FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New US Men’s National Freediving Record Set by Leo Muraoka in Free Immersion to a Depth of 76 meters / 249 feet.

The United States Apnea Association (USAA) is pleased to announce that Leo Muraoka, a USAA member, set a new national record in the freediving discipline of free immersion to a depth of 76 meters on April 9, 2008, during the Vertical Blue 2008 Competition taking place on Long Island, Bahamas.  This performance surpasses the previous record of 75 meters set by Deron Verbeck at the 2007 AIDA Individual World Championships in Egypt. 

Two AIDA International judges officiated over the performance during the competition.  Leo dived to depth and returned without difficulty.  He performed the surfacing protocol required by the regulation in the required time.  Both judges judged the performance as valid.  He said of his record dive, “I had some difficulty equalizing my ears on the way down and I had to slow down around 60 meters, but I was able to get my ears to be okay.  This was one of the hardest dives I have ever done, but I am very happy I was successful.“

Free immersion is the freediving discipline that requires the athlete to pull their way to depth and back using their hands to pull down and up the competition line.  It is one of three recognized self-powered disciplines in the diving to depth arena.  The other two are constant weight and constant weight without fins.  Both require the athlete to swim to depth and return under their own power. 

The USAA is a nonprofit association founded on the democratic representation of freediving within the United States and internationally.  Founded in 2003, the USAA consists of an active membership dedicated to furthering freediving in the United States and abroad. For more information about the USAA, the U.S. National Freediving Team, and membership please visit www.usfreediving.org.

The Vertical Blue 2008 Competition is taking place at Dean’s Blue Hole on the island of Long Island in the Bahamas.  Organized by Vertical Blue, a freediving school on the island headed by world record freediver William Trubridge of New Zealand.  For daily updates checkout www.verticalblue.net

The International Association for the Development of Freediving, AIDA, is the international sanctioning body for freediving, individual and team competition, and freediving world record attempts.  For more information about AIDA please visit http://www.aida-international.org.

Contact Information:

Grant W. Graves, President
United States Apnea Association, USAA

3642 Seahorn Dr.
Malibu, CA 90265
Email: makog@aol.com
Phone: 310-560-6104

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