freediver Archives - Kaizen Freediving

Freediving vs Scuba Diving

03.11.2018sergeyvladivostok

Freediving, as a recreational water-based activity (as well as a sport), getting more and more popular. But still, it is far away from other water activities, like for example scuba diving.

There are a lot of myths around Freediving, which stopping people to try it. Or at least confusing.

Let’s try to find out which one is true and which one is not. So, let’s start!

Freedivers can come much closer to the marine life. NOT TRUE. Well, actually it depends. If you compare an experienced Freediver and a beginner level Scuba Diver, then it is true 100%. But if we compare both an experience Scuba Diver and a Freediver, then it is not that simple. As a former scuba instructor, I had a few thousands of dives and I can say that majority of the marine life can come very close to you (reef fish, turtles, stingrays, sharks etc). Less than a half meter. Some people are saying that fish afraid of the bubbles. But why should they be? Fish are afraid of their natural predators and they don’t make bubbles. Fish afraid if you make too much movement and if you are rapidly closing the distance. However, I am willing to accept that some marine life can come close to a Freediver (at least I was told so by other Freedivers).
Freediving is more environments friendly. TRUE. Freediving boat is usually much smaller and requires a smaller engine. And they don’t have compressors. It reduces air and water pollution (as well as noise pollution). All of this makes a difference on our impact on Nature. Also, Freedivers are usually not that close to the corals (especially beginner level), so, fewer chances to damage fragile corals. We are also diving on the reefs less often (mainly we are diving just in the blue).
Freedivers have less equipment. ALMOST TRUE. If you compare Freediving vs Scuba Diving – you will probably think – oh, this is 100% true, but it is not that simple again. If we are talking about starting – then for sure it is true! As soon as you have a mask, you can be a Freediver 😉 For scuba, even for absolute beginner level, there is a standard set – BCD, regulator, fins, scuba tank etc. Coming back to Freediving, like I said, in the beginning, you can just invest in the mask and snorkel. But then it will probably be more equipment – weight belt, neck weight, wetsuit, nose clip, safety lanyard, goggles for the swimming pool, float and rope if you want to train with your buddy independently, etc.
Freedivers are leading a healthier lifestyle. TRUE. Some people like to call Scuba Diving sport, which always confuses me. Obviously, it is not. But freediving is. Even if you are not very serious about results. Freediving training combines correct breathing, different relaxation techniques, different physical exercises (in open water, pool, gym etc), as well as mental training. So, yes, if you like to be connected with Nature and stay healthy – Freediving should be your choice.
Freediving is more dangerous. ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE. Let’s make a line between Freedivers who are properly educated and follow safety rules and someone who has no idea about basic safety rules and just decided that he/she needs to dive deeper or hold the breath longer. Among the first groups, some problems occur, but they are not fatal. The second group is just playing Russian roulette. But the same is true for any other activity in our life – you have to follow safety rules. Even for walking. Disagree? Try to walk across a high way! When someone tells that Freedivers are dying regularly, I am always asking where this information is coming from. And there is no answer. Simple because it is not true. So, the bottom line here – follow safety rules and Freediving would be the safest water based activity!
Freediving is a more natural way to be underwater. Well, of course, it is TRUE. We don’t create with the scuba tanks on our back. But we have reflexes which help us to stay underwater longer and dive deeper. Holding the breath for a certain time is natural for us, as well to the other marine mammals.

So, what would be your choice? Ideally, try both freediving and scuba diving! In my opinion, if you want to explore reef up to 15 meters deep – Freediving is a much better choice. But if you are planning to explore a dive site 25-30 meter deep, then it is easy to do with a scuba tank. If you are interested in underwater photography or videography, then again, having scuba tanks make your life easier. On the other hand, if you want to enjoy to be underwater and also combine it with a healthy lifestyle – Freediving is a better choice.

If you are interested in proper Freediving education click HERE 😉

Freediving German National record holder Timothy Oehmigen

26.07.201726.07.2017sergeyvladivostok

Hey Timothy!

Our congratulations for you to become Freediving National Record holder for Germany in CWT on VB-2107! Thank you for finding some time to answer our questions and sharing your love for Freediving!

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself (where you was born and grew up, at what age you started swimming, what hobby you had before start freediving)

I am half German, half American. I grew up in Germany (south west part) close to Stuttgart, studied in Konstanz at Germany’s biggest and deepest lake (256m) and learned freediving there. Swimming I started early at around 5-6 years. I always liked to be in the water, although I didn’t join any swimming club or so. During school and university, my biggest hobby was not sport related but more music related. I was fascinated by going to concerts and music festivals. I also have been working until today in the concert business as a booking manager for part time.

