Static apnea (STA) is a discipline in which a person holds their breath (apnea) underwater for as long as possible, and need not swim any distance. Static apnea is defined by the International Association for Development of Apnea (AIDA International) 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 (sea, lake, river, etc.). 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 (doping in sport of freediving; prolong every type of apnea by reducing heart rate, blood pressure and cardiac output) can prolong static apnea for up to 20%.
All-time list Men Duration Name Date Location Accreditation 11:35 Stéphane Mifsud 8 June 2009 La Crau, France AIDA 10:45 Branko Petrović 11 November 2017 Subotica, Serbia CMAS 10:31 Florian Dagoury 13 March 2020 Koh Tao, Thailand AIDA 10:12 Tom Sietas 7 June 2008 Athens, Greece 10:07 Aleix Segura 19 June 2015 Belgrade, Serbia AIDA 10:03.96Mateusz Malina 26 March 2018 Dubai, United Arab Emirates 12th Fazza competition 09:58.66 Goran Čolak ** 16 June 2017 Cagliari, Italy CMAS * Branko Petrović also has 11:54 under World Guiness (2014, Dubai, UAE). 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.
Women Duration Name Date Location Accreditation 09:07 Heike Schwerdtner 27 June 2024 Kaunas, Lithuania AIDA 09:02 Natalia Molchanova 21 June 2013 Belgrade, Serbia AIDA 08:53 Veronika Dittes 15 June 2017 CMAS 08:33 Gabriela Grézlová 28 July 2015 Mulhouse, France CMAS 08:01 Jessea Lu 27 August 2016 AIDA
With pure oxygen – record progression
There is a variation of the static apnea discipline where it is 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 (minutes) Name Date Location Accreditation29:03Vitomir Maričić14 June 2025Opatija, CroatiaGuinness24:37Budimir Šobat27 March 2021Sisak, CroatiaGuinness24:03Aleix Segura28 February 2016Barcelona, SpainGuinness23:09 Aleix Segura 16 February 2016 Barcelona, Spain Guinness23:01 Goran Čolak 20 June 2014 Vir, Croatia Guinness 22:30 Goran Čolak 29 September 2013 Zagreb, Croatia Guinness 22:22 Tom Sietas 30 May 2012 Changsha, China Guinness 22:00 Stig Severinsen 3 May 2012 London, United Kingdom 21:33 Peter Colat 17 September 2011 Ebikon, Switzerland Guinness 20:21 Ricardo Bahia 16 September 2010 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Guinness 20:10 Stig Severinsen 1 April 2010 Kattegatcentret, Denmark Guinness 19:21 Peter Colat 14 Feb 2010 St. Gallen, Switzerland Guinness 19:02 Nicola Putignano 21 May 2009 Milan, Italy Guinness 18:32 Karol Meyer 10 July 2009 Florianópolis, Brasil Guinness 18:03 Gianluca Genoni 26 November 2008 Goito, Italy 17:19 Tom Sietas 19 September 2008 New York City, United States Guinness 17:04 David Blaine 30 April 2008 Chicago, United States Guinness 16:32 Peter Colat 10 February 2008 St. Gallen, Switzerland AIDA 16:13 Tom Sietas 23 February 2008 Madrid, Spain Guinness 16:04 Peter Colat 10 February 2007 St. Gallen, Switzerland AIDA 14:12 Tom Sietas 5 January 2006 Milan, Italy Guinness 13:05 Bill Strömberg 3 October 2004 Lausanne, Switzerland AIDA 12:47 Giancarlo Bellingrath 15 June 2003 Naples, Italy 12:34 Gianluca Genoni 11 May 2002 Busto Arsizio, Italy
See also Shallow water blackout Freediving
References
External links
AIDA world records Are you in the mood for Freediving with Stephane Mifsud ? (W.R static 11'35") Goran Čolak sets new Guinnrss World Record Breath Hold 22 minutes and 30 seconds