FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

An Unprecedented Day for US Freediving with Three New National Records.

West Bay, Grand Cayman.  United States Apnea Association (USAA) is pleased to report that US Freediving history has been made with three US National Records falling in the same day.  US athletes Erin Magee, Ashley Chapman, and Grant Hogan have all set new US National Records in the same day of competition at the Déjà Blue Deux event.

Grant is relatively new to organized freediving.  He is a Divemaster with Sea Experience in Fort Lauderdale, FL.  This is his first freediving competition.  He has broken the Constant No Fins (CNF) Record with a dive to 65 M (213 feet) in depth while holding his breath and swimming without the use of fins.  Rob King held the record at 63 meters (207 feet) set in the Bahamas in November 2009 during the AIDA Individual Depth World Championships. 

Grant’s effort took two minutes and forty-five seconds.  Upon reaching the surface, he performed his surface protocol within the regulated time to receive white cards from the two AIDA Judges officiating the competition.  Grant said, “I came to Cayman thinking it would be fun to try a freediving competition. After training with my training partner Erin Magee, I was blown away at how good I felt and how fast my dives were progressing.  So, when my first dive went so well, I decided to go for it.  I am jazzed about seeing what else I can do with the remaining time I have here.”

Erin has broken her own national record that she set the previous day in Constant Weight (CWT) with a dive to 75 meters (246 feet).  The dive took two minutes and twenty-four seconds.  She makes her living as a Performance Freediving International Staff Instructor.  Erin’s performance marks her third national record.  Erin said, “I am so excited to be dong so well.  The dive felt so good.  I am looking forward to seeing just how far I can take it in the next few days.”

Ashley bettered her performance of the previous day with a Constant No Fins dive to 55 meters (180 feet).  Ashley’s dive took two minutes and thirty-five seconds.  Ashley’s swim elevates her to Continental and Pan American Record status on top of her US Record status.  Ashley was a member of the US Women’s Freediving Team in 2008.  She makes her living as a PFI Instructor with Evolve Freediving.  Ashley said, “I am blown away to have been able to make a five meter jump over my last dive.  The Continental and Pan American Records I was not expecting when I came to Cayman.  With a bit of rest and a few more good dives I am really looking forward to seeing what I can manage next.”

The Performance Freediving Invitational Competition, Déjà Blue Deux, is an annual event that has taken place in Grand Cayman since 2006.  For more information checkout http://www.performancefreediving.com.

Grand Cayman is a diving mecca in the center of the Caribbean, better known as a scuba diving destination; it has recently seen an influx of freediving activity, competitions, and courses.  Cayman’s clear, blue, and warm waters make it ideal for all water activities.  The submerged walls with their sheer drop offs make it ideal for deep freediving. 

Constant Weight (CWT) challenges the athlete to swim to depth and back with the use of fins or a mono fin under their own power while holding their breath.  The athlete is not allowed to contact the competition line other than to recover their tag at depth while turning.  Upon reaching the surface the athlete must perform a surface protocol within fifteen seconds of their return to the surface.

Constant Weight No Fins (CNF) tests the freediver’s ability to swim to depth and return without the use of fins while holding their breath.  CNF is one of the most difficult disciplines in freediving.  Athletes use a modified breaststroke technique to propel themselves to depth and back.  Upon reaching the surface the athlete must perform the same surface protocol as CWT within fifteen seconds for the performance to be judges as valid.

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 http://www.usfreediving.org.

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.aidainternational.org.

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Images available upon request. 

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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