New Australian Free Diving record

A Canberra man has dived nearly 100 metres using a single breath, to smash the Australian free-diving record in the Bahamas.

Walter Steyn, 36, dived to a depth of 92 metres during the Vertical Blue 2009 annual free-diving competition at Dean's Blue Hole.

It took Mr Steyn just two minutes and 43 seconds to extend his own record and retain the constant weight title.

Mr Steyn, from Canberra, previously held the record at 77 metres and last year won second place at the world championships for dynamic no fins at 175 metres.

"I've always known I could dive deeper but in the past I've had equalisation problems that have often made me turn too soon," Mr Steyn said.

"I'm absolutely stoked."

Setting the new Australian record in the Bahamas, Mr Steyn said the dive turned out to be easier than he expected.

"I got the tag from the bottom plate," he said.

A 37-year-old British woman set a new world record in freediving at the same competition with a 96-metre plunge on a single breath.

Sara Campbell, from London, completed the dive in three minutes, 36 seconds last week during Vertical Blue off Long Island in the Bahamas.

Ms Campbell was competing in the constant weight discipline, which requires athletes to descend and surface using only the power of their body and a large fin attached to their feet.

The dynamic discipline involves travelling in a horizontal position under water attempting to cover the greatest possible distance.

Courtesy of the ABC

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Fozz's picture

Posts: 224

Date Joined: 01/08/08

Must have Gills

Tue, 2009-04-07 18:36

Its amazing what the human body can do when trained but, also the mental ability to slow/control your heartbeat down to achieve these feats. I'm busting my arse to dive 12mtr without blowing an O-ring.

Fozz