Got a great video to share?  Feel free to contact us.

This week we feature a video doing the rounds showing a spearo who came close to blacking out due to being trapped underwater.  The question is what can be learned?

The video was shot on Go Pro 2 with Blurfix lens and Green filter.

No related posts.

Natalia had previously held the record at 62 meters which was surpassed earlier this week by Ashley Chapman with dives to 63 meters followed by 65 meters at the Deja Blue III Competition in the Cayman Islands.

No related posts.

DeeperBlue.com: When you applied to be on the show, you didn’t know what you were being tested for. How did you feel when you found out it was for freediving?

Roxanne: I didn’t have a clue what I was being tested for, I thought the tests were very random and I had no idea what freediving was.

DB: Had you ever heard of freediving before? What were your perceptions of the sport?

R: When I was told I could be good at freediving, I thought they wanted me to jump out of planes and sky dive! I had no perceptions of freediving because of this. Looking back I’m glad I didn’t, because once you’re told the concept of freediving it can be very worrying as to why someone wants to hold their breath. It’s not until you actually experience it that you become hooked.

DB: What is your background in sport and water activities?

R: I was previously overweight and the only exercise I did was walking and sometimes swimming but nothing competitive or serious. It was mainly to lose weight.

DB: How did you find the test days? What were your high and low points?

R: I enjoyed the test days, it was exciting for me because there was hope that I may naturally be good at something and I think hope is better than having nothing. Sport was never a strong point for me but meeting experts and taking the tests was a step in the right direction for me. My high point was getting through to the final group of people. My low point was confidence as I had none until I met Emma Farrell.

DB: How did you feel when you were told that you had a natural talent for freediving?

R: Gobsmacked is the only word to describe it. I strangely also felt reassurance in myself. It made me feel capable of anything. Being told and tested and proved to have a natural talent is something I will never forget, for me my body had let me down but now it’s everything to me.

DB: What did your friends and family think?

R: They were shocked but excited, I am blessed to have parents who love and support me whatever. My dad was especially excited as he loves the idea of freediving.

DB: How did you find your freediving training in the UK? What did you do?

R: Learning to freedive is a journey that will change your life, it makes you calm and allows you to explore your body and listen to every part that makes up you. My training involved close work with Emma Farrell. I would study and takes exams to become a trained free diver, I practiced yoga every day, I chose to change my diet to allow me to perform better, I would have swimming pool sessions most days and basically train as I expect an athlete would. I always enjoyed it, though, and I was never made to do what I didn’t want. The fact Emma is a woman freediver is something that for me helped me with this journey. I have trained with some of the best people in the world, and Emma was the person who made me feel safe and confident. She can explain and make things very simple for people new to freediving and also take experienced people to a better level. The emotional support is something she uniquely gives that I didn’t really experience anywhere else. I think for me, my safety and improvement was key to me being able to train, I was gutted Emma couldn’t come with me to Egypt, as I feel it may have been a different outcome.

DB: Did you expect to change your diet and how did you find the diet changes?

R: I wanted to be the best, so I was introduced to Emma’s diet plan. This was very hard for me, loving sweet foods and badness, but the results were unbelievable. If any woman wants to lose weight the freediving diet is amazing. I mainly had high protein and anything grown in the ground diet. I cut out all caffeine, sugar, bread, wheat or alcohol. For me this was hard, but I dropped over one stone and my skin and everything was glowing plus my freediving just kept getting better.

DB: How did you find learning yoga and breathing techniques?

R: Yoga taught me how stressed and bad I was to my body. I loved yoga and still do it now. The breathing techniques I use every day back in my work environment. I am altogether a much calmer person to who I used to be. I benefitted most with my breathing and being able to control and slow down my whole body just through simple yoga techniques.

DB: What is your favourite freediving discipline?

R: I think the freediving I love is exploring the ocean and seeing the world under the sea. The freediving I felt I wanted to carry on doing was static apnea. I would love to get a title in static, for me it was mentally the hardest thing to hold your breath for over 4 minutes, but the most satisfying achievement ever.

DB: What were the highlights for you of the experience training to be a freediver?

R: There are two points in my training that stand out for me. I once was at the pool with Emma and I was having a bad day, I was missing home and I was tired, but Emma as a trainer is one of those people who will pick you up, dust you off and make you better. That day we smashed my static record and I held my breath for 4minutes 13sec, something I never thought I would be able to achieve. The second, was a mid-point challenge, where I had to do my first sea dive and free dive down to 30 meters. I have got to be the only seasick freediver ever, I was physically sick and the old Rox was totally scared, but all my training kicked in, I was calm, focused and had Emma there. I remember meditating the whole way down the line, hitting the bottom and I did it so quick the boat above was shocked to see me. It was all worth the training, something I will never forget.

DB: What were the low points for you of the experience training to be a freediver?

R: The low point was having the mental strength to carry on and keep going when my body was tired and needed to rest. I wasn’t as fit as other freedivers, so it was doubly hard for me. Another low point was missing family and friends. I thrive on the support of those I love, so being away was hard. Also injures and being in Egypt getting sick and having to give up was horrible. But I wouldn’t change it for the world, I don’t know what I am capable of. I can always carry on as it is a natural talent, this gift can take me anywhere and I have years to explore it.

DB: What would be your advice for someone who is thinking about starting freediving but worries about age, fitness or confidence?

