Static apnea

Static apnea is a discipline of freediving where an individual holds their breath (apnea) underwater for as long as possible, and does not travel any distance. It requires that the respiratory system be completely at rest and motionless, hence the term "static".

Overview

In static apnea, the diver begins by floating on the surface of the water, usually in a pool, while taking deep breaths to oxygenate their body. This process, known as breath-up, is crucial to increase the duration of the breath-hold. Once ready, the diver submerges face-down in the water and remains as still as possible. The goal is to conserve oxygen and delay the onset of hypoxia (oxygen deprivation) and hypercapnia (excessive carbon dioxide).

Safety

Static apnea is considered one of the safest forms of freediving due to the controlled environment and the diver's lack of movement. However, it still carries risks such as shallow water blackout, which can occur if the diver pushes their limits too far. Therefore, it is always performed with a safety diver or spotter present.

Records

The world record for static apnea is held by Branko Petrovic, who held his breath for 11 minutes and 54 seconds in 2014. This record is recognized by the AIDA International (Association Internationale pour le Développement de l'Apnée), the worldwide federation for breath-hold diving.

Training

Training for static apnea involves physical and mental preparation. Physical training includes exercises to increase lung capacity and efficiency, such as pranayama (yogic breathing exercises) and cardiovascular exercise. Mental training involves techniques to calm the mind and body, such as meditation and visualization.

See also

• Dynamic apnea
• No-limits apnea
• Freediving World Championships

This underwater-related article is a stub.