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Descent to the Ocean

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On our scuba-diving holiday in Jardines de la Reina (Cuba), we were lucky to saw a freediving action by a world champion freediver Guillaume Néry diving descent to the ocean. It was an awesome sight  and a special one as well to witnessed how he went down to the deep ocean by holding his breath without using any breathing apparatus.  Guillaume Néry was staying on the same area for a documentary film on the freediver. Jardines de la Reina was known for sharks diving destination. During our dive there, we were easily spotted tens of sharks at the same dive site. Freediver and sharks were certainly an interesting combination for a documentary.

Freediver in Bali

It was not the first time I saw a freediver swimming descent to the ocean during my dive. Freedivers and scuba divers are sometimes sharing similar dive spot. In Bali I saw a freediver descent in the middle of a school of fish. Pretty cool! Freediving has different practice than scuba diving though. It means diving free from breathing support equipment like tanks. The freedivers depend on their lungs to descent by holding their breathe until they return to the surface. Holding breathe is not advised in scuba-diving as it may caused lung over expansion.

Have you seen Guillaume Néry in action? Here is one of his freediving action videos that created by his partner who is an amazing freediver as well,  Julie Gautier.

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Cuba, Cuba, Diving, Monochrome Monday
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100 Comments »

  1. I’ve seen this video before –very cool and artistic (but scary too, at least to me)!
    Would you be interested in freediving 🙂 ?

    • He is talented (and his wife too!)..He must be quite popular in France!
      No, I don’t feel to do freediving either but sincerely these freedivers look great on the camera frame!

      • I am watching it again and it SO SCARES ME. I don’t know how he can do it!!! But it is so beautiful too, and the music is great. But I am shivering as we speak 🙂

        • Totally understand! That’s how I felt as well at the beginning, I almost think it was manipulative thingie until I saw himself freediving in Cuba, he is talented and I guess he exercise a lot (we saw him did yoga everyday!)

          • As weird as it sounds, I ABSOLUTELY HATE putting my head under the water. The first time I dived in the ocean in Tanzania the teacher had to pull me to the water, I was so scared ,-) (but I am happy he did!) But strangely enough, as soon as I finished my course, I hopped on a plane for a diving trip in the Mauritius island. Controversial I know… There have been moments when I have felt just fine, very comfortable, like e.g. diving with that Italian in Sudan (even if we went far too deep and did some crazy things). I cannot figure it out 😉 I think now I would freak out again as it has been several years.

            • 😀 Ehat a story Miia! That reminds me of my first dive to get my certification! The challenge of the “first time” moment I guess? Maybe you can take refresh course before starting diving again, I think it is only for half day but it’s a good course to adjust again 😀

              • Ever since the first time I have always forced myself to jump in –except one time in Costa Rica when we were supposed to dive around a small volcanic island and it was really stormy. All sorts of crazy ideas of a volcano erupting got into my head and I refused to get in. Haha.

                When did you get your certificate and where?

                • Oh my! But wouldn’t be nice to witness a volcano erupted underwater? 😀
                  I was such a drama person when taking my first class for OW certification – I am relatively new to diving, it was in 2010 in Mexico, but in the end I got my license in Belize instead. Got my AOW in the end just because I am planning to take a Rescue course. Now I can not wait to be in the water 😀 I promise myself to write the story on the fifth anniversary having my OW license – it’s quite embarrassing story 😀
                  BTW, do you feel like diving in France? I have heard some area is quite nice to dive as well..

                  • Haha I would totally freak out if a volcano erupted underwater in front of me!!

                    Do write your story! I have diving stories too but no photos to go with 😦

                    Diving in France…. maybe in Corsica? I need clear water, that’s one thing, otherwise I get scared of sea monsters… 😉 The Med has some good spots so maybe, but I am also spoiled now. I like when the water is really, really warm 🙂

                    What I could never do is dive under the ice. Or dive in Finland with zero visibility… That would be ultimate torture for me!!!

  4. Those freedivers are truly amazing. I suppose that’s what humans had to do prior to SCUBA. I love the photo of the descent. Scary yet breathtaking.

    • Thank you Sue! I think the sport is just recently becoming hip and acknowledged worldwide. The challenge usually to dive deeper and the longer stay underwater holding their breath.