R: The only thing holding you back is your own mind. I never dreamed I would be good at freediving but now I’m confident, I love the gym, I’m healthy and happy. Freediving will bring you so much more peace, less stress and it will make you realise what is important in life. All I say to anyone who fancies it is, enjoy it, go for it, and don’t let anyone hold you back. The reason I did this was to try and inspire other like to me to do something out of their comfort zone.

DB: Will you continue free diving?

R: Freediving is in my body now, I could never give up something I love. I also don’t know how good I can be yet. I would love to be ranked in the world or even try to do a competition. One step at a time, though!

Related posts:

1. Finding a ‘Hidden Talent’ for freediving
2. UK TV Show explores Freediving in “Hidden Talent”
3. Tanya Streeter to launch Mencap Dive:24 and teach exclusive course in the UK

“I am so happy to see our PFI Instructors doing well at Deja Blue III,” said Kirk Krack, president and co-founder of Performance Freediving International , “and I am even more thrilled to see the new PFI students of our affiliate instructors, doing just as great. I could not be prouder of the myriad world class performances we are seeing this year.”

Iru Balic surfaced from a free immersion dive to 42 meters after two minutes and :05 seconds to receive a white card from the judges and the Venezuelan Women’s national record for FIM. “My dive was fantastic!” proclaimed the 26 year-old beauty from Caracas. “I am so grateful for the support of my training partners at home like Amber and Carlos, and for the great new friends I’ve made here at Deja Blue III.”

Grant Hogan is making his second appearance at the annual PFI comp, having made his mark last year as a contender in no-fins. This year Hogan fought his way through an extremely tough dive to 71 meters to reclaim his US Men’s national record from Rob King. Emerging from the water after three minutes and :01 seconds Grant was more than relieved to see a white card. “I woke up on Saturday and told myself that no matter what happened I was going to complete the dive successfully, and I stayed focused on getting it done.”

In December of 2011 Nick Mevoli decided he was going to go after the USA title for constant weight and that he was simply going to take it. More than a relative newcomer, Mevoli is a freediving prodigy. “I’ve always wanted to compete — I looked at all of the records and decided that CWT was the one to beat,” offered Nick. “My mind was set that this was something I was going to achieve. I am quite pleased!“  As he should be having been only a 30 meter diver in January of this year. After intense training sessions with Ted Harty of Immersion Freediving, Nick quickly became a 70 meter diver in only a matter of months. “Ted gave me an ass-kicking” chuckled Nick, “and I am thankful for his help.”

Coupled with his steely focus, Mevoli’s trust in God guided him through his record-setting dive. Nick’s 91 meter dive under constant ballast took three minutes and :10 seconds. This 91m CWT is Nick’s first national record and his very first competition.

The 30 year-old Florida native, who now lives in Brooklyn, New York works as a prop operator on the popular TV show Gossip Girl. Nick laughs as he recounts “my friends back home always tell me how it’s funny that the deepest person in Brooklyn works on the shallowest show!”

We expect to see much more from this natural talent.

DeeperBlue.com congratulates all of the athletes and their terrific achievements.

No related posts.

With this amazing 63m CNF freediving performance Ashley becomes the deepest unassisted woman on earth. Watch her as she uses only the air in her lungs and her arms and feet to take the new world record.

Related posts:

1. Ashley Futral Grabs Her First National Freediving Title
2. Misuzu "Mimi" Hirai surfaces as Japan's Deepest Woman
3. American Women Break World & National Records at Deja Blue III

“Pending the doping test results” said AIDA International Judge Trainer Grant Graves, “Ashley has a firm World Record, as the bottom plate footage was clean.” A native of North Carolina, Ashley co-founded Evolve Freediving with her husband Ren after she became a freediving instructor for PFI. Sailing in Caribbean waters on their vessel Nila Girl has proven to be great training for the spirited Futral Chapman and keeps her close to the big blue.  “I’m excited for what comes next!” exclaimed Ashley, but for now she should simply enjoy her new World Record and a wonderful personal accomplishment.

Erin Magee is no stranger to records, today she cemented her sixth USA title with a beautiful constant weight dive to 81 meters. Magee executed a clean performance in two minutes and :40 seconds to garner a white card from the judges and yet another CWT national record. “Today’s dive was great!” said Erin, “I can’t wait to go deeper and deeper.”

DeeperBlue.com congratulates both the USA athletes; stay tuned for even more records to come from Deja Blue III.

No related posts.

Based on my years of teaching and working with athletes across many disciplines, not just freediving, I had a pretty clear idea about what I was looking for. I knew a certain age, physique, aptitude and attitude made a good freediver. However, thanks to the Hidden Talent’s producers’ pursuit of a cross-section of the population, there were only two candidates that fitted the image in my head – yet neither of them became the final winner.

The final candidate was chosen after the initial test day, a day at Crystal Palace pool, one day in the lab at Bedfordshire University with Peter Sheard and then two days at Vobster Quay doing physical tests in the water and psychological tests with two psychiatrists out of the water. It was as rigorous as TV scheduling would permit and gave me a chance to put my theories into practice.

So, I’m in a room with twenty people, none of whom can know who I am or what they are being tested for. They’ve filled in two questionnaires, the  first a medical one, the second one written by me to specifically to address any other issues that might affect their ability to equalise, such as facial trauma, persistent sinus congestion, their swimming ability, whether they suffer from any phobias that might affect freediving and if they consider themselves a competitive person. Meanwhile, my assistants and I (all freediving instructors) assessed their physique and preparing to mark for each candidate the results of their ‘hum’ test.

