Diver plunges 56 metres under ice to break record while holding his breath

A diver plunged more than 50 metres under the icy waters of Plaun da Lej in Graubünden, Switzerland, to raise awareness about climate change while breaking a world record.

Waldemar Bruderer (Switzerland) claimed the deepest dive under ice - breath held (no fins, no diving suit, male) with a total distance of 56 m (183 ft 8.72 in) during his dive on 27 February.

He’s seen in our video diving into the icy water and using a guide line to swim down, going as deep as he could possibly get while still holding his breath.

The Lake Sils that Waldemar dove into usually hit temperatures between -11°C and 1°C (12.2°F - 33.8°F) in February.

Waledmar is an experienced diver and his progression towards diving under ice was a natural one.

He told us: “The allure of the crystal-clear waters, the serenity of the underwater world, and the challenge of such an extreme environment captivated me.

“I thrive on the idea of immersing myself in nature, experiencing it in its purest form. By minimizing equipment, I feel more connected to the elements and can truly appreciate the majestic underwater landscapes.”

Read about more amazing records like this in our dedicated Sports and Fitness section.

The diver hopes his new world record will raise awareness about climate change and the importance of protecting our glaciers.

Waldemar added: “Living in Switzerland, I witness first-hand the impact of climate change and the melting glaciers that define our landscape.

“This dive is not just a personal challenge; it's a message that we must cherish and protect the natural world we inhabit.”

The record for longest time breath held voluntarily underwater (male) was also broken this year.

Vitomir Maričić (Croatia) submerged his face beneath the water and floated in the same spot for an unbelievable 29 minutes 3 seconds in June.

Vitomir, a member of Adriatic Freediving, broke the record of 24 min 37.36 sec by Budimir Šobat (Croatia), that had stood since 2021.