International freediver shares valuable knowledge with locals
Rudman stated that freediving is underwater diving that relies on breath-hold diving until resurfacing rather than using any equipment as in scuba diving.
Blairgowrie-based mermaid and freediver Janet Rudman was part of the recent freediving training that took place at the Miracle Waters.
With the large growing interest in the sport and the hunger for more knowledge, USA-based Talya Davidoff and her partner Jay Magee, were invited to run a depth masterclass. Davidoff, a South African freediving instructor, has been diving internationally and has been based in USA for the past few years. She has competed in the Vertical Blue, the most prestigious freediving competition in the world, by invitation only.
At this competition, she placed fifth overall. She also competed at the world championship in Kas, Turkey, where in overall ranking came second. She holds numerous freediving South African records, numerous freediving continental records and third-world records for spearfishing.
The training started out with lectures, followed by depth work. The purpose of the course was to teach the divers techniques to reach deeper depths. With local divers improving on their depth personal bests or making the bottom of the quarry. They were elated with what they had learnt over the weekend.
Rudman explained that she enjoyed mostly learning from the freedivers that are world renowned, with the experience that Davidoff and Magee have.
“What I learnt was how you need to move your palate, while freediving, in order to equalise your ears to go deeper when you feel like you have run out of air to do so [deep equalisation techniques]. Freediving takes you to the most peaceful place on earth. It’s silent, your mind is still and you are in the moment. You feel like you have escaped the earth and had a break from reality.”
She added that the most challenging was getting the new techniques they taught correct. “It will take many dives and practice to get it right. The one thing I learnt that will help me be the best freediver is to always be humble. Never push yourself if you aren’t feeling up to it. There will always be another day to dive.”
Other local divers who took part included Graeme Herd, Chris Baker, Gene van Heerden, Dirk Botha, Linda van der Colff, Adam Bown, Gerhard van Graan, and Brad Forrest.
Rudman urged the community to visit The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI) Freediving School, in Linden to learn more about freediving.
Contact details: janetlindarudman@icloud.com
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