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Swimming

Photo: Goggled swimmer exhaling bubbles underwater

A Fort Lauderdale swimmer releases the air in his lungs underwater. Most people panic after a little more than a minute without air, but free divers—divers who don't use oxygen—can hold their breath for much longer. The body stores pockets of oxygen for moments such as these, and the brain shuts down other systems of the body before allowing itself to black out.

Photograph by Nick Caloyianis