Tanya Streeter
October 19, 2006 1:53 PM Subscribe
Tanya Streeter is a champion in the sport of competitive freediving. Anyone who can dive to 400 feet and return using muscle power and fins, or to 525 feet below the surface of the water using a special sled, on just one breath of air, has won my undying respect.
woah. How does she get around the shallow and/or deep water blackout? Also, awesome uni-fin.
posted by GuyZero at 2:19 PM on October 19, 2006
posted by GuyZero at 2:19 PM on October 19, 2006
The dumber an activity is, the more drawn the French will be to it, (See; The mono ski for proof). Looking at the Wikipedia list of notable names, I see a heavy Gallic influence. I rest my case.
posted by Keith Talent at 2:24 PM on October 19, 2006
posted by Keith Talent at 2:24 PM on October 19, 2006
You'd think she'd either cut her hair or wear a swim cap during the dives, to reduce drag, but the pictures on her site seem to indicate she doesn't.
posted by gsteff at 2:32 PM on October 19, 2006
posted by gsteff at 2:32 PM on October 19, 2006
Whenever I read about this sport I find myself involuntarily holding my breath.
posted by bshort at 2:35 PM on October 19, 2006
posted by bshort at 2:35 PM on October 19, 2006
How is it possible to get below 100 feet (much less 300 or 400) and not have your ribcage crushed by the pressure of the water? What's the water psi, like 100 or 200 psi, at that depth?
posted by chef_boyardee at 2:39 PM on October 19, 2006
posted by chef_boyardee at 2:39 PM on October 19, 2006
wow, you can slam the French and freedivers based on stereotypes alone... and in 1 comment!! I guess your talent, keith, is trolling. Better work on it though, many of the trolling pros here would leave you holding your jockstrap.
For those who might be interested a great movie on the subject is Le Grand bleu which is The Big Blue for you francophobes. Excellent flick.
A new film is due out on this subject, but I can't find the linkage.
posted by HyperBlue at 2:40 PM on October 19, 2006
For those who might be interested a great movie on the subject is Le Grand bleu which is The Big Blue for you francophobes. Excellent flick.
A new film is due out on this subject, but I can't find the linkage.
posted by HyperBlue at 2:40 PM on October 19, 2006
Heh, interesting. I guess that if you go that deep without breathing, you don't have to worry about decompression sickness from the rapid ascent since you're not taking in any nitrogen.
It's not all THAT crazy, if you train hard, have a guide rope, and use plenty of safety divers. I'm impressed, especially since I tend to burn through a tank in about 45 minutes.
posted by xthlc at 2:41 PM on October 19, 2006
It's not all THAT crazy, if you train hard, have a guide rope, and use plenty of safety divers. I'm impressed, especially since I tend to burn through a tank in about 45 minutes.
posted by xthlc at 2:41 PM on October 19, 2006
chef_boyardee, generally you get another atmosphere of pressure every ten meters. So that's about 17 atmospheres, or 250 psi at 160 meters. Definitely doable, but probably very uncomfortable.
posted by xthlc at 2:44 PM on October 19, 2006
posted by xthlc at 2:44 PM on October 19, 2006
People have gone on 900-1000 foot dives without being encased in dive armor. Not sure what the exact limits of the human body would be.
posted by jason's_planet at 2:47 PM on October 19, 2006
posted by jason's_planet at 2:47 PM on October 19, 2006
Here's the new movie on freediving. Due out in 2008 from James Cameron of Titanic fame:
"The Dive" / Twentieth Century Fox. Dana Stevens is set to write the script according to The Hollywood Reporter. The feature is based on a true-life love story between divers Francisco "Pipin" Ferreras and his wife, Audrey Mestre. Cameron not only has the Ferreras' life rights, but also a cover story on the diver. Breaking her husbands record, Mestre died last year whilst descending 557.7 feet while holding a single breath of air in her lungs to improve her world mark. Coming Soon has more information.
