Phelps. Lochte.
Misty Hyman. Natalie Coughlin. Tom Shields. Giles Smith. Caeleb Dressel. Erika Brown. Gretchen Walsh. Leon Marchand. Jordan Crooks.
These are just some of the names that inspire us to abandon swimming along the surface; they show us the potential of staying underwater, and how we might find more speed, more power, more opportunity in a place that might otherwise stress us.
Photo by Kindel Media on Pexels
Because below the surface, water is a cruel place: no breathing allowed; ever-increasing and crushing pressure; and both effects only get worse as you spend more time down there. It goes against every natural instinct we have, to hold off from inhaling, to exert ourselves while burning up the oxygen that's left in our lungs. But these pioneers taught us to become comfortable in this place and how to mimic our fellow mammals underwater. They created an ever-evolving blueprint of what is possible.
In following the path of these swimmers, we can not only improve our swimming speed in a controlled environment, but expose ourselves to the skills that allow us to be better bodysurfers, snorkelers, and freedivers, and ultimately enjoy the water more fully.
By driving ourselves to go to that unforgiving place, our overall experience of the water becomes richer, more full.
Underwater swimming and diving are about more than just lung capacity. By pushing ourselves to stay under, we allow ourselves to find that things are better under the water. There's no other feeling like it.
How Zero Breath Clothing Celebrates the Feeling of Being Under
The "Better Under Water" long sleeve tee is our homage to how it feels to be in that challenging space beneath the surface.
Stay warm on your way to your next dive. If going under and staying under as long as you can is something you love, then check out this long sleeve T-shirt now.
Read "Better Under Water, Part One."