May2016
Smile
129
INTODEEPERSPACE
FREEDIVING INTHE
PHILIPPINES IS
MAKINGWAVES
O
naboating trip
inPanglao,Bohol
sixyearsago,
photographerMartin
Zapanta jumped into theopen
waters forasnorkel and found
himselfnearlydrowning, taking
saltwateruphisnoseandmouth
ashesplashedabout inafitof
panic.But rather thanputhim
off thewater forever, the incident
inspiredhiscurrentobsession—
competitive freediving, orholding
yourbreathasyoudive into the
bluewithout theaidofbreathing
apparatus.Whilehispersonal
best so far isdiving180ftwitha
monofin, hisgoal is tobe thefirst
Filipino to freedive toadepth
of330ft.Here, inbreathtaking
images, heanswers thequestion,
“Whydo it?”
PHOTOSBY
MARTINZAPANTA
Thebigblue
