Skandalopetra diving. Skandalopetra diving dates from ancient Greece, when it was used by sponge fishermen and has been re-discovered in recent years as a freediving discipline. It consists of a variable ballast dive using a skandalopetra tied to a rope. A companion on a boat recovers the diver pulling the rope after the descent, always watching over from the surface. Origins[edit] A skandalopetra dive better known to contemporary divers is perhaps that of Haggi Statti, a Greek sponge fisherman who, on 14 July 1913, in the Karpathos port recovered the lost anchor of the Queen Margaret, a ship of the Italian Navy, at the depth of 83 m. The skandalopetra (or simply petra, "stone") is a stone, usually of marble or granite, weighing between 8 and 14 kg, with rounded corners and hydrodynamic shape.[1][2] It was the only tool used by divers, since the time of Alexander the Great.[1][2] The fishermen, naked, were secured to the stone with a thin cord. Competitive[edit] References[edit]
Dave Mullins. Dave Mullins is a New Zealand freediver and world record-holder. On 21 September 2007 Dave set a new world record in Dynamic apnea breaking the old record by 1 m, creating a new world record of 226 m in a time of 3:38. The old record of 225 m was held by Stig Severinsen. On 23 September 2007 Dave broke his own record by 18 m setting a new world record of 244 m in a time of 4:02.
In August 2008 Dave equalled the world record for Dynamic No Fins, which he hold until September 2010 jointly with Tom Sietas of Germany at 213m. On 10 September 2008 during the Sharm 2008 Freediving World championships, Dave once again broke his own Dynamic world record and set the new WR at 248m. Dave has also set the New Zealand record in the Constant Weight discipline, diving to 108m in April 2008 at the Vertical Blue Invitational, Long Island, Bahamas.
See also[edit] Notes[edit] Hannah Stacey. Hannah Stacey from St Eval in Cornwall, is the current UK women's free-diving record holder. She was also stunt double for Kelly Brook in the film Fishtales, in which she wore a complete mermaid costume in scenes requiring advanced diving techniques. In 2004 she was World Female Freediver of the Year. Records held[1][edit] UK Constant Weight UK Record: 54 metresUK Dynamic Apnea Record: 119 metres External links[edit] References[edit] Jump up ^ Pure Blue Freediver Hannah Stacey dive Pure Blue Water. Martin Štěpánek (free-diver) Martin Štěpánek (born in Náchod, Czech Republic on June 5, 1977) is a world class freediver and record-holder. From 1984 to 1997 he was a competitive monofin swimmer (finswimmer) (distances 50m and 100m). Martin's academic background follows a degree in Forestry Engineering with advanced studies in Sports Biology at the Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic.
After moving to the United States he became USA Certified as a Deep Sea and Saturation Commercial Diver in May 1999. In 2000 Martin met Douglas Peterson, who went on to become his freediving coach and mentor, guiding him to his first World Record in July 2001. Martin was on hand during David Blaine's "Drowned Alive" stunt in Lincoln Center in May 2006. Martin is the founder of Freediving Instructors International (F.I.I.) the largest freediving education agency in the United States. In May 2009, utilizing only his monofin for propulsion, Martin became the first man to dive over 400 feet on a single breath of air.
Static apnea. Static apnea is a discipline in which a person holds their breath (apnea) underwater for as long as possible, and need not swim any distance.[1] Static apnea is defined by the International Association for Development of Apnea (AIDA International) and is distinguished from the Guinness World Record for breath holding underwater, which allows the use of oxygen in preparation. It requires that the respiratory tract be immersed, with the body either in the water or at the surface, and may be performed in a pool or open water (sea, lake, river, etc.). Static apnea is the only AIDA International discipline measuring duration, and one of the three disciplines considered for the international competitions by team, with constant weight and dynamic with fins. Record progression[edit] With pure oxygen[edit] There is a variation of the static apnea discipline where its possible to pre-breathe 100% oxygen for up to 30 minutes prior to the breathhold.
