Wanted: 6 fearless Emiratis to hold their breath 60m underwater

FreedivingUAE, a local freediving academy founded in 2009, are recruiting fit, motivated Emiratis with some snorkelling or scuba diving experience and who are up for a tough challenge. 

These Emiratis will go on a journey to become part of the freediving elite during an unforgettable adventure to help bring back some of the glory of the UAE’s rich pearl diving history.

“We think there are lots of potential Emirati freedivers who would be up for this challenge,” Alex Boulting, co-founder of FreedivingUAE, said in a media statement.

The UAE seems the natural place to set such a challenge since pearl diving bought wealth to the region before the discovery of oil.
The only thing FreedivingUAE needs are people who can dedicate six months of their life to achieve something amazing for their nation whilst leaving a legacy for future generations of freedivers in the process. 

Thirty Emiratis have already expressed an interest in becoming future National Champions during the initial stages of recruiting.

The excitement from the Emiratis who have submitted their application is evident from the reasons they gave for wanting to participate.
One applicant stated: “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.”

Another is quoted as saying: “Freediving has taken me to places I never imagined that I could see. Pushing myself to the limit while diving is hard without any help and expertise showing me the way to accomplish my goal in breath hold and diving deep.”

“Even though we’ve received some amazing applications, we want to extend the opportunity to more Emiratis,” says Boulting. Interested applicants may visit freedivinguae.com

FreedivingUAE is a professional community of freedivers who have a passion for passively exploring the underwater world. The centre’s long-term goal is to increase freediving awareness in the UAE as well as increasing the sport’s popularity as a tourist activity.

Its short-term mission is to put the UAE on the international freediving map by organising a national team and running competitions locally. The first of which is this “6 to 60 metres in 6 months” challenge.

“In 2015 we want to send the first UAE national freediving team to the AIDA Team World Championships.  To achieve this goal we need to train 6 Emiratis to reach 60m in 6 months,” declares Boulting.

Ahmed Khoori, the UAE National Champion, is one of coaches who think the challenge is achievable and have offered their assistance. Khoori holds the current UAE national record at 45m for a constant weight dive and 46 meters for free immersion.

Many current freediving champions have managed to make the 60m depths within 6 months. However, this is not easily achieved, as there are critical physiological and psychological barriers that the human body needs time to overcome.

There is the capability within the UAE to train people to around 40m but depths beyond that will require specialist training from international freediving coaches. Whether or not the participants will be up to the challenge remains to be seen, but the initial reaction from the applicants certainly shows that it will not be for a lack of heart.

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