NEWS

Cayman 2004 - Freediving World Record Event

Day 12 - No lake-calm waters today!

From Mandy-Rae

So it's Friday today and I'm finding it hard to tell the days of the week apart anymore. All I know is that it's a training day. The winds are still acting up here, so the nice lake-like water that we were hoping for is still really choppy. But nothing that we can't handle with a little ginger :-)

Counter ballast system from below

Mandy at the plate

We have a new guest on our boat today: Courtney Platt, a friend of Kirk's. He has come along to take some first class photos of our underwater adventures. He has an impressive resume which includes shooting for National Geographic, among other well known publications. It's weird hearing bubbles and seeing flashes in the otherwise quiet water; but we'll have to start getting used to it and this is a nice way to ease into it.

Today we're missing Derek our safety diver and videographer who needs some surface interval before some other dives he has coming up. Because of this we reweigh the counterbalance system with 40lbs on the comp line and 80lbs on the counterbalance line. All we'll have to do is release the line and our weighted plate will be pulled to the surface by the 80lb weight. Our timing on the target dives will be an important safety issue for Kirk to focus on today as this determines whether the counterbalance will be released or not.

While our boat captain Danny tries to order up some sunshine for us, Martin, Kirk and Tony suit up and get into the water. There's a fifteen minute delay as the new LONG line has to be straightened out prior to Martin's target dive. Sinking line tends to be a bit harder to deal with than the floating line that we usually use. Martin just relaxes and tries not to get too cold in the wind-swept water. We all watch as he begins sinking into the clear blue waters and we start anticipating his return. After 3:02 (1:20 down & 1:42 up) Martin is back on the surface after successfully completing an unofficial world record dive to 96m / 315'!!! And to top it off he looks to me like he has just done 30m / 99'. Kirk notes later that Martin let a small burst of air release as Kirk drops his arms at 10m. Martin can't explain why :-)

I am next in line with my second attempt at Free Immersion. Today I wear two computers just in case one does'nt turn on again like yesterday. I also make extra sure that my goggles are nice and secure. The goal for this dive is to slow down. Everything goes just like clockwork. My pulls are slow yet powerful and I just enjoy the ride. The bottom plate at 66m comes up on me faster than I think it will and before I know it I'm on my way back up. Next thing I know Kirk is there in front of me at 25m and we're all done. I'm back on the surface in 2:22 (1:14 down and 1:08 up). It was a great dive.

Next up is our newest team member, Doc. After just five training dives he is already 7m / 23' ahead of his goals, so today he's concentrating on his technique. He does just that by doing twelve packs (instead of five) on his final breath; remembering to use the "whale" technique to bring up extra air to equalize with; and keeping his feet more streamlined with the rest of his body. For most people this would be too many things to work on in one session, but not for our Doc.

Team at the dock

Martin and Kirk checking email

After the dive it's off to Lone Stars for a big serving of chicken fajitas and lots of water. So I guess that you can say that it is a very successful day for everyone. Tomorrow will see Martin going for 98m free immersion; me going for 69m constant ballast; and Doc trying some variable ballast training so he can get more practice at head down equalizing!!!

Stay tuned for more adventures from the blue zone!!!

Mandy-Rae
Performance Freediving

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