Freediving New Zealand Depth Nationals 2018

Freediving NZ is proud to announce the ‘Freediving NZ Depth Nationals 2018’, this annual event will be held in Lake Taupo, based at Motutere Bay from Thursday 15th March to Saturday 17th March 2018.

Competitors from all over NZ and Overseas will compete in three disciplines, both at AIDA grade (For Ranking Points) and Recreational Grade – a popular format for our upcoming NZ Freedivers. Taupo offers deep clear waters and numerous options to find sheltered water for the competition. The whole NZ Freediving community gets behind the event; either competing or being one of the many volunteers required to provide Judging, Safety Divers, Boatman, Linesman and other general helpers.

Depth Competitors have the option to compete over three events; all disciplines are completed with a single breath of air: FIM – Free Immersion , you are allowed to use the rope to propel yourself down/up. CWT – Constant Weight, you are allowed to use fins and maintain a constant weight for the duration of your dive.

CNF – Constant Weight without fins, maintain a constant weight and use no fins. This year, allowing flexibility to our athletes, they are able to compete over all three days or single days if required. Divers can nominate any discipline for any dive but the final rankings will be made up of the points awarded for the best dive per discipline; so to accumulate the most points for the overall title you are likely to need to compete in all disciplines over the three days.

“This year is a continues with the new format, where both AIDA and recreational grades are able to take advantage of the flexible dives; we expect a great turnout of competitors and the ability for our newer divers in rec-grade to learn and mix with our established AIDA grade athletes, furthering their experience, knowledge and growing our community. ” states Nick Rhodes, FreeDiving NZ.

PADI Regional Manager, Jen Clent says “PADI is proud to be involved in the New Zealand Freediving Depth Nationals 2018. It’s really exciting to see the growth of this sport – both competitively and recreationally – and to play a part in training more PADI Freedivers to dive safely in New Zealand and around the world.”

Freediving is a water-based breath holding sport, essentially snorkelling taken to an extreme. In pool competitions divers attempt dives based on horizontal distance swam underwater (dynamics) and time based breath holds (statics). Depth events are held in open water where divers reach great depths and return on a single breath.

Freediving can be dangerous if practiced alone or without proper instruction due to the risk of hypoxic black out, and a course or introductory session with a freediving club is highly recommended. Clubs offer intro evenings for anyone who snorkels, likes the water or just wants to see how long they can hold their breath in a safe environment. For more information find them on Facebook.

More information on the event can be found on the Freediving New Zealand Website : http://www.freediving.co.nz/freediving-new-zealand-depth-nationals-2018/

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