2. Do you remember when and how you tried Freediving for the first time? And why did you like it?

I joined a beginner course in the lake of Konstanz. I could hold my breath 3 minutes and go to 20m and I realized fast how challenging this sport is, which I liked. I had lots of trouble with equalization though and I was not able to dive head first. As soon as I learned how to Frenzel, things got more serious. I had my first competition also in the lake and soon went for more and more competitions.

3. How did you come up with the idea to become a Freediving instructor? How did you manage to arrange your time between teaching and competing on such a high level?

It was basically important for me to become an instructor to learn more about teaching. I found it interesting and I hoped to gain life experience from teaching and responsibility you have as an instructor in the water. At the same time, I realized that through teaching you can also learn a lot since you start reading more about freediving (due to students questions which you fail to answer) and on the other hand building your own teaching style. Of course, teaching and competing at the same time is hard, but it can be also a nice balance. After a few days of teaching, you really like to go deep again. And motivation is so important for deep diving. My best pre training + competition was actually my first national record with 91m free immersion. And exactly during that period, I had lots of courses. I used the day offs for training and each and every dive was nice, clean and a relaxed dive. 80m, 82m, 84m, 86m, 88m and then finally 91m.

4. Once again congratulations with NR for Germany (CWT 93 meters)! Are you looking forward to reaching magic 100 meters mark any soon? 😉 If yes, what it will mean for you?

Of course, 100m is a nice number, but for me, it is also more important to be good in the other disciplines and do nice dives. If I can reach a 100m one time just by having a good run, it will not be worth it. I would like to hit a 100m and claim that I can do it again. But for this, my body and my mind need to be ready enough. At the moment it is not and that is important to know to remain on a healthy road towards success.

5. On VB-2017 you made an attempt of 67 CNF. What happened during this dive? Why did you decide to make an early turn? Are you looking for becoming NR in this discipline as well in the future?

I had argued with board colleagues from AIDA Germany which did not let me dive in peace. At the board, there is somebody who really tries to work against me and such battles are not a good place for a freedivers mind. But yes, I plan to dive deeper in CNF. I personally think that there I have great potentials since hypoxia is no topic for me and my technique looks okay. Actually, I just broke the NR with 67m a few days ago in a competition in Panglao, Philippines.

6. Coming back to training, are you splitting equally your time between different disciplines? Any pool or strength training?

I like to switch between the disciplines. All disciplines have their pros and cons. FIM is relaxed and easy to equalize deep. Descend is the easiest for me. On the other hand, you need good apnea and a strong mind since you are deep and you only have the rope to get up. CWT is fast, you enjoy the speed and the power behind the monofin. On the other side, you need a good technique to not become lactic and to be able to keep the relaxation which is needed for deep equalization. CNF is physically hard and the detail is most important. On the other hand, it is not so deep and the numbers seem to be more double for the mind.

If I am in the water for training, I try to avoid work out. Nevertheless, I see work out also as an important part to remain strong. Especially when you are already getting skinny you can’t effort to lose the power you need for freediving. If I have a few days or weeks off from freediving, I like to train in the gym or at home to build up strength. Pool training is nice for technique and mental training.

7. I saw that you started crowd funding campaign to go to Freediving World Championship 2017. Wish you to reach this goal and hope our readers decide to support you! Can you say a couple of words why this is so important for you? (interview was taken a month ago, so Tim already manages to get enough money to go!!!)

That is easy: Because it is very expensive to go there this year, especially when you are coming from Europe and also if you already attended Vertical Blue in that year. I do not have the money to go or if I would need to work and have no time for training. The announcement that the World Championship will take place in Roatan came quite late this time. So I decided to register for Vertical Blue and see if I can finance Roatan somehow. I saw that other athlete already successfully funded themselves with crowd funding. On one hand I know it might not be so nice to ask for money, but on the other hand, I believe that those who support me really like to do that. I always feel happy to give support if I can and I want.

8. Did freediving become more popular in Germany since you have started practicing it?

I don’t know. I worked for a bit more than a year at the board at AIDA Germany, but the problem is that it is led mainly by bureaucrats who have no idea about freediving. Germany is, for example, the only country who still has lake records and it is also recognizing No Limit records. Media will not distinguish between a 100m No Limit and a 100m Constant Weight or a 130m DNF World Record (in the lake) or a real world record of 244m. What Germany needs is stories and a nice representation of the sport. Many people still believe that it is an extreme sport for adrenaline freaks. Some people take the advantage and sell themselves as such ones and simply misrepresent the sport. But there are also others who are invited into talk shows and give very nice examples for how nice freediving can be. I hope that especially competitive freediving can be more established.

