Photo Of The Day!!!

[ricki]

FIT Divers and Trainers (http://divefit.com/) had the Gulfstream Free Diving Competition over the last four days. It was a real intriguing experience including competition over several forms of free diving or disciplines. Niki Roderick and Martin Stepanek of FIT created this first time ever event. Disciplines included Constant Weight miles offshore in several hundred feet of water, Static and Dynamic Apnea (apnea = breath holding) in the pool. The competitors including a range of athletes with strengths in varying areas. A new national record was set by Niki for Constant Weight descent to 55 m (181 ft. deep)with no fins. Jared also made it to 58 m (191 ft.)Constant Weight (with fins) yesterday.


The free floating free diving setup with weighted descent lines and even an automatic diver retrieval system in case of emergency. Technical SCUBA divers were deployed to various depths along the descent for the competitors. Safety free divers also meet and escort competitors to the surface at pre-established depths. Should the competitor black out or show signs, there are multiple provisions and personal in place to manage the situation including an EMT.



Martin just starting his warmup. We go through a series of preliminary descents to activate the mammalian dive response to depress heart rates and improve breathhold efficiency.




Competitors and safeties performing static apnea or breathholding in the pool. The techniques for the various disciplines share training aspects and benefits in both competitive free diving as well as recreational diving.




Jared, a former Navy SEAL coming up after his first dynamic apnea dive, ever, I'm told. He made it 109 m (359 ft. horiziontally) in the 50 m pool if memory serves. Tony his safety diver is just behind him.




Martin eases up past Niki. Martin is a nine time world record holder in various free diving disciplines. Martin (CZ Free Diving Team), Niki (NZ Free Diving Team) and Jared (on the U.S. Free Diving Team) just left today for Egypt for a major international free diving competition.




I think this is Todd on final ascent. There were a ton of volunteers required to pull this event off. Lots of technical safety divers equipped with lift bags (no aero-embolism for free divers to worry about), still and video cameramen, safety divers, boat crew, etc..




Todd again with a moon jelly. It really is blue out there in the Deep Blue.



More to come, have a ton of video clips to edit as well.