For how long can you hold your breath? World record holder Stig Severinsen held his breath for an astounding 22 minutes in May, 2012, while submerged in a pool. Stig used various techniques to achieve this goal, from calming thoughts (what he calls ?meditation under water?) to breathing pure oxygen before settling in the pool. But there is another type of athlete, so-called free divers, who both hold their breath and swim to unbelievable depths, recalling mermaids (or mermen) of legend.
Today?s remarkable find is this Wetsuit used by William Trubridge in WORLD RECORD Freedive to 100m Project Hector:
Click the photo to bid on this item!
Of course, before bidding on the suit, we needed to figure out what exactly constitutes free diving, and why it is considered an extreme sport. According to Wikipedia, free diving is a form of underwater diving that relies on a diver?s ability to hold his or her breath until resurfacing, rather than depending on a breathing apparatus such as scuba gear. On the Aida International site (the official home of the free diving organization), free diving takes on an almost spiritual definition, as ?(t)he most natural and serene way to explore the depths of the oceans with minimal impact. It is also the ultimate way to free yourself and spend more time enjoying the beauty and silence of the sea.?
No matter how you define the sport, William Trubridge is a master in the field of free diving. The listing notes this about the sport, and about William: ?Unassisted freediving (CNF) is the most refined and challenging form of the sport. Using only his bare hands and feet William Trubridge swam down to the depth of 101 meters and back up to the surface on a single breath.? Right about now we?re guessing you are holding your breath, trying to figure out if you could accomplish this? without a ton of preparation, you may find yourself out of your depth.
Here is some information about the wetsuit on offer, from the listing description:
?This is the suit used by William Trubridge in the first ever unassisted freedive by a human being to 100 meters (330 feet), in December 2010 at Dean?s Blue Hole, Long Island Bahamas. It was also used to set the world records to 96m and 101m (both in the same period), and to win the gold medal at the 2011 AIDA Freediving World Championships in Greece, with a dive to 94m.?
Take a look at this mesmerizing video from CBS?s ?60 Minutes,? that explores the sport of free diving, and features interviews with William Trubridge and other free diving champions:
If you find it unfathomable (excuse the pun) to do this type of free dive, at least know that participating in the auction means you?re supporting a good cause. According to the listing, ?by bidding on this suit you will help support the campaign to increase legislative protection of the dolphins from net-fishing, and give the species the best possible chance of survival.?
If you want to try free diving, aside from this wetsuit you will need to be wellprepared mentally and physically. The listing description gives us this insight:
?At 100 meters the pressure exerted by overhead water crushes Trubridge?s lungs to the size of small grapefruit, and the blood vessels inside them swell with blood in order to stop the lungs from imploding. The heart slows to 25 beats per minute, and Trubridge has to fight the narcotic effects of pressurized carbon dioxide and nitrogen ? the so-called ?rapture of the deep? that tempts him towards a fateful sleep. Using yoga and techniques such as visualization and mental programming Trubridge is able to keep his body going even when the mind is ?not completely there.? This depth is more than three times the depth limit for recreational scuba diving, and it would be considered suicidal to go this deep breathing from a normal scuba tank of air.?
If you?d like to bid on the wetsuit, click here.
Source: http://ebay-stories.com/a-wetsuit-used-to-free-dive-over-300-feet
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