posted by HyperBlue at 2:48 PM on October 19, 2006
"The Dive" / Twentieth Century Fox. Dana Stevens is set to write the script according to The Hollywood Reporter. The feature is based on a true-life love story between divers Francisco "Pipin" Ferreras and his wife, Audrey Mestre. Cameron not only has the Ferreras' life rights, but also a cover story on the diver. Breaking her husbands record, Mestre died last year whilst descending 557.7 feet while holding a single breath of air in her lungs to improve her world mark. Coming Soon has more information.
posted by HyperBlue at 2:48 PM on October 19, 2006
For those who might be interested a great movie on the subject is Le Grand bleu which is The Big Blue for you francophobes.
I don't know whether that's a joke.
posted by Kwantsar at 2:50 PM on October 19, 2006
I don't know whether that's a joke.
posted by Kwantsar at 2:50 PM on October 19, 2006
Hyperblue - I'm neither trolling nor a a francophobe. The fact remains that there is something in the French character that attracts them to offbeat, and occasionally stupid sports, of which I'd consider an organized contest to hold your breath to be one. Put it this way, David Blaine thought it'd be cool.
posted by Keith Talent at 2:59 PM on October 19, 2006
posted by Keith Talent at 2:59 PM on October 19, 2006
There was a pretty good episode of CSI:Miami in which one freediver murdered his brother underwater because of delerium. I remember David Caruso delivering a pretty hammed-up cop-figuring-things-out-style bit of dialogue along the lines of: "Things get crazy down there. You can't think straight."
posted by aliasless at 3:06 PM on October 19, 2006
posted by aliasless at 3:06 PM on October 19, 2006
Here's the new movie on freediving.
There's an HBO Real Sports segment on that story. It's pretty tragic.
posted by smackfu at 3:30 PM on October 19, 2006
There's an HBO Real Sports segment on that story. It's pretty tragic.
posted by smackfu at 3:30 PM on October 19, 2006
Good grief, I get dizzy (from fear) just thinking about this type of "extreme" activity!
posted by davidmsc at 3:58 PM on October 19, 2006
posted by davidmsc at 3:58 PM on October 19, 2006
Amazing! Thanks for the post.
Slightly off topic - but I thought the Brits had the corner on devising "offbeat, and occasionally stupid sports":
http://www.extremeironing.com
Not, of course, that extreme ironing is really stupid...
posted by speug at 4:18 PM on October 19, 2006
Slightly off topic - but I thought the Brits had the corner on devising "offbeat, and occasionally stupid sports":
http://www.extremeironing.com
Not, of course, that extreme ironing is really stupid...
posted by speug at 4:18 PM on October 19, 2006
ok. we get it. you are sponsored by a watchmaker.
"how about one without the watch?"
"how about one more WITH!?"
posted by darkpony at 5:03 PM on October 19, 2006
"how about one without the watch?"
"how about one more WITH!?"
posted by darkpony at 5:03 PM on October 19, 2006
She's hot
She looks a little bit too much like Ann Coulter.
posted by xthlc at 5:10 PM on October 19, 2006
She looks a little bit too much like Ann Coulter.
posted by xthlc at 5:10 PM on October 19, 2006
I’m an avid (SCUBA) diver, and while free diving is a sport I’d like to have a lot of respect for, I’m afraid I don’t. The more I learn about it, the more it seems to just be about endurance freaks and little else – somewhat like the truth to Everest climbing, but with far less skill. After reading The Dive (about Ferreras), I found myself with little sympathy for the man
As remarked about in the book, the sport of beating the current record by a metre or two and no more, so that it can be beaten again in six months, and then by you again the following year... not impressed. Here's an idea for a sport: let's get a team of sherpas to drag you up Everest in a sled and you just see if you can survive. It'll make great reality tv.