9. Tell us about your personal Freediving plans and how you see freediving in the future in general?

I plan to take part in Honduras at the AIDA World Championship. I hope I can hit new PBs there and I am also looking forward to this competition in general. Freediving becomes more and more popular for sure. With this, the freediving world faces a difficult task, which is making/keeping competitions safe and professional. At the last two World Championships of AIDA, there were huge and embarrassing mistakes happening, which in my personal opinion also happened due to arrogance by the judges and not listening to the athletes. I hope that those mistakes will not happen again and that the administration at AIDA will start working properly again.

Freediving National records’ breaker from Barbados, Alex Davis!

13.06.201713.06.2017sergeyvladivostok

Hey, Alex!

Big congratulations for your outstanding performance on VB-2107! Thank you for finding some time to answer our questions!

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself

Thank you Sergey, I am originally from Cornwall in the UK and moved to Barbados in 2011 with my wife. Growing up in a seaside town (Perranporth) I was always in the sea surfing, swimming, Jr life-saving club or fishing but the water is very cold and murky so I never really got into diving. When I moved to Barbados I found warm (28C) seas with visibility exceeding 30m on some days! I instantly got into spearfishing and the deep started calling me. I wanted to freedive deeper, stay longer, hunt better fish and it just went from there. In 2013 I set up ‘Spearfishing Barbados’ offering guided spearfishing tours around Barbados which have been growing every year. In 2015 I went to train with Vertical Blue (Jonathan Sunnex & Will Trubridge) where I completed my AIDA Instructor course and at the same time setting a PB of 62m with bi-fins. I opened Barbados’ first freediving school at the beginning of 2016 and run AIDA courses weekday and weekend all year round.

2. What about freediving? When and how you try it for the first time? And why did you like it?

I got into spearfishing through a mutual friend who took me out and let me follow and watch. I remember diving down to 30ft and instantly turning and heading back for the surface! However, it was at this time I discovered I could equalize handsfree and spent as much time as possible freediving whenever I could. I really enjoy the peace and quiet you find when freediving and much prefer it to scuba. Being able to just walk down to the end of the road with fins and a mask and go diving for hours was an amazing experience each and every time.

3. How often do you train? What is your normal training routine?

Because of the spearfishing tours and freediving courses, I dive quite a bit already, anywhere from 3-7 days a week I am in the water freediving. In the lead up to VB, I supplemented my work schedule with pool training working on my monofin and no-fins technique as well as CO2 tolerance. Some days I would spearfish for 3 hours then go and do an hour or two at the pool in the evening working on just technique.

Two great sessions I do in the pool are over/under – you swim 25m on the surface, touch the wall and then start 25m DYN, reach the other side and immediately go back to 25m on the surface. Another training session which helped was to perform a STA followed by DYN – 1-minute static then 50m DYN with short rests.

ALWAYS TRAIN WITH A BUDDY!

4. You showed very impressive results on all three depth disciplines! Do you split training time equally between them?

Thank you! In the lead up to VB I had 3 weeks at Deans Blue Hole and would dive FIM, CWT then CNF followed by a day of rest. I had spent a lot of time in the pool training for CWT and CNF so felt very strong diving to depth in those disciplines. 50m CNF was actually a PB for me, I had done 48m in training, about a week before which felt great so decided to round it off to 50m and I surfaced strong with lots of energy left for more. During training, I had progressed very well in CWT and FIM making small improvements every day. After each training session, I would go home, export the dive data from my watch and analyze my profile making sure my descent speed was correct and making notes on what felt good and what could be improved to take into the next session.

5. Why decide to compete in the first place? Are you going to do it again?

After opening my freediving school I wanted to try my hand at a competition and also represent the country which I had made home for the last 6+yrs. There were no National Records for Barbados for men at this point so any white card performance would claim an NR, however I wanted to really give it my best shot and get white cards I would be proud of. Yes, I am scheduled to compete later this year at Blue Element 2017 in Dominica (October 13^th – 21^st) with my old Instructor Trainer Jonny Sunnex! My goals for this comp are to extend my CNF record and hopefully add a few more meters on to my CWT and FIM records.