The hum test is the quickest way to see if a person is likely to find equalisation very easy. You hum and move your jaw forward and to the left and right, and if the Eustachian tube opens then the hum gets louder in one or both ears. I was looking at a very short time frame to train someone up to be a good freediver and so I had to pick someone for whom equalisation was not going to be their biggest challenge. Whilst I explained the test, my assistants were going through each questionnaire, making piles of ‘yes’, ‘no’ and ‘possible’ candidates. The great thing about the fact that people didn’t know what they were being tested for was that it was very easy to get a genuine answer. In fact, many people thought it was a singing test so their hum was very operatic!

At the end of the hum test we had an average of two people out of 20 who could perform the test and who also were suitable based on the medical questionnaires. The suitable candidates then took it in turns to perform an apnea walk with a heart rate monitor on to measure their breath hold and their mammalian dive reflex. They relaxed first whilst sitting down as I talked them through relaxed breathing and a final breath. They then held their breath seated for thirty seconds and then stood up and started walking whilst still breath-holding, until they couldn’t hold any longer or were stopped by me.

The TV production company were determined that what we were doing should be as measurable and demonstrable as possible. It was for this reason that they were so keen to involve Peter Sheard, who has so many years of working in sports science and at the cutting edge of freediving research. This was fascinating for me as I was taking people through the apnea walk who, prior to that moment, had not even heard of freediving before. It was also a chance to get to know them briefly as people and see if they had what it takes mentally to devote the next few months of their lives to the sport.

After the three test days in Birmingham, Manchester and London, I chose twelve candidates to take to Crystal Palace pool in London for their first experience in the water. The first test was a static session with a series of four breath holds, again with the heart rate monitors. This time we were not just looking for how long they could hold their breath for and signs of strong bradycardia, but also if their urge to breathe became later with each hold and how they reacted to the pressure of the situation. It was an intense experience and one that many candidates found very difficult. I often joke that freediving is ninety percent mental and the rest is in your head and this test proved it. All of the candidates had something in their lives that affected how they thought about themselves and holding your breath is a great amplifier of emotions and fears. Although I had no intention of letting any of them even approach a hypoxic fit, their fears and those of their families and friends still remained.

After this test I then took them to the dive pool to see how their equalisation worked and this was for me one of the most stressful moments – would the hum test translate to an actual dive? Thankfully the answer was yes and many candidates managed to equalise hands-free, enjoying the experience far more than the breath holds. After this they were given long fins and practiced short dynamic apneas for me to assess their style and how quickly they took direction and improved their stroke. This was amazing to see as it was clear the candidates who just couldn’t feel what their body was doing and adjust accordingly and made it yet another part of my decision making process.

After the day at Crystal Palace I was left with six candidates who then spent a day with Peter Sheard in his lab before coming to Vobster Quay for the final two days of tests. They were evaluated by two psychiatrists and spent the rest of the time in the water, learning how to duck dive and fin, seeing how easily they learnt and how comfortable they were in the water. The intensity of the situation, amplified by the need of the production company to get the shots they needed to tell the story, meant that relaxation was not easy and emotions ran high. There were tears of frustration, tears of elation, and the undercurrent of competition as they knew the decision would be made to choose one person over all others.

The final candidate was chosen for their overall performance, their results in the lab with Peter Sheard, the evaluation by the psychiatrists and their personality – did they have the right attitude as well as attributes to a be a freediver. Because it was a television show choosing from a broad segment of society who had no prior knowledge of what they may be tested for, I was never going to get a group of people that to me would seem natural freedivers from the beginning. However, what the process did show me was that we should never allow our preconceptions to blind us to people who would make amazing freedivers. I was reminded at every stage that the limitations we set ourselves and others just simply don’t exist if we have the courage to go beyond them. Almost anyone can learn to freedive and my sincere hope is that this show will encourage people who would never previously known about it or considered it for themselves to get involved in our wonderful sport.

Hidden Talent premieres at 9pm on the 1^st May 2012 on Channel 4 followed by a live web chat with Emma Farrell. The freediving story is also followed up in episode six to be broadcast on the 29^th May at 9pm. You can find out more and try some of the tests yourself at http://www.channel4.com/programmes/hidden-talent

Related posts:

1. UK TV Show explores Freediving in “Hidden Talent”
2. Queenland fishers to stop finding Nemo
3. The Hidden Gem of the Maldives: Huvadu Atoll

Got a great video to share?  Feel free to contact us.

This week we feature Clips shot with a GoPro HD Hero2 while spearfishing from a kayak in the Fort Lauderdale area.

Related posts:

1. [VIDEO] George Bovell on Freediving
2. Sartek develops modified housing for GoPro HD Focus Fix
3. Freediving Instructors International Announces Ft. Lauderdale Open

Channel 4 in the UK are showing a brand new prime time TV Show called Hidden Talent that takes people with no prior experience will embark on a remarkable journey to take a newly discovered hidden talent to its limit. Nine participants across the course of the show will discover if they can go from being a total novice to a top class performer across a series of talents such as learning a language, freediving, opera singing and lie detection.

Starting on April 24th 2012 and hosted by Richard Bacon, viewers will be able to see how through the rigorous large-scale testing of hundreds of people around the country, overseen by scientists and academics, a number of people are found to have special physical, mental, sensory or creative talents that they were totally unaware of. A special panel of Hidden Talent experts take nine of these individuals under their wing, training and developing them to face extraordinary challenges, transforming their understanding of their own abilities and changing their lives forever.

