What happens if you hold your breath while scuba diving?

One of the first things you will hear in scuba training is “never hold your breath.” Dive Otter exists because that statement, while well intentioned, is not factually correct. Holding your breath does nothing harmful on its own. In fact, advanced recreational divers often use short breath holds to fine tune buoyancy or make small vertical adjustments in the water. The real danger is holding your breath while ascending, when the air in your lungs expands as pressure decreases.

If you hold your breath and move upward, even a few feet, the expanding air can overinflate your lungs and cause a serious injury called pulmonary barotrauma. That is why instructors simplify the message to “never hold your breath.” It is a shortcut meant to protect new divers who might not yet understand how pressure changes work. I would rather take the extra ten minutes to explain the truth than give you a slogan that you will later find out is wrong. You deserve to understand the reason behind the rule.

Buoyancy and Weighting

Proper weighting is the foundation of buoyancy, gas efficiency, and safe ascents. Test, calculate, and adjust weights for stable, effortless diving.

Is Scuba Diving Dangerous?

Scuba diving looks risky, but how dangerous is it really? Learn the facts, common risks, safety stats, and how divers stay safe underwater.