With training, people can hold their breath much longer than most realize, allowing us to dive to remarkable depths underwater. The “mammalian dive response” causes physiological changes to the body, enabling humans to function with very low blood oxygen levels during deep dives. Now, take a deep breath and double it: hold your breath for 10 seconds. In fact, humans have been freediving for thousands of years, mainly to gather food and resources from the ocean floor. ✅ Check it out: The world record for a breath hold is 24 minutes, 37 seconds, by freediver Budimir Šobat.