Swimming - The more exertion you make underwater whilst swimming the faster your held breath will dissipate. I would suggest two techniques for you to try. 1) Try moving your legs in a paddle motion, toes held together and keep your legs straight but make small paddle movements. Your arms should be moving in a breast stroke fashion as if your pulling yourself through the water. 2) A more difficult technique is to coil your self up and spring out as if grabbing water in a breast stroke fasion again using the water as a resistance, elongate yourself out but dont use your legs keep them together and straight as you slow down do the same technique again. Holding your breath techniques. To inhale as much air as you can when swimming underwater i think is wrong as it feels uncomfortable and bloated. This is what i would do: First of all take in two big breaths but exhale each one as if your trying to get air into your lower diaghram. The next breath you take which will be you thirn and final breath intake your air slowly and feel your hold body taking air in, hold for a second and release a small amount till you feel more comfortable. then head underwater. Practise this tecnique anywhere, on the bus, at home watching tv, but be warned you may feel dizzy when practising this technique so i would advise not driving. Lol Ive managed 80m underwater using the first technique but its upto the individual and how comfortable you feel with it.