Mediterranean Freediving Meeting
Σουγια, Κρητη – Sougia, Crete, July 12 – 28, 2008
While attending this one-of-a-kind freediving meeting, William Winram got to continue his experiment with sled diving.
There are two kinds of sled diving for record recognition: variable weight and no limits. You may probably be familiar with the latter if you have watched 1988 Luc Besson’s “Le Grand Bleu” (The Big Blue).
No Limits (NL) involves a dive using a weighted sled down to a target depth and back to the surface using something other than one’s own power, usually a lift bag.Variable Weight (VWT) also involves the use of a weighted sled to a target depth but unlike No Limits, the diver gets back to the surface usually using the rope as well as fins.
Much has improved since the time when sled competitions were held. Sled divers descend head-up, making it much easier for compensating the ears. Currently, Tanya Streeter (USA) has held both world records in the two disciplines with 122 meters for VWT and 160 meters for NL, since 2002 and 2003 respectively ! In the men, Venezuelan Carlos Coste holds the VWT world record at 140 meters and Austrian freediving legend Herbert Nitsch detains the NL record with an unfathomable 214 meters !