Freediving Instructor Trainer and author of the book ‘One Breath, a Reflection on Freediving’, Emma Farrell is the series expert on freediving. She devised unique tests to find out if 900 members of the public had a hidden talent and then trained up the winning participant. ‘The first issue was that I had to get through up to 300 people a day, none of whom were allowed to know they were being tested for freediving, and in a room with no water!’ says Farrell. ‘I had to invent a test for equalisation that could be done anywhere and then use specific medical questions to determine if a person might be any good.’ ‘I looked for healthy ears, sinuses, and equalisation ability and then took 1-2 people each hour to perform a breath-hold walking test with a heart rate monitor to see if they had a strong ‘mammalian dive reflex.’ It was so exciting to see people with no knowledge of their hidden ability shine.’

Twelve candidates were then selected to join Farrell for in-water tests at Crystal Palace before six joined her for two days at Vobster Quay in Somerset for final in-water physical and psychological tests. Farrell then chose one to train up at Vobster Quay. ‘Although I can’t say who they are and what they did, I can say that I was incredibly proud of what they achieved in such a short space of time,’ says Farrell. ‘The project represented the first time ever that so many people have been tested for a latent ability to freedive and shows what amazing hidden talents are out there.’

The freediving episode is scheduled to be broadcast Tuesday 1^st May  2012 at 9pm on Channel 4 and is followed by a live online chat with Farrell. To coincide with the launch of the episode, people can go online and take some of the tests themselves on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hiddentalent and also learn from Farrell an advanced equalisation technique known as the ‘Frenzel.’ A further episode featuring Farrell and the winning candidate will be shown on the 29^th May 2012

Emma Farrell teaches freediving at Vobster Quay and organises freediving holidays overseas. She has taught TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall to freedive for River Cottage and has appeared with Paul Rose on Britain’s Secret Seas.  She is the author of One Breath, A Reflection on Freediving.

DeeperBlue.com will be bringing you an exclusive interview with Emma Farrell in the next few weeks and take you behind the scenes of Hidden Talent of Freediving.

No related posts.

Got a great video to share?  Feel free to contact us.

This week we feature Olympic Swimmer George Bovell with his introduction to Freediving and tips to becoming a better Freediver.  Born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago George has also become a World Class freediver and spearfisherman

No related posts.

I guess I was expecting some criticism over the issue of karma and compassion but the truth was there was none, she was absolutely open minded about it and didn’t judge me at all, instead she introduced me to a completely new concept: Karmic food. There are certain foods we eat that involve certain levels of Karma, some more than others, now this has nothing to do with religion or anything at all, let’s analyze it for a second, the point is very simple: beef for example involves a forest that was cleared to become pastureland, then take an animal whose life is controlled, never free, generates pollution during their life (methane emissions, fecal matter etc), millions of water gallons needed, then suffer and is part of an endless chain from which we feed, same case for poultry and other meats we eat. With the fish we catch specifically while spearfishing the chain is a lot simpler: it is a free animal, which is in its natural environment, is selected by size and has already mated, it’s part of an abundant species and their suffering is much less.

Spearfishing has been marked in these days as something perverse, cruel and non-sustainable, but nothing is further from reality and I’d like to share some facts and thoughts on the topic:

• Less than 1% of the world’s fish population are caught annually around the world with spearfishing.
• The capture rate is much lower compared to net fishing and industrial fishing, even if everyone decides to go hunt it would be much better than industrial fishing vessels sweeping the oceans  24/7, capturing from huge tuna to small sardines, which of course are impossible to catch for us. Of course we talk about stop fishing with nets and do spearfishing only
• Perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind: We choose what we catch: we choose by size (mature), species (endangered or not), behavior (a couple mating), season, and protected areas.
• You have any idea how they caught that delicious fish you ate recently on that fancy restaurant? Perhaps with dynamite, perhaps longline who also captures sharks and turtles, perhaps trawls who also kill dolphins and other sea mammals, or methods that devastate the seabed, capturing the small ones or even other species that are not edible…non sustainable methods.
• Spearfishing together with sustainable fishing methods allow a recovery rate and balance to the fish populations, industrial fishing (products in supermarkets and big cities) doesn’t.
• We do not fish with dynamite, we do not catch animals that are not going to be consumed, we do not use nets that trap small schools, we did not cut down the forest which indirectly kills the corals…all we do is spear a fish for dinner.
• We fish to share with our families and friends, that is our biggest motivation, something very simple from the beginning of time: hunting for food and survival, nothing more.

Of course it is a fact that not everything with spearfishing is harmony and we must also consider the following principles, and this is something I want my fellow spearofishers to read carefully out there:

• Respect protected species: Last week I was lucky to see a goliath grouper, also known as jewfish in a permitted fishing area. Goliath groupers are not protected in Colombia. It was a beautiful animal, at least one meter long, very rarely seen these days in here, good enough for a few weeks of fish, but I decided not to shoot, instead I looked at him, admired him and then scared him off so he could at least have a new chance. The jewfish is on a no catch list in the Caribbean and especially in Colombia, it also offers little merit as of the sport, or as my good friend and excellent fisherman Nicolas Valencia says, “it’s like hunting cows.”  The list is longer, so learn and educate yourself before going out.
• Respect the minimum sizes: Read before jumping into the water. Learn about the permitted species and minimum sizes for each one.
• Do not you fish in protected areas: simple, respect the parks and natural sanctuaries for ocean wildlife so we can always enjoy it and it can always recover.
• No tanks: Simple, if you can’t dive then don’t dive, spearfishing has to be done while Freediving, means you are holding your breath, otherwise it’s illegal and absolutely non sustainable.
• Stop thinking in pounds: Specially with octopus and lobster, both in the no catch list for the Colombian Caribbean. Instead of thinking in 10 pounds of octopus or lobster (catching 20 animals, ½ pound each) think on 2 pieces, 5 pounds each.
• Observe: We have that power, a power that other fishermen do not, and in the wise words of Peter Parker’s uncle Ben: “With great power comes great responsibility.” I once saw 2 large groupers that were moving in a curious/funny way, the first thing I thought is that I was very lucky and engaged, then I saw again and understood that they were in a dance of mating and left the lovers alone. If you see a lobster make sure they don’t have eggs. Also observe that animals are not on red list
• Eat what you catch, catch what you eat: don’t just fish for a photo or to prove your manhood to your friends, catch only the fish you are willing to take home and eat. I’ve heard many cases of people fishing giants just for the photo and then they have no idea what to do or how to move the animal, so what happens? They rot because they were not prepared or leave them lying on the beach … it’s a shame! So think before you shoot or don’t shoot at all. At least give it to the locals, but never allow yourself the sin of wasting food, it is indeed a tragedy, there’s many people out there starving. There is no greater satisfaction than to bring  fresh and healthy food home and sharing it with family and friends.
• Aim carefully: If there’s coral between your spear and your prey, or behind it then do not shoot, you’re going to break the coral and they grow an average of 1 cm per year, that’s very slow.
• Catch some lion fish (if you are in the atlantic ocean/caribbean sea): their meat is delicious, especially for ceviche and we all know the problem with them, design a sling or use a small gun just for them, take a good bag where you can put them without hurting yourself, their sting is painful but not fatal.

Certainly the conclusion is that it is not just about going out there and shoot the first thing moving, a spear fisherman is more committed and has the obligation to be more responsible, we are in the water with them and we are very grateful to Mother Ocean when she shares her gifts, this activity involves a high level of consciousness and awareness together in order to be sustainable,  once achieved it is a wonderful practice that could help the ecosystem much more than we could ever imagine. Think and then shoot.

Safe dives!

Related posts:

1. Spearfishing Tourneys Join Forces to Fight Cystic Fibrosis
2. Summer Spearfishing
3. US National Spearfishing Results

Judging from McGrath’s performances earlier this year at the 2011 AIDA Indoor Freediving Championships in Ligano Italy, as well as her accomplishment today we can be assured to see a lot more soul from this athlete. “Jenna’s performance was strong and clean,” said AIDA Judge Linden Wolbert, “for a moment I wondered if she was going to turn again at 150!”

DeeperBlue.com congratulates Jenna on her monster swim and looks forward to seeing what more she will do as a competitor at PFI’s upcoming Deja Blue III competition in May.

Related posts:

1. Polish Freediving Champion To Attempt First Official Individual Freediving Record
2. Eric Fattah 90m Constant Weight Freediving Canadian and Continental Record
3. New British Women????????s Freediving Record

Nevatt hasn’t announced when or where she will be attempting the record as of yet.

Related posts:

1. Mandy-Rae Cruickshank Aborts Static Apnea World Record Attempt
2. Two New US Static National Records Set at AIDA Team Freediving World Championships
3. Guinness World Record in O2 assisted Static Apnea

See and learn more here:
http://www.mermaidminute.com

Follow Mermaid Linden here:
http://www.facebook.com/mermaidsinmotion
http://www.twitter.com/mermaidsnmotion

Related posts:

1. Mermaid Minute #9 – Ocean Currents
2. Mermaid Minute #10 – Caribbean Reef Sharks!
3. Mermaid Minute #8 – Sea Anemones

Competitors can compete in Constant Weight (with or without fins) or Free Immersion disciplines.

The organisers have stated that they want to keep the competition small and have limited number of athletes to 20 and the maximum depth to 90m.

The competition is an AIDA International Competition with AIDA Ranking Status and World Record Status, but it will be up to the athlete to cover the World Record procedures and doping test expenses.

Price: 310€ with accomodation or if you only want to participate during the competition days the price is 100€

Included in the price:

• 7 nights accommodation in double rooms (at Canyon Resort Hotel)
• 4 training days in Blue Hole (2 sessions each day)
• 2 competition days
• Transportation between the hotel and Freedive Dahab.
• Transports to and from Blue Hole every day.
• Buoys, ropes and weights.
• Freedive Dahab owners Lotta or Linda, or one from the team as training coaches.
• Counter ballast, surface camera, safety divers, doctor and oxygen for dives below 60m on the competition days.

Related posts:

1. Freedive Dahab announce FreeDiving Safari
2. Triple Depth 2010 Freediving Competition Announced
3. Dahab FreeDiving competition to go ahead as planned

An unusual home has been created for a hermit crab which resides in the Atlantis Discovery Area at Legoland in Windsor, Berkshire. Harry the hermit crab, as he is known, has had a bespoke house made for him entirely from Lego.

According to the Guardian on Facebook, Legoland land’s Liane Riley said “he rejected the sea and snail shells on offer and seems very comfortable in his new home”.

As the hermit crab grows in size, it has to find a larger shell and abandon the previous one. This habit of living in a second hand shell gives rise to the popular name “hermit crab”, by analogy to a hermit who lives alone.  Several hermit crab species, both terrestrial and marine, use “vacancy chains” to find new shells: when a new, bigger shell becomes available, hermit crabs gather around it and form a kind of queue from largest to smallest.   It seems like Legoland may have real estate opportunities for hermit crabs in the future.

