Free Diving World Record Set in The Bahamas
New Zealand Native Takes on World's Deepest Blue Hole
William Trubridge made free diving history by reaching 83 meters at Dean's Blue Hole, off the shores of Long Island, Bahamas. With a dive time of just over three minutes, and without the assistance of fins, ropes or weight belts, Trubridge reached an unassisted free dive depth of 82 meters.
Two days prior, Trubridge made free diving history by reaching 81 meters, shaving a meter off the previous record set by Czech Republic diver Martin Stepanek in 2005. The 28 year-old Trubridge from New Zealand, is now the man that holds the new world record for free diving. Sponsoring his world-record effort were local resorts and dive operators Stella Maris Resort and Reel Divers at Grotto Bay.
Then on the 10th of April during the Vertical Blue 2008 free-diving competition, William set the Constant Weight without fins world record with a depth of 86m and a dive time of 3:20, breaking his previous record of 84m set on the 4th of April.
During that same period he also took the world record in Free Immersion discipline with a depth of 108m and a dive time of 3:51, breaking his own world record of 107m set only three days earlier.
Dean's Blue Hole, plunges 663 feet into the ocean floor, and is the world's deepest blue hole and the second largest underwater chamber. Lying on the eastern end of Long Island, the blue hole attracts diving vacationers to The Bahamas from all over the world. Dean's is enclosed on three sides by a natural rock amphitheatre, and on the other side by a turquoise lagoon and powder white beach. On a clear day, with the sun shining straight into the hole, it is like diving in an immense underwater cathedral.
Located just off the shore of Long Island, there has never been reports of any swells or waves inside the Hole, and visibility is usually between 15 - 30 meters (50 - 100 feet). At the surface the Blue Hole is 25 x 35m (80 x 120 feet), but opens out after 20m (60 feet) into a cavern with a diameter of at least 100m (330 feet).
Dean's Blue Hole, harboring all kinds of tropical reef fish, is considered a diver's dream - offering the most amazing underwater experiences to those seeking a Bahamas diving vacation. "We're honored to be the host country to Dean's Blue Hole, and be a part of free diving history," said Anthony Stuart, executive director of Bahama Out Islands Promotion Board. An instructor for the Apnea Academy, Trubridge trains and teaches free-diving at Dean's Blue Hole from November to May.
