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At first. I was also a kid doing this, my cousins and I held ourselves underwater with the ladder rungs in a swimming pool. At first, yeah a minute was tough.
by sejje 1y ago
At first.
I was also a kid doing this, my cousins and I held ourselves underwater with the ladder rungs in a swimming pool.
At first, yeah a minute was tough. But then it rapidly increased. Unfortunately I don't remember where we topped out, but I think ~3 minutes.
We would also swim pool lengths underwater(but it was a relatively small pool at a condo building). I think I swam 9 once.
They'd let us stay out all night at that pool, it was great. Florida summers don't really get chilly.
- Terr_ 1y agoSuch contests are more dangerous than they first appear: Many kids will grasp the obvious trick of hyperventilating to improve their time, but that can lead to abrupt unconsciousness and drowning. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shallow-water_blackout https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shallow-water_blackout
- sejje 1y agoI know that now, and I would prevent any kids from breath-holding contests. But I didn't at 14 years old, nor did my mom or uncle, apparently.
- Terr_ 1y agoI imagine a safe version could be made... that would suck all the direct-competition spontaneity out of it. Like "do it on land", or "only in standing-height water and take turns with someone timing and acting as a spotter."
- sejje 1y agoYes, although as another commenter pointed out, being underwater triggers a response in our body that lowers our oxygen consumption. We did spot for each other, even then, but I don't ever remember anyone thinking they almost passed out or anything.
- wiether 1y agoFunny, I did exactly the same things in my childhood, in my cousin's pool. But it was on the other side of the pond!