On preview, oh didn’t know they were making it into a movie, Hyperblue. I hope they get the arrogance right.
posted by dreamsign at 5:42 PM on October 19, 2006
As remarked about in the book, the sport of beating the current record by a metre or two and no more, so that it can be beaten again in six months, and then by you again the following year... not impressed. Here's an idea for a sport: let's get a team of sherpas to drag you up Everest in a sled and you just see if you can survive. It'll make great reality tv.
On preview, oh didn’t know they were making it into a movie, Hyperblue. I hope they get the arrogance right.
posted by dreamsign at 5:42 PM on October 19, 2006
That's awful deep, but I'm more impressed by the duration. 3:48 is unbelievably long to go without oxygen while exercising rigorously. I mean, try it on a treadmill at the gym sometime.
posted by muppetboy at 6:04 PM on October 19, 2006
posted by muppetboy at 6:04 PM on October 19, 2006
Anyone who can go down that long without breathing has my respect.
posted by Frank Grimes at 6:06 PM on October 19, 2006 [1 favorite]
posted by Frank Grimes at 6:06 PM on October 19, 2006 [1 favorite]
Hell, I can go 3:48 without breathing, Frank.
It's the starting again after that might be a problem.
posted by Justinian at 6:47 PM on October 19, 2006
It's the starting again after that might be a problem.
posted by Justinian at 6:47 PM on October 19, 2006
As a SCUBA diver, the folks that really have my respect are the safety divers for these free divers. At 130 meters, a SCUBA diver acting as a safety diver is already on special gas mixtures, in cold, dark water for a long time, and looking at hours of decompression time on staged ascents himself, all for the privilege of assisting someone else free dive.
posted by paulsc at 6:59 PM on October 19, 2006
posted by paulsc at 6:59 PM on October 19, 2006
What's the fatality rate on that sport?
Fairly high, I’m sure. But according to some experts, being alive has a fatality rate estimated at somewhere between 100% and 100%.
Definitely doable, but probably very uncomfortable.
Yep. From the interview:
During a previous dive to 160 metres she described the symptoms of deep- water pressure: eardrums feeling like they are being speared with pokers; thoughts of blacking out, oxygen starvation that nearly stalls the heart and strains on the chest wall to the point approaching implosion under 11 times the pressure felt at sea level.
There's an HBO Real Sports segment on [Mestre's] story. It's pretty tragic.
Yeah. From what I’ve heard, there weren’t enough safety divers involved in Mestre’s dive AND the closest medical clinic was closed that day. Not a good situation. Not at all.
This is the article that got me into freediving
Oh, neat! What kind do you do? How long have you been doing it?
After reading The Dive (about Ferreras), I found myself with little sympathy for the man. . . . On preview, oh didn’t know they were making it into a movie, Hyperblue. I hope they get the arrogance right.
I share your feelings about Ferreras. But I think you’re letting him, and his own character flaws, color your view of the sport. I also think that you’re too quick to discount the raw courage and the mental discipline required to do this and survive.
3:48 is unbelievably long to go without oxygen while exercising rigorously. I mean, try it on a treadmill at the gym sometime.
Part of her training regimen involves lifting weights while holding her breath. Another training technique I’ve heard of involves holding your breath for a minute and then walking as far as you can. Apnea walk, I think it’s called.
posted by jason's_planet at 7:13 PM on October 19, 2006
Fairly high, I’m sure. But according to some experts, being alive has a fatality rate estimated at somewhere between 100% and 100%.
Definitely doable, but probably very uncomfortable.
Yep. From the interview:
During a previous dive to 160 metres she described the symptoms of deep- water pressure: eardrums feeling like they are being speared with pokers; thoughts of blacking out, oxygen starvation that nearly stalls the heart and strains on the chest wall to the point approaching implosion under 11 times the pressure felt at sea level.
There's an HBO Real Sports segment on [Mestre's] story. It's pretty tragic.