6. It was your first competition, how you manage the stress? Or it was not stressful at all?

Yes, this was my first ever competition and I would say I was more stressed during training than I was during my official dives. During training you have to co-ordinate with other persons schedule so you will always have to compromise. When training you want to be respectful of everyone’s time so often take it in turns which means your warm ups usually take longer and by the time you do your target dive you may even be too cold.

On competition days I would arrive at the Blue Hole at least 1hr before OT to check in and almost every day my resting heart rate was 100BPM! Haha! Once I got my suit on and clipped my lanyard to the warm up line however I was totally relaxed and actually my warm up dives where better/more relaxed than the ones during training. On the comp line during my countdown I breathed with my snorkel until 1min before OT which helped to tune out noises and other distractions with my eyes closed. I would then finish my breathe up vertically on the line, keeping my eyes closed and just listening to the announcer. On my very first dive of the comp (76m FIM) I was completely relaxed all the way to the bottom plate but once I had that tag in my hand all of the nerves finally caught up with me and my contractions started the moment I turned. The first dive was always going to be my hardest and after this one things got easier and more relaxed with each dive.

7. What do you think about VB? Anything what you think can be improved?

VB, as we all know, is one of [if not THE] top competition each year and the organization is absolutely spot on as well as the safety team being very professional and courteous. During the closing ceremony, Will even mentioned that throughout the entire competition there was not a single delay in the schedule which is a testament to the professionalism and organization of this event. Having not yet experienced any other competition I cannot really say if I think there is anything that can be improved but I think everyone at VB is on point.

8. Tell us about your future plans and how do you see freediving in the future?

My plans moving forward are to continue growing my freediving school here in Barbados and attract more people to the island wanting to learn, both from around the Caribbean and all over the globe. I have already had students come over from nearby islands to train as well as going myself to Grenada earlier this year to teach a group of avid divers and spearos so the sport of Freediving is definitely on the up! I think more people are going to move from scuba to freediving as time goes on as well as people who just really enjoy snorkeling wanting to learn more about freediving and improve their ability and enjoyment underwater. We also actively promote the hunting of Lion fish and regularly give talks in Barbados informing people about this invasive species and why we need more freedivers out there removing them – and eating them!

Follow Alex on his Instagram and Facebook and don’t forget to subscribe to our blog to get more stories from Freedivers about Freediving 😉

Member of French National Freediving Team Aurelia Voyer

08.04.201709.04.2017sergeyvladivostok

1. Do you remember how and when did you find out about freediving? What made you start freediving? What were your 1^st steps in this kind of sports?

I found out about freediving in 2013. I started competition quickly, one year after beginning. I was attracted by relaxation and nice sensations during static or dynamic apnea. My first steps were in childhood when my father was timing me! Good memories.

2. What is your favorite discipline in freediving and which one you don’t like? And could you explain why?

My favorite disciplines are static and dynamic apnea. For me, static is the purest apnea because we have to let go our thoughts, to meditate in the silence of water. It’s a real challenge for me! During a dynamic apnea, I imagine that I’m a Manta and it is changing my perception of the performance. I hope to begin freediving (outdoor) next year, after indoor AIDA World Championship. I’m impatient, it will be a new step in my life and in my training.

3. Tell please few words about your freediving training approach: How many times a week do you train? And do you have a fixed schedule or you just wake up in the morning, look into the mirror and depending on your mood, body condition or weather decide what to do today?

I train 16 hours by week: 5 hours of static and dynamic apnea, 3 hours

of yoga, 2-3 hours of swimming, 2 hours of running, 3 hours of physical preparation. All the time I do 15min of stretching after training. I have a fixed schedule every week but sometimes I have to change my planning if I’m tired or sick.

And do a lot of biking since I’m not using a car 🙂

4. And how often do you try something new in your freediving training?

Ha ha, it depends on my coach! He likes giving me new exercises and new challenges.

5. The next question – what makes you day after day to go to train in a pool/sea? What motivates you to train hard? How do you fight humans’ laziness?

I always take my bike for 20-25 minutes to go to train in a pool. Last year I had 45 minutes of a bus! I fight laziness with my passion and my willpower. I think that if we want something, we have to fight for it. Freediving has an important place in my life, so it’s normal for me to be passionate, demanding and endurant.

6. Do you believe that some food products could influence the ability to equalize? Like gluten or lactose, for example, create more mucus which is not good for equalizing? Do you personally follow any diet?

Yes, food is energy. It’s important to choose what we eat and what we drink. I don’t eat red meat and avoid white meat, wheat (pasta and bread) and cheese. I don’t drink alcohol one month before a competition. I never drink animal milk. I’m asthmatic and cow milk doesn’t help me!