See also[edit] References[edit] External links[edit] Tom Sietas. History of records[edit] See also[edit] References[edit] External links[edit] Marcus Greatwood. Marcus Greatwood (born 18 March 1973) is a British freediving coach. Although an international coach he is most noted for his inception and development of "NT Style" Freediving, based on relaxation and breathing techniques (1st published in 2008). Marcus has coached 5 world records with Herbert Nitsch including the 214m NoLimits record [1] set in 2007. Marcus designed and built the equalisation tool that allowed Herbert Nitsch to dive past 200m. He has coached many athletes, setting 12 National records in all of the AIDA recognised disciplines [2]. He has personally held several UK records in depth apnea free-diving disciplines recognized by AIDA International [3].
His Club Freediving (NoTanx) based in London is now the largest group of freedivers in the UK has grown exponentially since 2001 to having 5 weekly pool sessions with 80+ active members. All training is split into Yin and Yang, with an emphasis placed on Yin (soft, slow & internal). International Coach[edit] References[edit] Deborah Andollo. Deborah Andollo (born in Havana in 1967) is a Cuban free-diving athlete who held several world records in different disciplines.
Her nicknames "Neptune's Girlfriend", "Queen of the Caribbean" or "Mermaid of the Deep" associate her with the sea and her passion for the environment, as well as a sustainable relationship between man and nature. She is currently married and is mother of a son named Ernesto. She is also engaged in an audiovisual project, teaches diving, and is involved in the ecological movement and environmental education.
[citation needed] She earned a degree in Physical Education at Havana University and started out her athletic career in figure swimming in 1979. In 1992 she switched to breath-held diving, and came to the attention of trainer Omar Oramas. Her first constant ballast dive only took her to 60 meters, but with a duration of 2 minutes, 16 seconds. Records[edit] Records set by Andollo include the following.[1] References[edit] External links[edit] Stig Severinsen. Stig Åvall Severinsen (born 1973, Aalborg, Denmark) is a four-time world champion freediver and holder of multiple Guinness World Records. He wrote Træk Vejret – mere energi, mindre stress (2009), published in English in 2010 as Breatheology – The Art of Conscious Breathing.
Background[edit] Severinsen has a degree in biology and a Ph.D. in medicine.[1][2] He began experimenting with holding his breath as a child at the bottom of his parents' pool.[1] He started swimming at the age of 6 and was awarded National Champion four years in a row at 9, 10, 11 and 12. [citation needed] In 1993–2003 he played Underwater Rugby, and was a member of the Danish national team.
[citation needed] During university studies in Barcelona, Spain in 1998–99, he played underwater hockey on the Spanish national team. [citation needed] A fascination with long breath holds under water drew him to the world of freediving. Career[edit] AIDA Freediving World Records[edit] See also[edit] Notes[edit] External links[edit] Umberto Pelizzari. Umberto Pelizzari (born August 28, 1965) is an Italian freediver, widely considered among the best of all times.
Of his era, he is the sole to have established world records in all the then existing disciplines of freediving. Early life[edit] Pelizzari was born in the Lombardian city Busto Arsizio. He debuted as a child in professional swimming, moving to freediving at age 19. Sportive achievements[edit] The rivalry of Pelizzari and Ferreras became the focus of the 2001 IMAX production Ocean Men: Extreme Dive, directed by renowned under water photographer Bob Talbot. Pelizzari was one of a handful of instigators behind the respected freediving organization AIDA which formed in 1994. Post-athletic life[edit] Pelizzari is currently professor at the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna di Pisa and a TV host. See also[edit] External links[edit] Pierre Frolla. Pierre Frolla (born February 14, 1975) is a Monegasque free-diver.[1] Pierre Frolla is a triple World’s Recordman in Free Immersion (including -80 meters on 17 August 2001 in Monaco). I In 1998, Pierre won his 1st French Record -variable weight- improving the time of Loic Leferme of 2 meters (-82m).
