Alenka Artnik is the deepest female freediver in the world. Originating from Slovenia, she transformed her life and broke free of her old bonds to pursue this amazing sport and its deeper dimensions. Alenka first appeared on Episode #57 of the show. In this episode we discuss: She was in Dahab for training at the time of the interview. What are the biggest changes Alenka has noticed in Dahab in the 7 years since she was last here? Alenka got married! Congratulations! Alenka's feelings on...

Originally produced between 2019 and 2021, the Lost Episodes of The Freedive Cafe were originally released as exclusive content for Patreon subscribers, then lost to time. Recently unearthed in the Sinai desert, I can now deliver them for your listening pleasure! This episode with Davide was originally released on Patreon in October 2020. To become a supporter of the podcast through Patreon visit: https://www.patreon.com/freedivecafe Davide also appeared on Episodes #22 and #151 For all...

Kateryna Sadurska is a world record holding freediving athlete from Ukraine. Kate joined me at The Little Blue in Dahab to discuss her amazing 2023, how she trained for those huge dives and how her philosophy of freediving is evolving. She first appeared on Episode #139 of the podcast. In this episode we discuss: This was the first Freedive Cafe interview filmed at The Little Blue | Freediver's Oasis in Dahab. Kate first appeared on Episode #139 of The Freedive Cafe. A breakdown of Kate's...

Frank Pernett is originally from Colombia. He has been freediving his whole life and been involved in the deep freediving and freediving competition scenes for many years. He is currently based in Sweden where he is working towards his PhD under the watchful eye of freediving scientist Erika Schagatay Frank is a wealth of knowledge about freediving science and physiology and today we discuss some of the traditional topics of freediving science that interest us most as well as some new...

Davide Carrera was born in Turin in Italy and began freediving as a child during his summers spent in Leguria. He has was part of the World Championship winning teams of 1996 and 2001 and established a FIM world record shortly after when he dove to 91m.  He moved away from the competitive sphere in the end and went on to study yoga extensively, and he integrates that into his freediving, and it was his tale of solitary wandering across the mediterranean in his 28 foot trimaran that inspired...

Alexey Molchanov is a multi-world record holding and world record breaking freediving athlete and arguably the greatest and most consistent freediving athlete of all time. In this episode we discuss: This is the 150th episode of The Freedive Cafe! Alexey was in Cyprus at the time of recording, preparing for the AIDA World Championships. Alexey's thoughts on the doping accusations against Vitomir Maricic and Petar Klovar and doping in freediving. Is it time for new freediving...

Born in Cape Town, South Africa, Bevin Reynolds is a competitive pool freediver with multiple national and African continental records.  Despite only coming into the sport 18 months before her first AIDA Indoor World Championships this year, she took home 3 medals and the title of Vice-World Champion. In this episode we discuss: Bevin is from the suburbs of Cape Town, South Africa She had an early affinity and feel for the water. Started in swimming school at a very young age. Getting into...

Shadi Türk is a Syrian former fixer and journalist who worked through 10 years of the terrible war in his home country. After reaching his breaking point in this capacity he embarked on a journey of discovery which led him to Kaş, Türkiye, and the new adventure of deep freediving. In this episode we discuss: Shadi was born and raised in Syria and moved to Türkiye when he was 18, where he studied architecture. How Shadi became a fixer and a journalist. The psychological impact of seeing so...

Khaled ELGammal is Egypt's deepest diver and the first to reach the 100m mark. Today we hear about how Khaled left a corporate life working in oil and gas to dedicate himself to training for and teaching freediving. In this episode we discuss: Khaled was fresh back from Kuwait where he was acting as safety diver for the CMAS Indoor World Championships. Shout out to co-host Jordy Duncan who is competing for Australia at the AIDA World Championships in Jeju, South Korea. Khaled is originally...

Gary McGrath is the deepest ever self-propelled freediver from the UK, claiming a national record of 112m in CWT at 2022's Vertical Blue competition. In this episode we catch up with Gary since last years amazing Vertical Blue performance and examine the dark places in our mental environments, open up about depression, anxiety and seeking help, and sincerely hope you benefit from this discussion ❤️ Also watch on YouTube at Freedive and Thrive. In this episode we discuss: Second time...

Miguel Lozano is one of the deepest freedivers in the world. He first appeared on episode #67 of The Freedive Cafe podcast! This interview is also available in video format on the Freedive and Thrive  Youtube channel: https://youtu.be/XW-Y_zBHixw In this episode we discuss: Miguel and I last spoke in January 2020, recorded an interview and forgot to release it! About Miguel's Deep Camp in Dahab. The structure of the Deep Camp. What Miguel's been up to these past 3 years. Miguel's thoughts...

Stefan Randig is a German competitive freediver based in Dahab, Egypt. He first appeared on episode #10 of The Freedive Cafe: https://freedivecafe.com/2017/10/01/10-stefan-randig-freedive-panglao/ In this episode we discuss: The last time Stefan and I talked was in 2017, on episode #10 of The Freedive Cafe! (link above) What happened to Freedive Panglao? Stefan started his freediving journey in Dahab. Shout out to our colleagues in The Philippines. Dahab during COVID times. What's it like...