7. Let’s talk about money 🙂 Do you have any support from sports community of your country or may be some trade brand?

No, I have not any support to pay my freedive material, my trips to competitions and my

individual training. But I would like to be supported

8. What about your targets in freediving? What would you like to achieve and how deep would you like to get?

My targets will depend on my evolution during the two years coming. For the moment, the first objective of this season could be to do 5’45-6’00 in static and 150m in dynamic.

9. What do you do except freediving? Do you have any hobbies?

Except for freediving, I do shiatsu massage and magnetism. My hobbies are walking in mountains, reading, writing, painting, traveling and meeting people.

10. What would you advise to people, who just discovered this kind of sports?

Come to discover new sensations in water and to discover YOU. Freediving is like a soul’s mirror. Don’t forget your pleasure to be in nature, in the water element.

Чемпион России по фридайвингу 2016 года Евгений Сауров

01.04.201701.04.2017sergeyvladivostok

Евгений, прежде всего – поздравляем с успешным выступлением на Кубке РФ по фридайвингу 2017! И большое спасибо, что нашли время ответить на наши вопросы.

Насколько мне известно, во фридайвинг вы, как и многие сильные “бассейновые” фридайверы, пришли из плавания. Однако допустим Горан Чолак не имеет плавательного прошлого, но является самым именитым фридайвером в плавание в длину на задержке дыхания. Как считаете, обязательно ли начинать со школы плавания или технику можно подправить по ходу занятий фридайвингом?

Хочу отметить, что, на мой взгляд, Горан не является самым именитым фридайвером в бассейне. Считаю, что хорошая плавательная база является неплохим “трамплином” для фридайвера, но не является обязательной.

Вы попробовали фридайвинг по совету своего друга. А как пришло понимание, что это не просто увлечение, а серьезная часть вашей жизни? Почему решили стать инструктором?

Понял это после того, как занял призовое место на молчановских соревнованиях в 2015 году по сумме трех дисциплин. Стать инструктором – это проверенный способ стать “своим” в тусовке фридайверов.

Евгений, вы прогрессируете во всех трех бассейновых дисциплинах. Свои тренировки вы распределяете поровну между ними? Помогает ли тренировка в одной дисциплине прогрессу в другой? Какая ваша самая любимая из них?

Я люблю апноэ-динамическое, оно же – ныряние в длину без ласт. Я плавал комплексом, поэтому брасс мне близок. Тренировки мне составляет А. Костышен. Как правило два раза в неделю брасс, два раза ласта, 1 раз 16х50м. Это если брать базовый микроцикл подготовительного периода. Статику я не делаю. На мой взгляд, перенос тренированности с одной дисциплины на другую существует, но в моем случае не такой явный.

Еще раз поздравляем с призовыми местами на Кубке России 2017. Три медали за три дня – более чем впечатляющий результат (ныряние в длину без ласт – золото, ныряние в длину в ластах и статическая задержка дыхания – серебро). Рассчитывали ли вы на такой результат? Кто был ваш ближайший “соперник”? Как вы считаете, что помогло выиграть вам (настрой, опыт, тренировки)?

На самом деле есть еще 4ая медаль – золото за 16х50м. Я планировал показать тот результат, на которой я был готов. Мне не нужно было прыгать выше головы, но и позволить себе “откупаться” я не мог. Все прошло по плану. Результаты были достигнуты благодаря моим тренерам – А. Костышену и Д. Смирнову.

Вы много и успешно выступаете на соревнованиях (а в этом году будете и как член сборной РФ по фридайвингу), какое место в подготовке имеет психологический настрой? Как справляетесь со стрессом?

Мой тренер по специализации – А. Костышен – знает правильные слова, которые помогают мне с правильным настроем подойти к старту.

Что скажите про дисциплину “апноэ на выносливость”? Вы установили Рекорд РФ в том году. Будете ли в дальнейшем готовиться к этому виду?

Я не готовил специально эту дисциплину, она оказалась очень сложная. Терпеть дискомфорт приходится с первых минут. Планирую подготовить её к чемпионату Европы.

Некоторые критикуют нас за то, что в наших вопросах много “спорта”. На ваш взгляд какое место во фридайвинге занимает именно спортивный аспект? Кроме спортивных достижений, что еще дает вам фридайвинг?

Для меня это способ реализовать себя.

