Well, the 9th annual international freediving competition hosted by Performance Freediving International in the Cayman Islands did not disappoint. Deja Blue 9 held in the luxuriously temperate and dazzling blue waters of Grand Cayman provided the perfect back-drop for adventures in apnea with six new National Records, two new Continental Records, dozens of personal bests and only the fifth white-card performance by a female athlete EVER to freedive (self-propelled) down to 100 meters and back. In other words, it was a smashing success!
Taking top honors for the overall competition were gold medalists Adriana Freitas Brandao of Brazil, (who also happened to improve upon her own national record by three meters in the discipline of dynamic no-fins with a surprise dive to 109m,) and Kurt Randolph of USA, (who was the men’s winner last year as well). Athletes hailing from Brazil, Canada, Cayman, Finland, Great Britain, Mexico, Poland, South Africa and the United States all tested their own personal mettle and physiological limits under the security of PFI’s unparalleled safety systems.
“I feel so safe down there with the rebreathers and scooter divers!”
exclaimed Tomoka Fukuda of Japan, “The water is so beautiful and it’s so bright at depth. I really like it here!“
Tomoka realized a lifelong dream at the competition when she successfully completed a personal best dive to 100 meters, giving her entry to the most exclusive club on the planet.
Carol Schrappe of Brazil also achieved two new Continental Records in the discipline of Variable Weight (VWT) and were it not for the late delivery of her new carbon-fiber “tripod” system, the Brazilian mermaid might have attempted a World Record.
“I feel very confident in my training,” said Schrappe “as for any World Record attempts they will come when the timing is right. I am getting stronger and stronger, and deeper and deeper. I’m having fun with my diving again.”
See the complete roster of results here below:
