Croatian freediver Vitomir Maričić broke the world record for the longest human breath hold, holding his breath for 29 minutes and 3 seconds, nearly five minutes longer than the previous record set in 2021. This record was oxygen-assisted, meaning he could breathe pure oxygen for several minutes before his attempt. While this record doubles the maximum breath-hold of bottle nose dolphins and rivals some seals, it still falls far short of many other marine mammals. Marić, a member of the Adriatic Freediving group, performed the attempt in a three-meter-deep pool in Opatija, Croatia. He says he took on this record as a personal challenge and a way to raise awareness for ocean conservation.