Фридайвинг становится более и более популярным. Появляется больше школ фридайвинга, больше студентов… Каким вы видите развитие фридайвинга в будущем?

Я уверен, что существует только один путь развития вида спорта – открытие отделений в дюсш и сдюсшор.

И в завершение, какой совет вы могли бы дать тем читателя, которые только начали заниматься фридайвингом?

Будьте последовательны и систематичны и сможете достигнуть своих целей.

Подписывайтесь на наш блог и читайте интересные интервью с российскими и зарубежными фридайверами!!

Finalist of Australian Depth National Freediving Championship 2016 Trista Fontana

26.03.2017sergeyvladivostok

1. Do you remember how and when did you find out about freediving? What made you start freediving? What were your 1st steps in this sport?

I was traveling through Egypt along the Red Sea doing a lot of SCUBA diving and some other travelers I had met had gone up to Dahab and dived this little spot called the Blue Hole, I had seen the photos and it looked amazing so decided to make my way there to go SCUBA dive it. Around the same time, one of my best mates from Australia, who was also, my SCUBA buddy had just learned to freedive and had been sending me a lot of emails trying to persuade me to do a course as he needed a buddy. Originally I had very little interest in it, I could barely reach the bottom of a 4m pool and just from playing in the pool with friends I knew I had a terrible breath hold

After having enough of being called a “tankerwanker” and “bubbleblower” I jumped onto google to see if this tiny town called Dahab had any instructors that could teach me anything about this obscure sport called freediving. Now my scuba gear sits collecting dust and out of service

2. What is your favorite discipline in freediving and which one you don’t like? And could you explain why?

I think it depends on which day you ask me, My CNF technique is terrible but I do enjoy the challenge when I do it and I find it fun. It is something I would really like to work more on this year when I get back to the water.

Also FIM I love the feeling of the water on my feet as I’m pulling through the water and the glide and you propel through the water especially coming back up

3. Tell please few words about your freediving training approach: How many times a week do you train? And do you have a fixed schedule or you just wake up in the morning, look into a mirror and depending on your mood, body condition or weather decide what to do today?

When I am training I do now try to follow a 3:1 dive days to rest day rotation with a longer 2-3 break every so often. There are training days where I wake up and feel I’m not in it physically or mentally. In the past, I have tried to push past these thinking that they were just barriers and I was just getting in my own head. So I would still go out and dive, I would not achieve anything I wanted and this just lead me to become frustrated and have a negative session and this would carry on to the following days. Now experience has shown me that I need to listen to my body and take a break and reset the mind.

But in regards to each training session I now pick one task I wasn’t to work on each session and not make it about a depth achievement. Be it my mouth fill, streamlining, relaxation. You get these things right then the depth happens naturally

4. And how often do you try something new in your freediving training?

As often as possible, I still consider myself a beginner in the scheme of things and I am always watching others see what works for them, picking people’s brains. Freediving is still a relatively new sport and each person has many different variations on what works for them. I think also part of being a great instructor is knowing and understanding the many different methods available and being able to adapt them to your students needs rather than just teaching what works for you. For this reason, even though I am an instructor I still seek out the guidance of others and looking to expand my own skill set

5. The next question – what makes you day after day to go to train in a pool/sea? What motivates you to train hard? How do you fight humans’ laziness?

My love for freediving is my motivation. I don’t train in the pool and that is simply because I don’t like it and I don’t find it fun. I freedive because I love the feeling when I’m in the ocean, not because I want to be the best. I have found this mindset has been important in my progress. There has been a time where I did make it about progress and the numbers and I started to come undone. I stopped enjoying the training, I stopped making progress. So when you enjoy something in that manner it is easy to get out of bed every day

6. Do you believe that some food products could influence the ability to equalize? Like gluten or lactose, for example, create more mucus which is not good for equalizing? Do you personally follow any diet?

I haven’t noticed a problem too much with my equalisation…yet. I do however notice that gluten and/or lactose do create extra mucus. I noticed this quite by accident when I inadvertently removed it from my diet whilst staying in Bali at their diet is very low in gluten and lactose and then was craving a pizza covered in cheese one night. It wasn’t something I was aware of prior to excluding it. So now I am more conscious of what I’m eating in the days leading up to dives

7. Let’s talk about money 🙂 Do you have any support from sports community of your country or may be some trade brand?

I think this is the dream of all competitive freedivers, currently like most divers I am completely self-funded. Last year I was told by my university that I would be ineligible to apply for a sports grant to compete at nationals because freediving was not considered a sport by the university, but apparently, Dragon Boat racing was

8. What about your targets in freediving? What would you like to achieve and how deep would you like to get?

It’s funny people always ask how deep do you want to go and how deep can you go. Whenever someone asks me about my depths I always try to avoid the question, especially on social media or if its someone I don’t know. Freediving has become a personal journey for me and I feel that the depths in no way reflect my path. Sure I share the depths with my friends and those I’m diving with, they are there on that journey with me. The depth isn’t about why I dive, it’s the enjoyment and the journey so I will keep diving as long as I keep enjoying it, who knows at what depth that enjoyment will stop.