This time is realised with the NUC and with all the present group. This challenge done, Pierre and all the group participate with Loic Leferme’s diving training and try to get the World Record in No Limit. This challenge which he will win on May 22, 1999 in bay at St Jean Cap-Ferrat. With them, Pierre gets his 1st World record in Free Immersion (-72m). Frolla is today a member of the ‘Champions for Peace’ club, a group of 54 famous elite athletes committed to serving peace in the world through sport, created by Peace and Sport, a Monaco-based international organization. See also[edit] References[edit] Monofin. A freediver using a monofin Herbert Nitsch wearing a monofin at the Cyprus BIOS 2004 Freediving Open Classic Monofin A monofin is a type of swimfin typically used in underwater sports such as finswimming, free-diving and underwater orienteering, and in recreational freediving.
It consists of a single surface attached to footpockets for both of the diver's feet. The diver's appearance is then reminiscent of a mermaid or merman. History and production[edit] Monofins were introduced in 1972 by a Ukrainian finswimming club and have been used for finswimming competitions since, allowing monofin swimmers to reach speeds of 12km/h. Monofins can be made of glass fiber or carbon fiber. Uses[edit] To differentiate between the use of monofins and conventional fins, the latter are sometimes referred to as stereo fins or bi-fins. Monofins can be used to swim: By slowly oscillating the surface of the monofin when submerged, divers can generate large amounts of thrust even with small or slow movements.
Snorkeling. Scuba diver snorkeling at surface to dive location Snorkeling (British and Commonwealth English spelling: snorkelling) is the practice of swimming on or through a body of water while equipped with a diving mask, a shaped tube called a snorkel, and usually fins. In cooler waters, a wetsuit may also be worn. Use of this equipment allows the snorkeler to observe underwater attractions for extended periods of time with relatively little effort. Snorkeling is a popular recreational activity, particularly at tropical resort and scuba diving locations. The primary appeal is the opportunity to observe underwater life in a natural setting without the complicated equipment and training required for scuba diving. Snorkeling is also used by scuba divers when on the surface, in underwater sports such as underwater hockey and underwater rugby, and as part of water-based searches conducted by search and rescue teams. History[edit] Snorkeling is mentioned by Aristotle in his Parts of the Animals.
Mehgan Heaney-Grier. Freedive Champion Mehgan Heaney-Grier Mehgan Heaney-Grier (born Mehgan Renee Heaney, August 26, 1977) is a US champion freediver, fashion model, actress, conservationist, and TV personality.[1][2][3] Early life[edit] Heaney-Grier was born in Duluth, Minnesota to Bill and Renee Heaney. Her parents divorced when she was six years old.[4] When she was eleven years old her mother remarried to Nelson Grier and in the summer of 1989, Heaney-Grier, along with her sister Erin, mother and new stepfather moved to the Florida Keys.
When she was 16 years old, she legally changed her last name to Heaney-Grier.[5] Freediving[edit] Heaney-Grier on record setting freedive 1997 In 1996 at the age of 18 Heaney-Grier established the first constant weight free-diving record in the United States with a dive to 155 feet (47.26 meters) on a single breath of air. Modeling[edit] Television[edit] Stunt work[edit] Other work[edit] Personal life[edit] References[edit] External links[edit] Stéphane Mifsud. Stéphane Mifsud is a French free diver born 13 August 1971 in Istres (Bouches-du-Rhône). His lung capacity was measured at 10.5 litres. He is five times world champion in static apnea (breath holding). Personal best[edit] Static apnea: 11 minutes 35 seconds on 8 June 2009 (World Record at the time)[1]Dynamic apnea without fins - 131 mDynamic apnea with fins - 213 m See also[edit] References[edit]
Emma Farrell (freediver) William Trubridge. Tanya Streeter. Dynamic apnea. Guillaume Néry. AIDA International. No-limits apnea. Robert Croft (diver) Herbert Nitsch. Freediving. Karol Meyer. Performance Freediving International. Walter Steyn. Liv Philip. Frédéric Sessa. Danai Varveri. Mandy-Rae Cruickshank. Constant weight without fins. Sponge diving. Goran Čolak.