be confused with a standard competitive static-apnea result, which uses different rules.
3 Ricardo Bahia (Brazil)
Brazilian freediver Ricardo Bahia was credited with a breath-hold of 22 minutes 21 seconds in an oxygen-assisted record attempt. His result was among the remarkable performances reported during the period when athletes were pushing the limits of this record category. Because these oxygen-assisted times are not equivalent to competitive static apnea, they should be compared only with performances under similar rules.
4 Peter Colat (Switzerland)
Swiss freediver Peter Colat achieved a breath-hold of 19 minutes 21 seconds in 2010, a widely reported milestone in oxygen-assisted apnea. Colat had already built a reputation in the sport, and his result helped demonstrate how far trained athletes could extend a breath-hold under special record-attempt conditions.
5 Nicola Putignano (Italy)
Italian breath-holding athlete Nicola Putignano was credited with a 19-minute 2-second underwater breath-hold. The achievement was reported as a record at the time and attracted media attention. Such attempts demand extensive preparation and close supervision; the result should be understood within the specific rules used for the record.
6 David Blaine (United States)
Magician and endurance performer David Blaine set a widely publicized breath-holding record in 2008, remaining underwater for 17 minutes 4.4 seconds during a live television special. He had trained for months before the attempt. Blaine is known for high-risk endurance stunts and illusions, but this performance was a carefully prepared event with a support team—not an example to imitate.
7 Arvydas Gaiciunas (Lithuania)
Lithuanian illusionist Arvydas Gaiciunas was reported to have remained underwater for 15 minutes 58 seconds during a stunt in which he was restrained with chains. His sister Diana reportedly took part in the challenge as well, staying submerged for 13 minutes. The performance was presented as an endurance feat, but it should not be treated as directly comparable to a certified freediving competition record.
8 Robert Foster (United States)
Robert Foster was an electronics technician, not a professional freediver. In March 1959, he held his breath underwater for 13 minutes 42.5 seconds in a swimming pool in California. Guinness World Records identifies this as the first recognized mark in its male voluntary underwater breath-holding record category. His achievement remained a major milestone for decades.
9 Stéphane Mifsud (France)
French freediver Stéphane Mifsud set the AIDA-certified men’s static apnea world record of 11 minutes 35 seconds on 8 June 2009. Unlike the oxygen-assisted Guinness feats listed above, this is a competitive static-apnea record recognized by AIDA. As of September 2026, it remains the listed AIDA men’s world record for the discipline.
10 Martin Štěpánek (Czech Republic)
Czech freediver Martin Štěpánek set a men’s static-apnea world record of 8 minutes 6 seconds in 2001. It was an important early milestone in the sport’s record history, before later athletes extended the recognized competitive mark.
The history of breath-holding records shows how training and record rules have shaped performances over time. But these feats carry serious risks: underwater breath-holding can lead to sudden blackout and drowning. Never try to reproduce a record, hyperventilate before a breath-hold, or practise underwater breath-holding alone.
