The record time for surviving underwater without breathing is 22 minutes and 22 seconds, and goes to Tom Sietas. However, he's extremely practised at it, and is closely monitored whilst he does it. The risks are still incredibly high, though.
What Is The Average Time For An Ordinary Person?
The average person can hold their breath for between 30 seconds to 2 minutes. My own personal best is 1 minute and 26 seconds above water (yes, I was bored). I don't think I've ever timed myself underwater!
Factors to Consider
- Water temperature - the colder the water, the harder it is to hold your breath.
- Lung capacity
- Overall health and fitness levels
- Training
- Age
Obviously, holding your breath underwater is a dangerous business - if you hold your breath for too long, you could black out and drown.
Even if you don't drown, you could still do your brain some serious damage by starving it of oxygen.