Shark Freediving

We got our first guest writer here on Shark Freediving, Sara Campbell from the UK. She started with freediving less then one year ago and this was her first competition in which she participated. She immediately took the British women’s constant without fins freediving record with a depth of 30 meters. So, as a small follow up to my previous article about the competition, she corrects some of the errors and gives a nice account on what went on over there.

The CWT/CNF competition in Dahab was a small affair, just 11 athletes, from six nations. The great and the good were there both to compete (Annelie Pompe of Sweden, Thomas Grindevoll and Elisabeth Kirstoffersen from Norway, Daan Verhoeven from the Netherlands) and judge and organize (Linda Paganelli and Lotta Ericson). Held over two days, the format was relaxed with competitors choosing whether to compete in both disciplines or make two dives in the same discipline. It being my first ever event, it’s impossible to compare it to others, but I loved it! I’ve seen freedivers come and go through the Blue Hole, and watched the Triple Depth competitions held there, and always been inspired by the atmosphere between the divers – it really is one big, happy family!

The waters weren’t as clear as they can be in the Blue Hole, but the jellyfish (some with lights blinking all the way down their sides) were just awesome – what better way to relax on your breathe-up than watching them float effortlessly past your mask!

The full line-up (and the dive order for the first day) was as follows: Joachim Boillard (CH), Andrea Zuccari (ITA), Sara Campbell (UK), Rolf Sar (SWE), Cedric Schmid (CH), Daan Verhoeven (NL), Elisabeth Kirstoffersen (NOR), Sebastian Naslund (SWE), Federico Mana (ITA), Annelie Pompe (SWE), Thomas Grindevoll (NOR)

The final results were:
Thomas Grindevoll – 1st
Elisabeth Kristoffersen – 2nd
Annelie Pompe and Sara Campbell – joint 3rd

Because of the format of the competition, the results don’t really reflect actual performances – Thomas and Annelie gained their points on just one dive each, and Sara and Elisabeth’s results were combined from two dives.

Lots of fun, and great counter ballast system designed and made in Egypt (possibly the most impressive feat of the event!!) and some great results.

Sara Campbell, UK

Note: Next week there will again be a competition in Dahab, this time in static and dynamic. So if anyone wants to do a follow up on that with a small report, then let me know.