FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Déjà Blue, All Over Again, Another Unprecedented Day for US Freediving.

West Bay, Grand Cayman.  It must be in the water.  US athletes are tearing it up in competition these days and they are repeat offenders.  United States Apnea Association (USAA) is pleased to report that US Freediving history has been made again 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 again in the same day of competition at the Déjà Blue Deux event.

AIDA Freediving Judge Matt Charlton said, “National records do not fall every day and to have three different records for the same nation fall in one day is rare enough and for that to happen twice in the same competition is just unheard of.”

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 his Constant No Fins (CNF) Record with a dive to 67 M (220 feet) while holding his breath and swimming without the use of fins.  His previous record was set two days prior at the event.

Grant’s effort took two minutes and fifty seconds.  Grant said, “I felt so strong that the dive surprised me.  I feel good enough to take a couple days off and see what I can do on the last day of the competition.  I am looking forward to my next dive.”

Erin has broken her own national record that she set two days prior in Constant Weight (CWT) with a dive to 77 meters (252 feet).  The dive took two minutes and twenty-six seconds.  She makes her living as a Performance Freediving International Staff Instructor.  Erin’s performance marks her fourth national record.  Erin said, “The dive went well and I felt stronger than my last two record dives here.  With more time remaining in the competition, I cannot wait for getting a chance to see what else I can do.”

Ashley bettered her performance of two days prior with a Constant No Fins dive to 58 meters (190 feet).  Ashley’s dive took three minutes and three seconds.  Ashley’s dive provides distance on to her Continental and Pan American Record status as well ass 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, “My dive went well.  I am starting to feel it in my arms, but I think with a few days rest I can do more.  It is so much fun to have my friends and fellow freedivers with me in this.”

The competition is seven days long.  Many of the athletes have been reaching personal best performances on an almost daily basis.  The setting provides a very conducive environment for big performances with several days of competition to attempt performance is all competitive freediving disciplines.  For a description of the freediving disciplines go to http://www.usfreediving.org/freediving-competition.htm

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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