Static apnea


Static apnea is a discipline in which a person holds their breath underwater for as long as possible, and need not swim any distance. Static apnea is defined by the International Association for Development of Apnea and is distinguished from the Guinness World Record for breath holding underwater, which allows the use of oxygen in preparation. It requires that the respiratory tract be immersed, with the body either in the water or at the surface, and may be performed in a pool or open water. Static apnea is the only AIDA International discipline measuring duration, and one of the three disciplines considered for the international competitions by team, with constant weight and dynamic with fins.
Beta blockers can prolong static apnea for up to 20%.

All-time list

Men

* Branko Petrović also has 11:54 under World Guiness. He never reduplicated this performance under the level of anti-doping scrutiny required by official freediving federations such as CMAS and AIDA.
''** Goran Čolak also has 11:06.14 and 10:19 under special rules at 12th and 11th Fazza freediving competition respectively, in Dubai, UAE.''

With pure oxygen – record progression

There is a variation of the static apnea discipline where it's possible to breathe 100% oxygen for up to 30 minutes prior to the breathhold. This is not part of formal competitions, but is occasionally used to set individual records.
Duration NameDateLocationAccreditation
29:03Vitomir Maričić14 June 2025Opatija, CroatiaGuinness
24:37Budimir Šobat27 March 2021Sisak, CroatiaGuinness
24:03Aleix Segura28 February 2016Barcelona, SpainGuinness
23:09Aleix Segura16 February 2016Barcelona, SpainGuinness
23:01Goran Čolak20 June 2014Vir, CroatiaGuinness
22:30Goran Čolak29 September 2013Zagreb, CroatiaGuinness
22:22Tom Sietas30 May 2012Changsha, ChinaGuinness
22:00Stig Severinsen3 May 2012London, United Kingdom
21:33Peter Colat17 September 2011Ebikon, SwitzerlandGuinness
20:21Ricardo Bahia16 September 2010Rio de Janeiro, BrazilGuinness
20:10Stig Severinsen1 April 2010Kattegatcentret, DenmarkGuinness
19:21Peter Colat14 Feb 2010St. Gallen, SwitzerlandGuinness
19:02Nicola Putignano21 May 2009Milan, ItalyGuinness
18:32Karol Meyer10 July 2009Florianópolis, BrasilGuinness
18:03Gianluca Genoni26 November 2008Goito, Italy
17:19Tom Sietas19 September 2008New York City, United StatesGuinness
17:04David Blaine30 April 2008Chicago, United StatesGuinness
16:32Peter Colat10 February 2008St. Gallen, SwitzerlandAIDA
16:13Tom Sietas23 February 2008Madrid, SpainGuinness
16:04Peter Colat10 February 2007St. Gallen, SwitzerlandAIDA
14:12Tom Sietas5 January 2006Milan, ItalyGuinness
13:05Bill Strömberg3 October 2004Lausanne, SwitzerlandAIDA
12:47Giancarlo Bellingrath15 June 2003Naples, Italy
12:34Gianluca Genoni11 May 2002Busto Arsizio, Italy