9. What do you do except freediving? Do you have any hobbies?

Surfing has become my little side addiction, which is perfect for where I live in Perth, Australia. Means I can still get into the ocean fix and keep my fitness and strength up at the same time. Also, I’m not so great at it so my breath holds also get a run

10. What would you advise to people, who just discovered this sport?

Enjoy the moments not the numbers. I think also finding the right instructor or dive buddy for how you like to train is also important. Everybody trains and dives differently and what works for one person will not for the next. Find what works for you

Follow Trista on her Instagram

Freediving National Record holder for Argentina (CWT/CNF) Julia Mouce Dominguez

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1. Do you remember how and when did you find out about freediving? What made you to start freediving? What were your 1^st steps in this sport?

I found out about freediving on Koh Tao, Thailand 8 years ago. I discovered Apnea Total, I think it was the first freediving school I had ever seen. When I saw videos I immediately signed up for the first two courses…and I wasn’t disappointed. I continued with the master course and even lost all my flights. I was freediving 3 months. When I came back to Spain to normal life I was so depressed of being out of water that when they offered me to come back to do the instructor course and stay for working in Thailand I couldn’t believe my luck. Freediving changed my life!

2. What is your favorite discipline in freediving and which one you don’t like? And could you explain why?

julia7 My favorite discipline is free immersion and CNF. Free Immersion, because it is slow and you can really feel changes of buoyancy when you are pulling yourself up and down. CNF because it is fun, it requires technique and high level of fitness.

3. Tell please few words about your freediving trainings approach: How many times a week do you train? And do you have a fixed schedule or you just wake up in the morning, look into mirror and depending on your mood, body condition or weather decide what to do today?

I like to train 3 days and rest 1. I normally plan my trains, but I think it is necessary to be flexible and adapt to body and mind conditions. I like to mix trains, firstly because I only like nice dives, don’t see any point in suffering. At all trainings I go out of my comfort zone. Trainings are efficient, not more than 6 dives, but they should all count.

4. And how often do you try something new in your freediving trainings?

I do try new things when i feel that they have a meaning. There is a hell amount of bullshit around in internet, everybody knows how to teach equalization and there are many confusing information. We should use information which can be used at our level of freediving. I don’t understand why people who can’t get comfortable to 45 meters are taught mouthful technique. For example I taught myself hands free to be able to understand what my students felt at depths. julia6

5. The next question – what makes you day after day to go to train in a pool/sea? What motivates you to train hard? How do you fight humans’ laziness?

I would never train in pool =) , but going to train in the ocean is easy. I built my school and platform so I could train. I think it is very easy not to be lazy when you have a passion for the sport you practice.

6. Do you believe that some food products could influence the ability to equalize? Like gluten or lactose for example create more mucus which is not good for equalizing? Do you personally follow any diet?

julia3 I’m very blessed for equalization. I’ve never had problems with it, so lactose and other products don’t really affect me. I just eat what anybody would consider as a healthy diet. I consider that tobacco and alcohol are the most harmful. I avoid any kind of sugar and life on Bali doesn’t include a lot of dairy in diet.

7. Let’s talk about money. Do you have any support from sports community of your country or may be some trade brand?

HAHAHAHAHA! I’m Argentinian, if its not football….! I have always supported myself for freediving , I am sponsored with wet suits by Elios.

8. What about your targets in freediving? What would you like to achieve and how deep would you like to get?

I would like to go as deep as I can, no need to fix limits. I believe that only with practice I will get very deep. I am not in a rush and I do it for myself so I don’t like to talk about my PBs.

9. What do you do except freediving? Do you have any hobbies?

Yes, I like many other sports and I work out every day, non related to freediving exercises. Living on Bali I would love to take more time to learn proper surfing. I also practice SUP.

10. What would you advise to people, who just discovered this sport?

To take time to get to love it. To focus on relaxation , rather than numbers. To use what they learn to see marine life and promote awareness of the marine environment.

