I am a swimmer, are there any ways to increase my ability to hold my breath underwater?

Question

I am a swimmer, are there any ways to increase my ability to hold my breath underwater?

Answer 1

take a huge breathe to start w/ but you already know that right

Answer 2

When you are holding your breath think of a hot girl that you like and practice it when you are watching TV.

Answer 3

do breathing drills all day long combined with speed drills also do diving down the bottom with watch and stay till u cant hold it anymore

Answer 4

just keep practiceing it.  and while youre holding your breath dont think about holding your breath.  keep your mind on other things.

Answer 5

try swallowing a lot

not swallowing in water, just swallow.

Answer 6

One or two deep breaths prior to submerging, but no more than that -- DO NOT hyperventilate!    

That was an old trick we used to use when abalone diving and generally just showing off for macho purposes, and it has resulted in a number of guys drowning in a situation called "shallow water blackout".    

What happens is that hyperventilation lowers your CO2 levels, which is what your body uses to tell you that you need to breathe.   But it's oxygen that your brain needs to stay conscious, and unfortunately, that can run low enough that you can actually pass out BEFORE the CO2 level rises enough to trigger the urge to breathe.    So you're happily underwater and just about the time you _start_ to get the urge to breathe, and you start making your way to the surface, you pass out just before you hit the air (i.e. "shallow water").  Then, unconscious, you take a breath of water and if nobody notices you and rescues you, it's off to the undertaker.

Answer 7

I'm sure they make drugs for that