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I did 3m06s in a pool, very much like those apnea competitions. I had a spotter and people around me in case something went wrong. For me the idea of controlli

I did 3m06s in a pool, very much like those apnea competitions. I had a spotter and people around me in case something went wrong. For me the idea of controlling my body and mind to do such a feat felt like a huge accomplishment. It requires fighting off reflexes, relaxing my muscles and reducing my thoughts to the bare minimum so as to use the least oxygen possible. Control and determination are tested and it feels great to overcome these things. I stopped practicing apnea because I didn't have any data on how it could affect my brain negatively but I still am very proud of my accomplishment. Also before I started I couldn't swim a full lap underwater without coming up for air but now I can do it without any problem.

postsantum 9y ago
It seems Guillaume Néry's career haven't damaged his brain. Of course, this is a single data point, but he has been freediving for twenty years https://www.deeperblue.com/what-does-a-freedivers-brain-look-like/ https://www.deeperblue.com/what-does-a-freedivers-brain-look...
xyhopguy 9y ago
used to do this during swim practice. unbelievably relaxing and amazing how far you can swim without a breath with a slow buildup. we used to go up to 4 lengths aka 100m
- 0xdeadbeefbabe 9y ago
  What stroke? Seems like you'd choose a minimal stroke.
  - fabrice_d 9y ago
    If you are without fins, a long relaxed breaststroke is what you do.
  - xyhopguy 9y ago
    just freestyle, nice and relaxed. swimming distance isnt the best measure though, some people are more/less efficient than others.
- drharby 9y ago
  I recall louis zamperini did similar exerxises to increase his VO2 max
rurban 9y ago
I can do around 4m, but I don't try anything longer than that, on purpose. I once did a little short film of mine with the title 3:30 to see if looking at a blank face for that time is interesting enough. It worked but the audience still thought that I was cheating with some film trick. So diving 50m makes a better demo.

postsantum 9y ago

It seems Guillaume Néry's career haven't damaged his brain. Of course, this is a single data point, but he has been freediving for twenty years https://www.deeperblue.com/what-does-a-freedivers-brain-look-like/ https://www.deeperblue.com/what-does-a-freedivers-brain-look...

xyhopguy 9y ago

used to do this during swim practice. unbelievably relaxing and amazing how far you can swim without a breath with a slow buildup. we used to go up to 4 lengths aka 100m

0xdeadbeefbabe 9y ago
What stroke? Seems like you'd choose a minimal stroke.
- fabrice_d 9y ago
  If you are without fins, a long relaxed breaststroke is what you do.
- xyhopguy 9y ago
  just freestyle, nice and relaxed. swimming distance isnt the best measure though, some people are more/less efficient than others.
drharby 9y ago
I recall louis zamperini did similar exerxises to increase his VO2 max

rurban 9y ago

I can do around 4m, but I don't try anything longer than that, on purpose. I once did a little short film of mine with the title 3:30 to see if looking at a blank face for that time is interesting enough. It worked but the audience still thought that I was cheating with some film trick. So diving 50m makes a better demo.