Question

I watched Human Planet on BBC1 and watched the divers holding their breath underwater to catch fish. What's the Guinness World Record for holding your breath underwater?

By Lucas Walton on Fri 14 January 2011

Answer

The Bajau people, from Malaysia, who were featured on Human Planet, can hold their breath for several minutes while hunting at incredible depths depths of up to 20m.

The Guinness World Record attempts are measured closer to the surface where there is less pressure. This makes it easier to hold your breath for longer.

The current world record is 20 minutes and 10 seconds, held by Danish freediver Stig Åvall Severinsen who broke the previous record on 1 April 2010. The women's record is 18 minutes 32.59 seconds, held by Karoline Meyer of Brazil.

By Vikki Jones