Briton SaraCampbell is the formerwomen’s free-divingworld
recordholder. She became the record-holder in 2009, diving to
96
min the Bahamas; days later, she became the first woman
to dive to 100m, though the recorddidn’t standbecause she
blacked out on the surface. She tells us what it takes
The moments before a dive I’m in the water, floating at the
surface, holding on to the buoy. I’m focusing on every moment,
not thinking ahead, making sure each inhale and each exhale is
perfect because my final inhale is going to have to take me the
whole way. It has to last me around four minutes.
For the first 20m, I focus on kicking and propelling myself
down. After that initial descent, I can stop kicking and start
sinking. The sensation of doing nothing to propel myself
downwards is a lovely feeling. I focus on transitioning into my
deep equalisation technique, ensuring that I’m streamlined and
relaxed, and that my ears stay open. There can’t be any room
for distracting thoughts.
So much of freediving is about managing my thoughts. If
I’m positive, calm and relaxed, I know the dive will be good.
If I’m panicky, it’s critical that I manage these thoughts. If
you panic, your mind burns up more energy and it’s a self-
fulfilling prophecy that you’ll run into trouble. I practice a lot
of meditation and when I’m underwater it’s easy to enter a
meditative state because it’s completely silent.
I have to work hard to get back up to the surface because
I’m swimming against gravity with all that water on top of me.
I need to know my legs and core muscles are strong enough to
carry me up, but if my mind is in a place where I know I can do
it, my body will follow.
If somebody can swim and they’re comfortable in a mask
and a snorkel, they can freedive. Almost anyone can do it and
benefit from it, even if you’re only going 5m or 10m below the
surface.
sarafreediver.com
Now it’s your turn
To watch some freediving, the AIDA Depth
World Championships take place in Kalamata, near Athens,
from 15-22 September. The AIDA website also has information
on freediving courses around Europe.
aidainternational.org
Daniel Start, author of
Wild
Swimming France,
tells us
about the joys of swimming in
Aiglun, off the French Riviera
Aiglun, set in the hills north
of Cannes, is one of the most
dramatic aquatic playgrounds
in France – and though it’s
only half an hour’s drive
and a short hike from the
millionaire’s coast, you’ll
probably have this remote
landscape of clear rivers,
cascades and bubbling natural
spas to yourself.
Today, in the heat of the
French summer, the white
marble ledges are empty
and the smooth rock warm
under foot. Positioning
myself for a dive, I spring
into the great basin of crystal
mountain water. It’s cold,
but refreshingly so. I swim
underwater then burst up to
the surface through the riot of
bubbles and make a few laps of
the pool, drinking little sips of
the sweet water.
Downstream are more pools
and beachy areas perfect
for families. Upstream, the
river narrows between high
cliffs and becomes decidedly
adventurous – it’s also a
popular canyoning spot. I strap
on my sandals and get ready to
aqua-scramble into the heart
of the stream. Water gushes
and thunders ever louder,
and shafts of light filter down
from the high roof above.
As the channel deepens and
the water churns, I imagine
how Jonah felt after being
swallowed by the whale.
Now it’s your turn
To get
directions to more than 400
swimming spots across France,
buy the book or download the
app.
wildswimming.com
»
WHAT IT FEELS LIKE…
To dive 100m
under water
with a single
breath
WHAT IT FEELS LIKE…
To swim in
secret gorges
near Nice
AL AMY
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