No related posts.

If you’re getting ready to get certified in scuba diving or are ready to up your certification to a more advanced level, finding the right dive instructor is imperative. Whether you’re checking out dive shops on a honeymoon or tropical vacation or looking for a local diving instructor in your landlocked state, here are seven must-ask questions before you hire a scuba diving instructor:

1. How long have you been teaching?

Usually the more experienced a teacher is, the more they will have to share and the more confident you can be in their training techniques. Also, a scuba instructor who has been in the business for ages is probably passionate about his profession, which can make learning from him a whole lot more fun.

2. How many students have you worked with at this level?

Many instructors in the scuba industry are just part-time. While you shouldn’t rule out a part-time instructor just because they don’t teach full time, you also shouldn’t assume that an instructor who has been in the business for five years has taught tons of students to scuba dive. If an instructor is still very new or has not worked with many students at the level at which you want to be certified, you may want to find someone else with more experience.

3. How many students do you take at a time in the pool and in open water?

While you’ll pay less for a scuba diving class in which one instructor handles many students, you won’t get as thorough of a class in this way. Developing skills when it comes to scuba diving is essential for your safety, so don’t skimp here. If you feel you won’t get enough one on one time with the instructor to really master diving skills, then find a different class to take!

4. What classes have you taken and dives have you done in the last year?

The last thing you want is to take a scuba diving course from an instructor with stale teaching methods and no real passion for diving. An instructor who is really passionate and knowledgeable will take classes each year to keep up with certifications or to learn the latest diving techniques and equipment. Also, a passionate diving instructor will also be a passionate diver who takes plenty of dive trips just for the fun of it!

5. How do you care for the environment in the ocean and teach students to do so, as well?

Many would-be divers skip out on this important question. When it comes to the ocean, you’re dealing with very sensitive eco-systems, so you want to make sure that your diving instructor is ethical enough to care for those eco-systems and to teach her students to do the same. A dive instructor who routinely litters the ocean floor or doesn’t use and teach eco-friendly diving practices isn’t one you want to work with.

6. Can you teach snorkeling/freediving?

Snorkeling is a good way to have more fun with your diving, especially during surface intervals. The ideal diving instructor will teach you snorkeling techniques that will boost your confidence in the water and make your overall diving experience more enjoyable.

7. Do you certify every student after a course?

While it seems like a good thing if a diving instructor gets everyone through his course with an actual certification, this may actually not be a good thing. Scuba instructors who certify everyone in their courses may not hold high enough standards or require the kind of skill mastery needed to really be safe in the water. A diving instructor who isn’t afraid to hold some students back if they haven’t mastered the necessary skills for safety and efficiency in the water is actually going to be a better bet than one who passes everyone in the class every time.

Become Part of the Scuba Movement

There are thousands of scuba diving instructors around the world, and scuba diving is becoming more and more popular. PADI, one of the main scuba diving organizations, has seen certification rise dramatically since the nineties. Today, PADI says there are more than 900,000 scuba certifications made each year!

Daniela Baker from CreditDonkey says, if you’re going to start scuba diving and expect to fall in love with the sport, it’s a good idea to plan financially for scuba diving trips in the future. One way to do this is with a travel credit card, which can help you save up points to spend on airfare, hotel fees, and other travel related expenses. Another option is to set up a separate savings account for scuba trips and to put a certain amount of money into that account every month. That way, when it comes time for a scuba trip, you have points and cash saved up so that you can more easily pay for your trip.

Scuba diving is a great sport, but it can be a little scary. Finding an experienced scuba instructor who can teach you essential skills and build your confidence with scuba diving is the best way to get started.

Related posts:

1. VA and PADI Team Up to Offer Scuba Instructor Fee Reimbursement
2. Scuba Diving International Joins on as Sponsor of SCUBA TOUR 2004
3. Technical Diving International (TDI) Announces the Inspiration Rebreather Diver and Instructor Programs

Reserve your spot today by registering here.

No related posts.

Sponsors of the competition included Dogtooth Diving, Kathryn Nevatt and the Lazy Seals.  AIDA New Zealand is grateful to everyone who donated prizes, and thankful for all of the volunteers who helped organize the event, as well as the many terrific freedivers who participated. DeeperBlue.com readers can check out a photo gallery here of the event and the athletes.

The battle for first place at this freediving competition actually resulted in a tie between Phil Clayton (UK) and Ben Noble (AU) who bothy scored 138 points.

• 1st Place AIDA – 1st place was ultimately given to Ben Noble for his clean performances; in good form he quickly donated his Dogtooth prize to some recreational divers.
• 2nd Place AIDA – Phil Clayton with 138 points (although tied with Ben numerically.)
• 3rd Place AIDA – 3rd Place went to Sam Barnes with a total of 90 points.
• 1st Place Rec Male – 1st Place (male) in the Rec Grade went to Paul Smillie with a total of 85 points.
• 1st Place Rec Female – 1st Place (female) went to Rochele Potter with 20 points.

No related posts.

See and learn more here:
http://www.mermaidminute.com

Follow Mermaid Linden here:
http://www.facebook.com/mermaidsinmotion
http://www.twitter.com/mermaidsnmotion

Related posts:

1. Mermaid Minute #9 – Ocean Currents
2. Mermaid Minute #8 – Sea Anemones
3. Mermaid Minute #7 – Elephant Seals

As you may have guessed this was an April Fool’s Joke for 2012.  Scroll to the bottom for more info.

