Howe Deep, an International Association of Freediving (AIDA ) Depth Freediving Competition, was held in Howe Sound this past weekend (Sept. 3 and 4).
It is organized by AIDA freediving instructors and judges Roberta Cenedese and Matt Townsend of Oceanoid, a freediving school.
Daniel Wright, shown in the main video, broke the B.C. provincial record in the Constant Weight No Fins category with a 43-metre freedive, Cenedese said.
Squamish's Luca Malaguti was trained at the school and had a student competing in this competition.
The fifth annual competition was at Ansell Point in West Vancouver from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on both days.
"Howe Deep is a meticulously organized event that requires a lot of support from volunteers and the sponsorship of local diving businesses. It would not be possible without a strong safety team of highly trained safety freedivers," said Cenedese in an email to The Squamish Chief.
This year's competition saw several B.C. provincial records broken and two new Alberta records set, according to Cenedese.
"In a freediving competition, an athlete declares a specific depth they intend to reach, and a marker is set to that depth," reads a post on Oceanoid's Instagram.
"The athlete then has a set amount of time to relax at the surface and take their final breath before diving. The diver may use fins or pull themselves down a set line, but they are not permitted to use any other devices to assist them. Once at the bottom— their declared depth — they grab a tag to prove that they made it. As they come up, they are joined by safety freedivers who escort the athlete and ensure they reach the surface safely."
Find out more at oceanoid.com.
Below video: Surface footage of Vancouver freediver Connor Lucas' freedive performance. Courtesy oceanoid.
