Freediving UAE are on the lookout for fearless individuals

Jay Asser 11:56 18/08/2014
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  • Amazing challenge: Freediving UAE want to assemble a team of six fit and motivated Emiratis for the AIDA World Championship.

    Freediving UAE are searching for fearless participants to take the plunge as they hope to recruit six Emiratis on a mission to freedive 60 metres in six months.

    Venturing to the bottom of deep blue seas is daunting enough with scuba gear delivering essential oxygen, but trying to hold your breath while the pressure grows the further you travel is not for the faint hearted.

    The initiative is aiming to collect the six most fit, motivated Emiratis in the region and assemble a group capable of competing in events by AIDA International, the worldwide federation for breath-hold diving.

    “In 2015 we want to send the first UAE national freediving team to the AIDA Team World Championships,” said Alex Boulting, co-founder of FreedivingUAE. “To achieve this goal we need to train six Emiratis to reach 60m in six months.”

    The 60 metres will be a challenge as no Emirati has ever reached that depth. The current UAE national record is held by Ahmed Khoori, the UAE national champion with a constant weight dive of 45 metres and a free immersion dive of 46m.

    However, Freediving UAE intend to give the best coaching to the willing participants and send them overseas to train.

    So far, more than 40 Emiratis have already submitted their application, stating their desire to be a part of the challenge. But Boulting wants to have the widest selection pool possible to choose the best of the best. “We think there are lots of potential Emirati freedivers who would be up for this challenge,” Boulting said.

    “Even though we’ve received some amazing applications, we want to extend the opportunity to more Emiratis.”

    Interested applicants need to show passion for diving in order to be chosen from the vast field. A number of Emiratis have already stated their case, like this one applicant who wrote: “I am so addicted to the sea and I can’t spend few days without having a dive, even in the coldest days I would still dive and it’s a dream to dive professionally like a fish.”

    Any brave Emiratis can apply for the “6 to 60 in 6” challenge at www.freedivinguae.com/60-in-6.

    For Boulting and Freediving UAE, the goal isn’t to just reach the 60 metre benchmark, it’s to leave a lasting legacy with Emiratis in the sport of freediving. Boulting said: “We want to help others achieve their goals, creating Emirati divers of the future as well as making other Emiratis proud of what they’ve been able to achieve.”

    What: Freediving UAE’s “6 to 60 in 6” challenge
    Where: Diving venues outside UAE
    When: The application process is still open for anyone interested
    Contact: Visit www.freedivinguae.com/60-in-6 to submit your application

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