Eco-Fashion brand Rapanui in partnership with the University of The Isle of Wight in the UK has taken an innovative approach to the issue of transparency and traceability within the fashion industry by developing a new fabric that can make t-shirts appear invisible.

The technology captures light on one side of a garment and relays it on to the opposite side.

Martin Drake-Knight, Designer at Rapanui explains:

“The research has been around for a long time but the principle is actually quite simple – to take light from the front of the garment and relay it to the back – and vice versa. Optic fibres are simply light conductive threads. They capture the light in the space immediately surrounding the garment and relay them through the threads. If you can direct this light directly out of the shirt, as we have done, the result is a vivid perception of invisibility.”

The hope is to develop variants of the fabric for a wide range of applications, however Textiles specialist Professor Barry Green said it would be “quite some time” before the technology could come to market, adding that an early idea would be to make landfill sites invisible: “Sustainability is an out-of-sight, out-of-mind problem. We can throw invisible t-shirts in open-air landfill sites – or even just on the street – and nobody will know they are there.”

Further applications of this technology could lead to military tools for Navy Scuba Diving and Rebreather Teams to aid in defense and research.  Marine Scientific and Conservation Research organizations have also registered interest in applications of the technology.

More information on this amazing breakthrough can be found at  www.rapanuiclothing.com/opticfibre

It’s an April Fool!

This was a joke by the fine fellows over at Rapanui.  We asked them to let us know a bit more about how they did it…

So how did you do it?

Well to borrow a phrase from our own “Professor” (local am-dram veteran Bill, from Bembridge) it was actually pretty simple, and the research has been around for a long time: we used green-screening. This is normally used to replace a whole background, like when the weatherman/woman stands in front of the map, they’re actually standing in front of a green wall and the map is superimposed there by a computer – the computer replaces everything bright green in the image with whatever you tell it to.

We did the same in reverse, and used a bright green t-shirt – then used green-screen software to replace the t-shirt with the image behind. Luckily our video collaborator Will Jackson is a bit of a CGI / green-screen specialist and Bill is epic at acting. And the lab? Well… you might be able to spot the WD40 and other miscellaneous parts from our Nan’s garage.

But how did we fake the “public reactions” bit? Well … that was magic.

So there you go. No Isle of Wight University based at Carisbrooke Castle, no invisible t-shirts (at least not from us) but at the very least… a bit of a laugh.

Related posts:

1. Major Diving Websites launch T-Shirt Competition
2. Britain Creates Safe Haven in the Indian Ocean
3. Brand new postcards

Google Street View takes a blue variant for Australians.  The Catlin Seaview Survey, which is a a joint venture between Google, the University of Queensland and their sponsor, a multinational insurance firm called the Catlin Group, have an outreach project which is part science project and part public communication.  The aim is to learn as much as possible about the reef’s state of health from a panoramic underwater photographic and video survey – and let divers and non-divers enjoy the reef’s unspoiled beauty online from afar.

This is pioneering research survey which will map the Great Barrier Reef as never before and allow virtual divers to experience the unique ecosystem through thousands of 360-degree, high-definition panoramas of underwater landscapes which can be compared to Google’s street view.

The survey’s chief scientist, Ove Hoegh-Guldberg of the University of Queensland in Brisbane tells New Scientist “For the first time in history, we have the technology available to broadcast the findings of an expedition through Google. Millions of people will be able to experience the life, the science and the magic that exists under the surface of our oceans”.

Only a few surveys have been undertaken so far, and these are viewable at Catlin Seaview Survey. The project proper kicks off in September, when three surveys begin at 20 points around the 2300-kilometre long reef. Footage from each site will be posted online as the surveys progress.

No related posts.

James Cameron has released footage from his historic 11km/7mile dive to the deepest point in the oceans – the Mariana Trench.

“My feeling was one of complete isolation from all of humanity,” Cameron commented after he returned from his dive.

“There had to be a moment where I just stopped, and took it in, and said, ‘This is where I am; I’m at the bottom of the ocean, the deepest place on Earth. What does that mean?’

“I just sat there looking out the window, looking at this barren, desolate lunar plain, appreciating it,” Cameron confessed.

James Cameron's one-man mini sub named the Deep Sea Challenger

No related posts.

As marine biologists, Duncan and Jillian take pride in leading nightly seminars on the liveaboard M/V Indigo, highlighting their specialty of underwater filming and thousands of hours of in-water experience with sharks and dolphins.

Ready to sign-up? Pack your dive gear for August 12-17, 2012 or for more information and to reserve your spot contact:  Oceanicallstarsinfo@gmail.com

Related posts:

1. Freedive with wild dolphins in May 2011
2. Shark Free Marinas
3. Tiger Beach: Paradise Worth Protecting

See and learn more here:
http://www.mermaidminute.com

Follow Mermaid Linden here:
http://www.facebook.com/mermaidsinmotion
http://www.twitter.com/mermaidsnmotion

Related posts:

1. Mermaid Minute #8 – Sea Anemones
2. Mermaid Minute #7 – Elephant Seals
3. Mermaid Minute #6 – Barnacles

This is only the second manned expedition to the ocean’s deepest depths – the first took place in 1960 with US Navy Lt Don Walsh and Swiss oceanographer Jacques Piccard.

Cameron’s craft may also soon be joined by other manned submersibles vying to reach the ocean’s deepest depths including Richard Branson’s DeepFlight Challenger, Google’s Eric Schmidt Doer Marine and Triton submarines, a Florida-based submersible company, intends to build a sub with a giant glass sphere at its centerpiece to take tourists down to the deepest ocean for $250,000 a ticket.

