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Cayman 2004 - Freediving World Record Event

Day 3 - Day one constant training

The next day we head out to dive offshore from Sunset House on the south end of the west side of Grand Cayman. We move from Divetech due to wind and waves and thinking that Sunset will be better protected. It is, but in making the change I end up leaving my equipment at Divetech :>( Because of busy afternoon cruise ship traffic returning to Divetech is out, so I borrow a tourist mask, fins, snorkel and suit from a friend working the shop. We head out to the wall with scooter, float, 110m of line, 20lbs of weight and our 13cuft integrated lift bag safety system. If you're wondering what that is, it's simply a line ascender hooked up to a 130lb lift bag and scuba pony bottle. Because Martin is training with a lanyard and can't fall off the line, it's our way of lifting the line to the surface in a depth related emergency. Even though 20lbs wouldn't be that much of a pain to bring up.

On our way out we pass Sunset's 12m racing yachts and the Atlantis Deep Submersible on its tender. We'll actually be doing some set-up dives with the deep sub. A friend of ours Courtney Platt pilots it, but will be taking pictures this time around. We get to the deep wall and start our warm-ups. Soon, after a couple of adjustments for depth, we're greeted by Marine Patrol who wonder if we're OK. Soon Martin is practicing his first constant ballast in a relatively easy depth of 70m. :>) He actually dives 71m in 2:47 which is a little relaxed in pace; but keep in mind that he was only 4m short of the world record in 1999 and this is his FIRST practice dive of the season :>) After this we proceed to kick back in after travelling about 1/2 mile down current, with me practically snapping the cruise shipper fins. It is totally exhausting and my legs feel it the next couple of days. This we'll have to change, and that night I was on the phone: HELP!

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