How long can you hold your breath?

[Hank49]

I've held my breath for 4 minutes lying on my couch. 3:30 is pretty easy.
My buddy can hold his for 5:20 (his best)
The big difference is when we get in the water. I'm good for about 1:20. He does 2:30 at times.
He runs 10 miles 2-3 times per week. I don't do any cardio like that. Also, he's 35 and I'm 55.

[JupiterBelow]

ive never put anytime into static but i can usually get a little over 3 min. in the water ill really be pushing it on 1:30 dives. its not how long you stay down, its how well you use that time! i used to be so worried about diving deeper because i dive with better than average divers but now i realize its easier to let them go down, do the work and let me shoot the curious amberjack or cobia that follow up their fish!!!

[BenSpearing]

Even better then classes, in my opinion, is hooking up with a wide variety of experienced divers. Different exercises, recovery styles, and kicking styles, are good to learn...you may feel uncomfortable doing something taught in a class...being uncomfortable can shorten your time under if you let it bother you enough. Obviously take a class or two first, but fine tune that knowledge by learning from good, experienced divers. I've only been in one class and I'm good for spearing past 100ft, though most of my spearing is done shallower then 60ft.

[rtdean]

I recently asked a highly experienced/respected instructor. . .what's the shortest time someone had blacked out in your class...they said 17 SECONDS!!! Doesn't that scare you guys just a little??? There are no really "safe" solo freediving times. . . you just can't know for absolute sure. . .

Rick

[HALF-BREED]

Best way for myself is to dive often.

[LFI]

FII Charter courses are available, so if you get enough people together for a class, we can set one up.
Email Mark@freedivinginstructors.com for inquiries.

[DABEER]

My best statics are 6+ mins and dives 3+ mins I highly recomend a class. Its taken me 20 years of trial and lots of errors and what you gain puts you years ahead of just figuring it out, the other thing to do is once you have taken a class dive with people that are better than you are it really helps also dive alot and when I mean alot I mean I go about four times a week for 6 hours a session along with two more days each week im not in the water im in the pool. Hope that helps

[Russell stalk]

I have a 5:15 static. 1:30-2:00 dive time. #1 Safety. Coming home to your family is the most important thing you can do. #2 enjoy... have fun... Do what makes you happy. #3 mental preparedness... My dive time is good because I am mentally sharp. I control my mind, believe I'm myself, and refute fear. Take a class! Use good gear! And get off the couch!

[ChristianSpearo]

Static for me is 4:30 but if I hit 1:30-2:00 on a dive its a long time in these murky NJ waters. Gotta agree with most people here saying 2:1 recovery ratio. However long you are down, double it at the surface.

[Fins369]

There are several great Apps for free diving. Some are the traditional O2/CO2 tables, others are variations on Yoga breathing practices that strengthen your lung muscles and increase lung capacity. Since December, using a combination of both, I've doubled my static breath hold, and routinely spend have dives exceeding 1 minute.

If you can't get to (or afford) a class, or can't dive on a routine basis, taking 20 minutes a night 1-2 times a week not only maintains your capabilities, but it really improves them as well.

[TecDiver1990]

I've gotten in the 2-3 minute range dry static without a course over the past 4 months since I started freediving. Everyone tells me that taking Ted Harty's course, there's a chance I could double that, bu will definatele see a marked improvement in all aspects, Dry/Wet Static, Apnea walks, DYN, and CTW. Going to try and go in September.

[CozyComic]

I'm kind of embarrassed to say but I gasping at the 1:30 mark as of now -^_^-

[Mainsailman]

Nothing but time on your hands Cozy, I can hunt for two minutes; I am quite happy with it.

[CozyComic]

^_^

[Shorediver]

I have done static breath holds over 4 minutes, and breath hold dive times close to 3 minutes. Have not done any free diving courses, just lots of diving and running.