First human who was 100 meters deep on a single breath (both CWT and FIM) Carlos Coste

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1. Do you remember how and when did you find out about freediving? What made you to start freediving? What were your 1^st steps in this sport?

carlos5 From my childhood I was very curious about the ocean and non traditional sports and hobbies. I kept very close to the ocean doing bodyboarding-surf, observing, reading some books and watching TV documentaries. I think the first time I heard about freediving was when I watched Big Blue film, then my curiosity and interest increased more, a few years after a classmate in the University invited to me to join him to one pool training session in the Underwater Activities Club (UCV, Caracas 1996). I get hooked with that feeling of going deeper and longer every time I tried. Then I started train regularly freediving & spearfishing. I have been holding my breath with passion from that first pool freediving experience in 1996. carlos1

2. What is your favorite discipline in freediving and which one you don’t like? And could you explain why?

Constant weight & free immersion were my favorite ones in my first years, but in the last 3 years I have been enjoying and focus on CNF. I don´t like STA because it is boring as my best was 7.35 min in 2004. But I prefer the movement. I don’t like anymore the NLT, because it is totally assisted and too dangerous (I had a big accident in Egypt, 2006).

carlos2 In the last 3 years me and my wife Gaby have been living in Bonaire, where we founded and lead our Freediving school & training center DEEPSEA (www.deepseabonaire.com). I’m in the sea almost every day, mostly teaching. I organize my yearly schedule to have more training time 2-3 months before our annual event (Deepsea Challenge Sept 15-23th). My training plan increases the intensity 8 weeks before the Competition (3-4 sessions by week: pool, depth and gym), the rest of the year I train 2-3 times in the gym, pool or with my students. occasionally. Normally every session take around 60-90minutes.

4. And how often do you try something new in your freediving trainings?

It depends, if some new idea come to me or if I think a technique looks interesting I try it. It could happen 3 times by year or none.

5. The next question – what makes you day after day to go to train in a pool/sea? What motivates you to train hard? How do you fight humans’ laziness?

Interesting question! I had more than 20 years practicing freediving in a regular way. I renew my motivation every week, every month and every year! My motivation consists of having new targets to chase every year. I renew my objectives every year and after every competition or season I start to visualize them and work for it. Of course, the passion that I felt to train every day & week in my first years practicing freediving is not so powerful now 20 years later!, but with my 41 years old I keep training regulary improving myself!, I have now more diverse objectives, like developing my school, logistics, other disciplines like CNF and more. I enjoy that, It keeps me happy. carlos4

I think that freediving diet & equalization are very personal, and there isn´t the only one answer or formula for all freedivers. I think everyone has to test, and find which food is better to avoid. I don´t have a specific diet, but I can say that I´m 80% vegy, and I try to eat colorful and healthy.

7. Let’s talk about money. Do you have any support from sports community of your country or may be some trade brand?

The last 4 years it has been very hard for me to train like competitive athlete, mostly because the big crisis in my country. Me and my wife moved to Bonaire to start from zero our life in a safe place. During my career in the past I had private sponsorships and government support. Since about 8 years ago it has been almost impossible. In the last 4 years with the crisis and because of political reasons all support in Venezuela was destroyed.

carlos6 I had an international watch brand Oris supporting my career for 9 years. They launched four watches limited edition with my name. But they changed marketing strategy last year and don’t support me directly anymore.

Our school has increased step by step. We are recovering working hard with our freediving school, but it implies that I have to teach every day, because we need to pay the bills. Now it is so difficult, not enough time and resources to keep me as an elite international competitive athlete.

My wife has found some local support to develop our annual international competition on Bonaire Island Deepsea Challenge. At the moment, we are looking for sponsors for 2017 competitions, we are open to new proposals and brands.

8. What about your targets in freediving? What would you like to achieve and how deep would you like to get?

I have already achieved 12 World Records, many Continental and National Records during my career

I have been focused in CNF discipline for the last 3 years, getting South American Records and improving my performance every year, my last one and current SA Record is 69m. Now, I´m training to improve that performance. carlos3

As well I´d like to set new World Record in the caves (DYN) again. And I have another special project like books, TV serial, and more.

9. What do you do except freediving? Do you have any hobbies?

I like to travel with my wife, we love photography, I like to read and watch good movies.

10. What would you advise to people, who just discovered this sport?

I think, the best advice that I can give is: “take a good course to learn the basics, and invest some time & money in travelling around the world exploring cool freediving spots with a camera”.

You can follow Carlos on his Facabook page and Instagram