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Freediver Focus
Interview:
the fish. I have to admit though when I freedive in the Blue Hole and
see the family of tuna at 50m in the entrance to the beautiful arch,
then I do wish I had a tank to stay there for a while.
Sara Campbell
What makes a good freediver?
If someone has the physical ability, then it is the mental aspect which
makes them a good or brilliant freediver. I have started coaching now
and I am seeing a lot of people turning early from a dive because they
Dahab-based Sara Campbell hit the freediving scene like a whirlwind
have had a negative thought. Yoga has been central in helping me to
back in 2007 when she smashed three national records within 8
reach a point of relaxation and deep meditation for the dives and not
hours – all in 12 months of taking up the sport. Two years on, the
to allow the mind to bring in negative thoughts.
7-year-old is now on the verge of becoming the first woman in the
world to break the elusive 100m in the constant weight discipline.
What’s special about freediving in Dahab?
In constant weight, competitors power themselves with no added
Freedive Dahab’s Lotta Ericson [former world and national record-
weights and only a guide rope to follow to the target depth.
holder from Sweden] and Linda Paganelli [national record-holder from
Italy] coached me from the very beginning and took me through the
While the loss of her mother last year saw Sara miss out on the 2008
competitions. I had excellent teachers. Dahab is a freediving Mecca;
world championships, the British freediving wonder has clearly sent
you are always seeing the top-level competitors coming through. But
the message out with her staggering records this year that she is
they are always so willing to help newbies and take time out. They are
back and even stronger. Her depth record of 96m, completed in three
so open and supportive.
mins and  seconds at the in the Bahamas in April, with just 17 dives
under her belt this year, highlighted what incredible ability she has What goes through your mind when you are diving
physiologically, physically and psychologically.
to depths of 100m on a single breath?
I’m focusing on the dive process and what happens to my body. You
Affectionately known as Mighty Mouse – she only measures in at ft
have to focus 100 per cent on what you are doing and be totally in the
11in in height – Sara has been a Dahabian for nearly five years. Her
now. It’s all about being in the moment.
new life in the freediving Mecca followed many years spent in the
In one of my training dives I experienced severe nitrogen narcosis
London rat race running a high-level PR company. She describes her
symptoms. It was a rushing, pounding sensation, as if I could hear
move to Egypt as a courageous jump, and one that eventually led her
every single cell in my body working. I focused on equalisation and
on a path to world freediving champion status.
keeping nitrogen narcosis in perspective to make sure I stayed in
What brought you to the Red Sea?
control.
I came on a week long holiday back in December 200. I was stressed
What’s the best place in Egypt to freedive?
out and wanted to learn to scuba and do some yoga to relax. I was
Well, the Blue Hole for training is awesome.
running my own PR company in South London and teaching yoga.
In just a few days, Dahab worked it’s magic and I ended up phoning
When I was on a blue o two liveaboard last year I got to freedive the
home to tell them I wasn’t coming back for Christmas. I think it was a
Thistlegorm. It was my first wreck and I loved it, even though there
bit of a shock to my family, but I wasn’t ready to go back to the stress
was quite a bit of current and a lot of boats. Then we went to Abu
of London at that time of year.
Nuhas and it was like a millpond. I dived the Giannis D for about two
hours. Each dive time was longer because I was enjoying it so much.
Then as it came closer to going home, I was worried about heading
For marine life, I love all sorts. I once had a cleaner wrasse come and sit
back to London. I knew the city would take its grip on me again and
in my hand which was great. I’ve also had lovely dives in Naama with a
that any thoughts of moving to Dahab would just become a holiday
turtle and eagle rays. I’d love to swim with whale sharks, that’s as long
dream. Two days after arriving back, however, I was off again to Egypt.
as I don’t freak them out too much.
I made a big commitment, but it was the best decision I could have
made.
What would be your ultimate achievement?
Well at the moment it’s all about 100m, but can you imagine 120m? I
Why did you start freediving?
still have air in my mouth at 100m on training dives. However, it’s all
When I first moved to Dahab I used to think that freediving was
about having the strength to come back up.
dangerous. I had a flatmate fairly early on who suffered a lung
squeeze. Having seen him in yoga struggling, it put me off. I was also
At what point will you stop competitive freediving?
not psychologically ready to take on freediving at the time – I’m very
I don’t know. I love freediving. It’s not about numbers and records
competitive and didn’t want to end up pushing myself beyond my
– they’re a bonus, but not a driving force. The future? Well, I’ve met
limits.
someone and it looks like being ‘the one’. I also want to have kids, so
who knows.
My yoga students who were freedivers kept saying I should give it a
go because I could hold my breath for so long in classes. A year later I
One of the keys to Sara’s meteoric success is her yoga and
said: ‘Okay, fine.’ I loved it. It just made me so happy. When you freedive
meditation. When Sara discovered freediving she had been
you have to clear your mind, you can’t carry the daily bullshit with you.
practicing and teaching Kundalini Yoga for years. Kundalini builds
a strong self-belief system, developing confidence and the courage
How do you think freediving compares to scuba? to test the body and try new things. It also teaches us surrender
The word ‘free’ really sums it up for me. I remember when I was at the and trust, and supreme mental focus and control, all of which are
Blue Planet Aquarium in the UK for a charity dive in the shark tank and major factors in successful freediving. Sara combines her yoga and
was told I had to wear scuba. They weren’t sure how the sharks would meditation expertise with her experience as a fitness instructor and
react to me freediving. It was my first time in scuba for two years. her aquatic skills to help other freedivers ‘Discover their Depths’ –
There were things I suddenly couldn’t do. The freedom of movement a unique and powerful approach to developing freediving skills.
in freedving is amazing compared to scuba. Although we share a love
of the ocean and the underwater environment, scuba divers remain Contact details: sara@sarafreediver.com
spectators while freedivers become part of the environment, become tel: 012 7 566 / www.sarafreediver.com
20 www.cdws.travel
Issue 1 June 2009
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