Navy Diver Bob Croft, Record-Setting Free Diver, Dies at 91

Croft's ability to inflate his lungs beyond normal capacity allowed him to plunge up to 240 feet into the Atlantic on a single breath.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Bob Croft, a former U.S. Navy diver whose exceptional lung capacity enabled him to set records for the deepest free dives without scuba equipment, died on January 9 at the age of 91. Croft made his first record-setting dive in 1967, descending to 212.7 feet on a single breath, and later broke his own record by reaching 240 feet in 1968 before retiring from the sport.

Why it matters

Croft's feats as a free diver were groundbreaking, shedding light on the human body's potential for adapting to extreme underwater conditions. His participation in Navy research also contributed to a better understanding of the mammalian dive reflex in humans, which helps explain how some individuals can tolerate such immense water pressure.

The details

Croft, a petty officer first class in the Navy, first demonstrated his exceptional lung capacity during a test dive in a 118-foot water tank, where he held his breath for over 6 minutes by inflating his lungs 50% more than normal. This led him to attempt breaking the free-diving record of 197 feet set by rival Jacques Mayol. After two failed attempts, Croft descended to 212.7 feet on his third try in 1967, spending over 2 minutes underwater before resurfacing unharmed.

  • In 1967, Croft made his first record-setting dive, reaching 212.7 feet.
  • Later in 1967, Croft raised his own record to 217.5 feet.
  • In August 1968, Croft set a new record of 240 feet, breaking the previous mark of 231 feet set by Jacques Mayol.

The players

Bob Croft

A former U.S. Navy petty officer first class and daring free diver who set multiple depth records by plunging hundreds of feet into the ocean on a single breath.

Jacques Mayol

One of Croft's main rivals in the sport of free diving, who held the previous record of 197 feet that Croft sought to break.

Alexey Molchanov

A Russian free diver who currently holds the world record for the deepest free dive at nearly 512 feet, far exceeding Croft's previous mark.

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What they’re saying

“All I was thinking about was, Where was that next man? After I felt that third slap, I knew I'd done it.”

— Bob Croft (United Press International)

“Bob was wonderful at sharing his ideas and techniques. When Martin and I started setting records, we wanted to be exactly the same. We shared everything with anybody that asked — no secrets, no secret techniques, just hard work and probably a genetic predisposition.”

— Doug Peterson, Free diver and trainer

What’s next

The History of Diving Museum in Islamorada, Florida has opened a free-diving exhibit featuring the rope and sled Croft used during his record-setting dives.

The takeaway

Croft's remarkable feats as a free diver not only pushed the limits of human physical capability, but also contributed to important research on the body's physiological adaptations to extreme underwater conditions. His openness to sharing his techniques and insights helped advance the sport of free diving for future generations.