Yeah. From what I’ve heard, there weren’t enough safety divers involved in Mestre’s dive AND the closest medical clinic was closed that day. Not a good situation. Not at all.
This is the article that got me into freediving
Oh, neat! What kind do you do? How long have you been doing it?
After reading The Dive (about Ferreras), I found myself with little sympathy for the man. . . . On preview, oh didn’t know they were making it into a movie, Hyperblue. I hope they get the arrogance right.
I share your feelings about Ferreras. But I think you’re letting him, and his own character flaws, color your view of the sport. I also think that you’re too quick to discount the raw courage and the mental discipline required to do this and survive.
3:48 is unbelievably long to go without oxygen while exercising rigorously. I mean, try it on a treadmill at the gym sometime.
Part of her training regimen involves lifting weights while holding her breath. Another training technique I’ve heard of involves holding your breath for a minute and then walking as far as you can. Apnea walk, I think it’s called.
posted by jason's_planet at 7:13 PM on October 19, 2006
At 130 meters, a SCUBA diver acting as a safety diver is already on special gas mixtures, in cold, dark water for a long time,
What kind of gas would they be using at that depth? I know that they use trimix at 200-odd feet. Would they use it at that depth too?
posted by jason's_planet at 7:16 PM on October 19, 2006
What kind of gas would they be using at that depth? I know that they use trimix at 200-odd feet. Would they use it at that depth too?
posted by jason's_planet at 7:16 PM on October 19, 2006
So, er, uh. From TFA,
The 30-year-old former Roedean pupil ... said she was already a "child of the sea" when she emigrated...to England in the 1960s.
Am I just dense? She sure doesn't looke 50+.
posted by duende at 8:20 PM on October 19, 2006
The 30-year-old former Roedean pupil ... said she was already a "child of the sea" when she emigrated...to England in the 1960s.
Am I just dense? She sure doesn't looke 50+.
posted by duende at 8:20 PM on October 19, 2006
Freediving is one of those sports in which I have always felt that pretty much anybody could reach elite levels, as long as they are in decent health - because only a dedicated few would bother investing their time in something so...er..."specialist".
Olympic sports like the pole vault & triple jump also qualify for this list of ridiculous niche sports, so it's in quite reputable company, at least.
posted by UbuRoivas at 8:37 PM on October 19, 2006
Olympic sports like the pole vault & triple jump also qualify for this list of ridiculous niche sports, so it's in quite reputable company, at least.
posted by UbuRoivas at 8:37 PM on October 19, 2006
While I agree about freediving, to a point, I don't know that the track and field sports are the same kind of thing. A lot of people try those in high school and do very badly.
posted by smackfu at 8:53 PM on October 19, 2006
posted by smackfu at 8:53 PM on October 19, 2006
The entire point was "to a point". I feel somewhat similarly about competitive swimming, in that it takes a special kind of person to get up at 4am and spend the next 3 hours looking at a black line on the bottom of a pool every day for decades of their life, probably repeating the process again every evening to boot. And yet, without the right genetics, the elite levels will likely never be reached.
It seems to me that if you take that kind of single-minded obsession & apply it to ever-less popular sports, you pass swimming & the pole-vault on the way to the extreme, where you find freediving & its ilk.
Having said that, it's a constant source of wonder for me that people invest their effort in so many kooky ways in order to pass their time until death, from building computers out of legos to freediving to poker tournaments and parkour.
posted by UbuRoivas at 9:27 PM on October 19, 2006
It seems to me that if you take that kind of single-minded obsession & apply it to ever-less popular sports, you pass swimming & the pole-vault on the way to the extreme, where you find freediving & its ilk.
Having said that, it's a constant source of wonder for me that people invest their effort in so many kooky ways in order to pass their time until death, from building computers out of legos to freediving to poker tournaments and parkour.
posted by UbuRoivas at 9:27 PM on October 19, 2006
Freediving: What can possibly go wrong?
posted by Joeforking at 1:23 AM on October 20, 2006
posted by Joeforking at 1:23 AM on October 20, 2006
I share your feelings about Ferreras. But I think you’re letting him, and his own character flaws, color your view of the sport. I also think that you’re too quick to discount the raw courage and the mental discipline required to do this and survive.
