Apnea and Diving Reflex

Apnea is suspension of breathing. Free divers can stay under water on a single breath of air for more than 9 minutes. That's at least 3 times longer than they can stay on a single breath of air on dry land. Instead of damaging their lungs under high pressure and destroying their brains due to lack of oxygen, they go as deep as 200 meters to take photos of say leopard sharks and come back smiling. Apparently, when submerged, human body adapts in the following way:
1. Drops pulse
2. Redirects blood stream from limbs to heart and brain mostly
3. Releases blood cells carying oxygen
4. Fills blood vesels in the lungs with blood plasma
These are the factors of diving reflex, the whole thing sounds like sci-fi to me.

Update: Blaine's static apnea attempt