419 Dive Log Australasia AUGUST 2026

The Secret to a Longer Breath-Hold (From a Freediving Instructor) By Dylan Boag Picture this. You’re floating on the surface in the cool, crystal-clear waters of the Jervis Bay Ma rine Park. Beneath you, a playful Australian Fur Seal darts effortlessly through the kelp, stopping every so often to look back as if inviting you to follow. You take a breath, duck beneath the sur face and kick down after it. Ten seconds later you’re already racing back to the surface. Not be cause your legs are tired. Not because your lungs are screaming. Simply because your brain has convinced you it’s time to breathe. As a Freediving instructor and Dive guide, people often tell me that they can’t Freedive and they can’t hold their breath for more than 10 seconds. People assume holding your breath is all about lung size, fitness or some special yogic breathing technique. Neither of those is the biggest factor. After nearly a decade of teaching Freediving, I’ve learnt that the single biggest secret to a longer breath-hold is something far less glamorous. Relaxation. That probably sounds a little under whelming. When I first learnt this from Australian record holder Adam Stern, I remember thinking there had to be more to it. I was expecting some secret breathing ritual or magical technique used by elite athletes. Instead, he simply told me to relax. It sounded al

most too simple. Now I realise it’s one of the har dest skills to master. Freediving is probably not what you think Whenever I mention the word Freediving on our snorkelling tours in Jervis Bay, I can almost see the anxiety appear on people’s faces. The sport has earned a reputation for record attempts, blackouts and even deaths with people pushing to extreme depths. While those athletes certainly exist, that’s only one tiny corner of Freediving. If you’ve ever taken a breath and duck-dived be neath the surface to look at a fish or swam under water in a swimming pool, congratulations—you’ve already been Freediving! You don’t need expensive equipment or extraor dinary athletic ability. In fact, Freediving is simply the most natural way humans have explored the ocean for thousands of years. The traditional owners have been doing it in Jervis Bay for at least 10 000 years. For me, Freediving isn’t about records. It’s about connecting with nature and interacting with wild life on their terms. It’s about exploring the ancient sea caves of Jervis Bay, floating alongside cu rious seals or sharing a quiet moment with a mi grating humpback whale. The longer you can comfortably relax underwater, the more the ocean begins to reveal itself. Find your “Why” Before worrying about breath-hold times, I en courage every student to ask themselves one simple question. Why do you want to hold your breath longer? Your answer doesn’t need to in volve deep dives. Maybe you simply want to be come more comfortable while snorkelling. Perhaps you want to photograph marine life with out the noisy Scuba bubbles. Maybe you’re a surfer wanting to feel calmer after a heavy wipe out. Or maybe, like me, you want to experience the peace and tranquility that ocean provides. Having a reason matters because learning to relax underwater isn’t always easy and giving up can seem like the best option. Especially when

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DIVE LOG Australasia #419- August’ 26

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