Well, I was commenting on the upcoming movie, so the arrogance I mention I assign only to Ferreras. But you are probably right that he has coloured my perception about the sport (one in which I was very excited about at first). The book provided a lot of insight into what it takes to promote a budding sport, especially one so built on extreme stamina and not so much (frankly) on skill. That means that, in the public eye, it has a lot more in common with the latest David Blaine stunt and not so much a climb on Everest (despite the fact that they are both largely endurance tests).
Ferreras never struck me as brave but foolhardy and arrogant, and yes, while I can imagine other mindsets for competitors, it tends to be the interpretation that leaps to mind most readily. Why have super long hair that creates drag? Image. Gotta look good for those cameras or people won't be interested and that means sponsors won't be interested, etc, etc.
I mean, SCUBA is rife with image. Can you get your PADI cert without a tattoo these days? It seems not. But there's a tremendous skill base there. A diver whose seen enough hours you know has been through some tremendous experiences and not only has brass balls but is damned skilled to boot. This? Monk-like respiration control is cool, to be sure, but I'm not sure what's next. Competitive coal-walking?
posted by dreamsign at 1:24 AM on October 20, 2006
Well, I was commenting on the upcoming movie, so the arrogance I mention I assign only to Ferreras. But you are probably right that he has coloured my perception about the sport (one in which I was very excited about at first). The book provided a lot of insight into what it takes to promote a budding sport, especially one so built on extreme stamina and not so much (frankly) on skill. That means that, in the public eye, it has a lot more in common with the latest David Blaine stunt and not so much a climb on Everest (despite the fact that they are both largely endurance tests).
Ferreras never struck me as brave but foolhardy and arrogant, and yes, while I can imagine other mindsets for competitors, it tends to be the interpretation that leaps to mind most readily. Why have super long hair that creates drag? Image. Gotta look good for those cameras or people won't be interested and that means sponsors won't be interested, etc, etc.
I mean, SCUBA is rife with image. Can you get your PADI cert without a tattoo these days? It seems not. But there's a tremendous skill base there. A diver whose seen enough hours you know has been through some tremendous experiences and not only has brass balls but is damned skilled to boot. This? Monk-like respiration control is cool, to be sure, but I'm not sure what's next. Competitive coal-walking?
posted by dreamsign at 1:24 AM on October 20, 2006
from the third link... Although it is the original extreme sport, freediving has been suffering an image problem since the death last year of the French woman Audrey Mestre, 30, who drowned in the waters off the Dominic Republic while trying to break Ms Streeter's 160-metres record in the "no limits" category, which involves being pulled to the surface by an inflatable airbag.
As the sport's most famous ambassador Ms Streeter said she found it "abhorrent" that anyone would risk their life for a world record.
So Ms. Streeter is invincible? That seems unfair for her to hold world records then, doesn't it?
posted by iurodivii at 12:40 PM on October 20, 2006
As the sport's most famous ambassador Ms Streeter said she found it "abhorrent" that anyone would risk their life for a world record.
So Ms. Streeter is invincible? That seems unfair for her to hold world records then, doesn't it?
posted by iurodivii at 12:40 PM on October 20, 2006
Amazing! Thanks for the post.
You're welcome! Thank you!
Having said that, it's a constant source of wonder for me that people invest their effort in so many kooky ways in order to pass their time until death, from building computers out of legos to freediving to poker tournaments and parkour.
Sounds pretty inspiring to me, personally. And I'd rather spend my time doing any of the above or talking with someone with a passionate committment to one of these crazy pursuits than working or shopping.
The book provided a lot of insight into what it takes to promote a budding sport, especially one so built on extreme stamina and not so much (frankly) on skill.
