Free-diving is an aquatic sport, considered an extreme sport, in which diverss attempt to reach great depths unassisted by breathing apparatus.
The world record for the "No Limits" category of competitive free diving is held by French diver Loic Leferme. On 20 October 2002 he dove to a depth of 162m (531.4 feet), surpassing the previous record by 2 meters. The current woman's record is held by Tanya Streeter, who dove to 160m (524.8 feet) on 17 August 2002.
Competitive free diving is generally broken down into three categories; static, dynamic and depth.
- Static Apnea is timed breath holding and is usually attempted in a pool.
- Dynamic Apnea is underwater swimming for distance and has sub-categories for swimming with and without fins. This competition is usually held in a pool.
The depth category has four sub-sections:
- Constant Weight competition is for self-propelled maximum depth, no weights or lines are allowed. This category is also divided into sections for fins or without fins.
- Free Immersion competition is for self-propelled ascent and descent along a line and is for maximum depth.
- Variable Weight competition uses a weighted sled for descent and the diver ascends by pulling themselves up along a line.
- No Limits competition allows the diver to descend with a weighted sled and ascend with a buoyancy control device, usually an air filled bag with a tether.
Women and men's records are recognized in each category.
Free-diving featured heavily in the 1988 Luc Besson film Le Grand bleu (The Big Blue).
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