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Nova 1035
Croatian freediver Vitomir Maričić has stunned the world by holding his breath underwater for 29 minutes and 3 seconds, establishing a new Guinness World Record for the longest voluntary breath hold under water with oxygen assistance. The achievement left spectators and judges in disbelief as Maričić calmly resurfaced at the Bristol Hotel pool in Opatija, Croatia, not only alive but smiling.
The secret behind this jaw-dropping feat lies in preparation and mental strength. Maričić spent ten minutes inhaling pure oxygen before submerging, a technique known as oxygen-loading. This process super-saturates the blood with oxygen, creating a backup reservoir that the body can draw on when the lungs are empty. According to Maričić, he began the dive with five times more oxygen in his system than the average person. Yet even with this advantage, the challenge was immense. He admitted that after the 20-minute mark, the experience became mentally easier, though his diaphragm contracted painfully as his body struggled to adapt. Sheer determination carried him through to the record.
The feat was officially validated by five judges and witnessed by about 100 spectators. It pushed past the previous record of 24 minutes and 37 seconds held by Budimir Šobat since 2021. To put the scale of Maričić’s dive into perspective, bottlenose dolphins, known for their underwater stamina, typically manage only around 15 minutes. His achievement even surpasses that of harbor seals, mammals evolved for life beneath the waves.
What makes Maričić truly remarkable is that even without oxygen preparation, he can still hold his breath for over ten minutes. The world record for unaided static apnea, where no oxygen-loading is allowed, remains at 11 minutes and 35 seconds, set by Branko Petrović in 2014. For most people, panic sets in after less than a minute. Maričić has turned what is usually a fight-or-flight reflex into an art of calm endurance.
But his dive was not just a stunt for glory. Maričić has long been an advocate for ocean conservation, and he used this record-breaking attempt to raise awareness of the urgent issues facing the seas. From plastic pollution to climate change, the health of the oceans is under threat. If anyone has earned the right to speak about protecting marine ecosystems, it is the man who has spent more time underwater in a single breath than most of us do in a week.
Scientists explain that freediving pushes human biology to its limits. The mammalian dive response slows the heart rate, redirects blood to vital organs, and boosts oxygen release. With training, divers condition their bodies to tolerate high levels of carbon dioxide and suppress the urge to breathe. However, the risks are real. Overextending breath holds or hyperventilating before diving can cause hypoxia and sudden blackouts. Maričić’s achievement was extraordinary but it also underscores the razor-thin line between mastery and danger in extreme sports.
Vitomir Maričić’s 29-minute plunge is a demonstration of human physiology, mental grit, and environmental advocacy working in harmony. His silence underwater has sent a powerful message above the waves: the ocean is vast, fragile, and worth protecting.
