No-limits apnea

No-limits apnea is an AIDA International freediving discipline in which the freediver descends and ascends with the method of his or her choice.[1] Often, a heavy metal bar or "sled" grasped by the diver descends fixed to a line, reaching great depths. The most common ascension assistance is via inflatable lifting bags or vests with inflatable compartments, which surface rapidly. The dives may be performed head-first or feet-first.

This form of diving is considered extremely dangerous by diving professionals; the various organizations that organize and promote breath-hold activities have not officially recognized no limits apnea, given that they’re not willing to deal with the consequent dangers. No-limits apnea has claimed the lives of several divers.

Challenges

The three main differences between free diving disciplines that involve diving to depth and those that occur at the surface are that you can not interrupt the dive, there are periods where work is performed and the diver is impacted by direct effects of pressure.[2]

Records

The current no-limits world record holder is Herbert Nitsch with a depth of 214 m set on June 14, 2007, in Spetses, Greece.[3]

References

  1. McKie, N (2004). "Freediving in cyberspace.". Journal of the South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society. 34: 101–3. Retrieved 2013-10-05.
  2. Schagatay E (December 2011). "Predicting performance in competitive apnea diving. Part III: deep diving". Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine : the Journal of the South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society 41 (4): 216–28. PMID 22183699. Retrieved 2014-02-10.
  3. "World Records". AIDA International. Retrieved 2014-02-10.

External links