No related posts.

Yoga can teach you many techniques and exercises designed to slow your breath and relax your body. Remember, if you calm your breath you will calm your mind and body and your dives will be longer and more enjoyable.  With yoga training you can learn to visualise each stage of your dive, and through increased training you will develop self awareness and notice how your breathing changes and try and keep your breathing slow and relaxed with an extended exhalation as you imagine the dive unfolding.

The diaphragm is responsible for three-quarters of the work of breathing, all the while supporting the work of the heart and stimulating the lower organs. When you breathe in correctly, the diaphragm flattens and descends, massaging them. The eternal movement of the diaphragm also moves and massages the heart, and the pressure this exerts on the inferior vena cava, the vein that pierces the diaphragm as it returns de-oxygenated blood to the heart from the lower body, causes an acceleration of blood flow when the pressure is at its lowest.  Imagine the health benefits you will gain if you learn to breathe properly, as well as the improved efficiency underwater?

There are increasingly more resorts around the world that offer yoga training, and at the same time teach techniques for efficient breathing and relaxation which can enable divers to enjoy their experience and also extend their dive time.

Yoga and scuba diving hold synergies as they are both ways to practice a fuller and more complete life by venturing out into another existence, and dive operators are advertising more and more well-being experiences as symptoms of unhealthy lifestyles become more evident through medical statistics.  The various breathing techniques you learn in yoga, such as ujjai or pranayama can affect your breathing behaviour in other activities and give you a tool to fall back on in physically or mentally challenging situations, like being 30 metres below in low visibility water.

As a scuba instructor I have noticed that many divers, particularly novices, “over breathing” when diving, or breathe too quickly.  This is termed as Hyperventilation, and divers should be aware that chronic hyperventilation is instrumental in over 200 medical problems and diseases, including asthma, arthritis, heart disease, high blood pressure and stress.  This can indeed be a life-long and chronic situation.

Over-breathing reduces the amount of CO2 in the blood. Reduced levels of carbon dioxide causes many problems. For example, it causes the arteries, including the carotid artery going to the brain, to constrict, thus reducing the flow of blood throughout the body. It also makes it more difficult for the red blood cells to release oxygen to the cells of the brain and body. When we have too little carbon dioxide, our brain and body will experience a shortage of oxygen no matter how much oxygen we may breathe into our lungs. This lack of oxygen switches on the sympathetic nervous system—our ‘fight or flight’ reflex—which makes us tense, anxious and irritable. It also reduces our ability to think clearly, and tends to put us at the mercy of obsessive thoughts and images.**

This is where the “green monster that lurks in the deep” kicks in, and divers will often feel that they cannot breathe at all, and bolt for the surface.

Chronic hyperventilation can also be the result of poor posture, excessive muscular tension, poor diet, and the prevailing image of the hard, flat belly that we find in fashion and fitness magazines. According to Dennis Lewis, to breathe naturally, is to breathe with our whole body, the way a baby or animal does. For this to occur, we not only need a flexible, unconstrained ribcage, but also a supple belly. Our belly needs to be able to expand on inhalation and retract on exhalation.  The continuous strive for a tight washboard stomach may not always be the ultimate solution for effect breathing.

And of course, the more you over-breathe, the more gas you guzzle…

In 2011 in Grenada, the Caribbean’s first SCUBA-Yoga programme was introduced at the Elite Island resorts, and in Belize there is a dedicated yoga-scuba diving retreat.

If you cannot afford a luxury vacation, divers can read a book written by Kimberlee Jensen Stedl and Todd Stedl called Yoga for Scuba Divers, which teaches divers to pose, do breathing exercises, visualization techniques, and yoga lifestyle principles that combine to improved diving techniques.

Bahamas-based Yoga instructor Brittany Trubridge has written an online guide called The Ultimate Freediving Preparation guide.  There are step by step moves published which show you how to work on stretching your lungs and improving your flexibility. After talking to Brittany she has confirmed that these exercises are beneficial for scuba diving as well  as the visceral organs are massaged, improving circulation and assisting the body to combat illness and resistance to climatic extremes.  What could be greater than this for divers who like to travel and dive to intrepid environments, or for those who also dive in colder temperatures?  It seems like a logic solution to assist you to stay fitter for diving and also develop spine strength to enable easy lifting and carrying of heavy scuba gear.

Whatever a diver’s choice is to stay fit for diving, it has been confirmed world over that the benefits of yoga reach far past the realm of the exterior benefits, and can have a massive positive effect on a person’s overall health, including those with thyroidal or hormonal problems and ineffective circulation.

However you choose to start your journey into yoga, it is imperative that it is practiced with care and under the supervision of someone who is experienced.

Photo courtesy of Brittany Trubridge

** Credit: Emma Farrell

No related posts.

Episode 8: Sea Anemones LOVE Clownfish! See what we’re finding

See and learn more here:
http://www.mermaidminute.com

Follow Mermaid Linden here:
http://www.facebook.com/mermaidsinmotion
http://www.twitter.com/mermaidsnmotion

No related posts.

James Cameron will still be attached as Producer and J. Michael Straczynski (Babylon 5 / Changling) will write the script.

The film is the cinematic version of the book “The Dive” that charts the story of the married freediving couple Pipin Ferreras and Audrey Mestre, who broke several freediving records in the 1990′s until Audrey’s death during a No-Limits Freediving record attempt on on October 12th 2002 in the Dominican Republic.

No related posts.