Croatian freediver Vitomir Maričić set a new world record on June 14, 2025, by holding his breath underwater for an astonishing 29 minutes and 3 seconds at a pool in Opatija, Croatia, surpassing the previous oxygen-assisted record of 24 minutes and 37 seconds set by fellow Croatian Budimir Šobat in 2021 and establishing the longest recorded human breath hold in history.
The achievement, witnessed by around 100 spectators, was made possible through oxygen-assisted preparation in which Maričić inhaled pure oxygen for about 10 minutes before submersion to saturate his body, delaying the carbon dioxide buildup that typically forces breathing, a method that allows for far longer durations than unaided freediving, which averages about 11 minutes.
Despite this preparation, Maričić described severe diaphragm contractions after the 20-minute mark, noting that while the experience grew physically intense, it also became mentally easier as he pushed past his limits, demonstrating not only the extreme strain on the human body but also the profound psychological resilience required in such feats.
His record also highlights fascinating comparisons with marine mammals, as his 29-minute breath hold is more than twice the maximum duration of bottlenose dolphins and similar to certain seal species, yet still far from the Cuvier’s beaked whale, which can remain submerged for over three hours, underscoring both the limits and adaptability of human physiology under specialized training.
For Maričić, the accomplishment was not only about personal endurance but also about raising awareness for ocean conservation, transforming his record-setting dive into both a milestone for freediving and a message about protecting the natural world that inspires such achievements.