I take it you're not a fan of the marathon or the triathlon? These call for extreme stamina but not much skill either. Just curious.
Before I forget -- there are two English-language websites that cover freediving.
One is Deeperblue. The other is Hawaii Skin Diver.
posted by jason's_planet at 5:25 PM on October 20, 2006
You're welcome! Thank you!
Having said that, it's a constant source of wonder for me that people invest their effort in so many kooky ways in order to pass their time until death, from building computers out of legos to freediving to poker tournaments and parkour.
Sounds pretty inspiring to me, personally. And I'd rather spend my time doing any of the above or talking with someone with a passionate committment to one of these crazy pursuits than working or shopping.
The book provided a lot of insight into what it takes to promote a budding sport, especially one so built on extreme stamina and not so much (frankly) on skill.
I take it you're not a fan of the marathon or the triathlon? These call for extreme stamina but not much skill either. Just curious.
Before I forget -- there are two English-language websites that cover freediving.
One is Deeperblue. The other is Hawaii Skin Diver.
posted by jason's_planet at 5:25 PM on October 20, 2006
Sounds pretty inspiring to me, personally. And I'd rather spend my time doing any of the above or talking with someone with a passionate committment to one of these crazy pursuits than working or shopping.
Or competitive swimming.
posted by UbuRoivas at 6:22 PM on October 20, 2006
Or competitive swimming.
posted by UbuRoivas at 6:22 PM on October 20, 2006
I take it you're not a fan of the marathon or the triathlon? These call for extreme stamina but not much skill either. Just curious.
Good question. Actually, I'm a fan of both -- though the tri moreso because it's harder to be proficient in three such events, hence skill edging back into the equation. Especially where the dive sled is used, I really start to equate the sport less with say mountain climbing and more simple competitive acclimatization, which is interesting but doesn't really grab me emotionally.
But I am fully ready to re-experience the sport vicariously through the eyes of someone less jaded and thereby become less so myself regarding this sport. In fact, I would appreciate it.
posted by dreamsign at 4:36 AM on October 21, 2006
Good question. Actually, I'm a fan of both -- though the tri moreso because it's harder to be proficient in three such events, hence skill edging back into the equation. Especially where the dive sled is used, I really start to equate the sport less with say mountain climbing and more simple competitive acclimatization, which is interesting but doesn't really grab me emotionally.
But I am fully ready to re-experience the sport vicariously through the eyes of someone less jaded and thereby become less so myself regarding this sport. In fact, I would appreciate it.
posted by dreamsign at 4:36 AM on October 21, 2006
But I am fully ready to re-experience the sport vicariously through the eyes of someone less jaded and thereby become less so myself regarding this sport. In fact, I would appreciate it.
I wish I could help you. But my local New York waters aren't the best for this. Sorry.
posted by jason's_planet at 4:00 PM on October 21, 2006
I wish I could help you. But my local New York waters aren't the best for this. Sorry.
posted by jason's_planet at 4:00 PM on October 21, 2006
No, but if you could recommend other books/articles on the subject, I'd be interested. Thanks.
posted by dreamsign at 4:36 AM on October 22, 2006
posted by dreamsign at 4:36 AM on October 22, 2006
Two by Terry Maas:
Freedive! and his spearfishing manual. Both are out-of-print and expensive but I've had good luck with interlibrary loan.
Also, there's one by Umberto Pellizari out there. I haven't read it but it's gotten some good reviews on Amazon.
Might be worth a try.
posted by jason's_planet at 11:53 AM on October 24, 2006
Freedive! and his spearfishing manual. Both are out-of-print and expensive but I've had good luck with interlibrary loan.
Also, there's one by Umberto Pellizari out there. I haven't read it but it's gotten some good reviews on Amazon.
Might be worth a try.
posted by jason's_planet at 11:53 AM on October 24, 2006
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