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Navy Diver's Lung Capacity Defied Limits
14 Feb
Summary
- He achieved a record 240-foot dive on a single breath.
- His free dives were subjects of scientific study.
- He retired from diving believing he could go deeper.
Bob Croft, a U.S. Navy diver renowned for his extraordinary lung capacity, passed away on January 9th in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, at the age of 91. Croft was celebrated for his record-setting free dives, plunging to depths of up to 240 feet on a single breath, a feat achieved without any breathing apparatus or fins.
His remarkable achievements, which included holding his breath for over six minutes in a 1967 test dive, were documented in scientific journals like Science and featured in CBS News and Life magazine. These studies explored physiological adjustments, such as increased blood flow to vital organs, which aided his deep dives.
Croft's free diving career began in 1967 while he was a research subject for submarine escape procedures. He aimed to surpass existing records, eventually reaching 212.7 feet in February 1967, and later raising his personal best to 240 feet in August 1968. He retired from the sport after this dive, feeling he could have gone further.
Beyond his diving prowess, Croft had a varied career after retiring from the Navy in 1974. He was involved in making recompression chambers, taught scuba diving, and created training videos. His record-diving equipment is now preserved at the History of Diving Museum in Florida.