Jordy Duncan is not only my awesome co-host on the Freediving Journal News Dispatch, but an up and coming elite freediver in her own right.  Jordy has only been diving for around 2 years but has managed to achieve distances in the pool of more than 200m, which for me is an absolutely mind-blowing achievement!   Perhaps more interesting than Jordy's rapid rise as a freediving athlete is to see that in the context of where she's coming from.... Jordy has struggled with an eating disorder for...

Pete Botman is a Canadian/Dutch freediving athlete and instructor based in Dahab, Egypt. He is a 100m+ diver,  multiple World Record holder in the CMAS Master's category and didn't start freediving until he was later in his forties. In this episode we discuss: Pete was born and raised in Canada but grew up speaking Dutch. He joined the swim team and competed at quite a high level until aged 16. Teaching, coaching, lifeguarding, and cross-country skiing. How difficult is cross country...

Tito Zappalà is an Italian freediver and coach. He worked under the eye of Andrea Zuccari at Freediving World in Sharm el-Sheikh for five years before moving up to Dahab when he currently lives and coaches. In this episode we discuss: Tito and Kat's plans for the winter. Only 3 people in 7 years who pissed him off! Tito is from the galaxy and the stars, and ... specifically from Sicily, Italy. Early start in freediving, spearfishing with his father. Selling the family gold for a...

Ali Okab is the boss and face of the world-famous Aqua Marina, located right at the Blue Hole north of Dahab, Egypt. His restaurant is the starting point for all freediving adventures in the Blue Hole and the de facto family house for freedivers from all over the world. In this episode we discuss: Ali's full name is Ali Rekab Ali Ali Okab. Aqua Marina is a home for all the freedivers of the world. The challenges of running a restaurant at the Blue Hole. Ali's realisation about freediving...

Kateryna Sadurska is a multiple record holder and Ukrainian champion.  Kat has a background as a synchronised swimmer and even made it to the Olympics in Rio to represent Ukraine in that sport, and later turned her attention to our wonderful sport of freediving where she has rapidly been rising to the elite levels, especially in her pool performances.   In this episode we discuss: Katerina is from Mykolaiv, Ukraine. She has a background in synchronised swimming and did that for 17...

Denis Grosmaire was raised in the pacific island nation of French Polynesia, travelling for island to island as a kid with his mom, growing up in the ocean from a very young age.   However, he didn't dive deeper than 30m or take a freediving course until he was 39 years old. After that he very quickly rose up through the competition ranks and now dives well over 100m.   Denis also has a fascinating relationship with sharks. He spends hours and hours in the waters of French Polynesia with...

Bizo Silva is an Emergency Medicine physician practicing in a trauma center in Northern California, USA. He specialized in lung ultrasound in trauma. Bizo took part in much of the basic research and development of methods on how lung ultrasound is practiced today.  After working for a few years in a very busy trauma center in Brazil, he moved to the USA in 2007. He discovered freediving on a vacation to Hawaii, and shortly after decided to shift careers towards freediving medicine after he...

Alex Llinas is from Colombia and holds several national records. He dived his first 100m during competition at this years AIDA World Championships in Roatan. His story of spending years in immigration limbo, battling cancer and losing his father before going on to become a top freediving athlete is truly inspirational. In this episode we discuss: Alex is from Colombia About San Andres island, Colombia Then to life in Medellin. From Colombia to Charlotte, NC A slightly complicated...

Jani Valdivia is from Peru and is based in Tampa, Florida where he works as a neurosurgeon. He is also a member of the AIDA Medical Committee, President of AIDA Peru and a competitive freediver himself. He was first on the podcast on Episode #99 For freediving courses, coaching, podcasts and videos visit: https://freediveandthrive.com In this episode we discuss: Balancing life as a neurosurgeon and aspiring deep freediver. Training options in Florida. Getting ready for Vertical Blue...

Carlos Diezel is a freediving athlete from Brazil and manager of the world famous Dahab Freedivers school in Egypt. In this episode we discuss: Carlos is from Brazil. The underwater world of Brazil's coast. Discovering freediving at Julia Mouce's Apnea Bali, via Mike Board's Freedive Gili! Carlos is getting steadily deeper and loves depth Carlos is currently coached by Julia Mouce. The issue of diving for the numbers. Carlos did his last comp with a broken ankle! Discovering new layers of...

Rami Bladlav is a top level athlete in Static Apnea competing for Sweden. He is nearing the 10 minute breath-hold mark. Today we talk about his journey from Iraq, to Mixed Martial Arts, to his passion for long breath-holding performances.  In this episode we discuss: Rami is originally from Iraq, but grew up in Iran, then moved to Sweden at age 10/11 Rami started sport with football, then eventually mixed martial arts. What is it like to be a fighter? Rami's fighting history. Rami has two...

Guillaume Néry is one of the most iconic figures in the freediving world. A World Champion, world record achiever and a filmmaker who has introduced the underwater world and freediving to millions. In this episode we discuss: Guillaume grew up next to the sea in Nice, France. Does going naked in the bed improve breath hold ability? Meeting Claude Chapuis, his mentor. Remembering Loïc Leferme Pioneers of the freediving world. How were the big dives performed back in the day? Guillaume's...