Free diver sets sights on 100m record

Bernard Carpinter -

Diver William Trubridge is aiming to break his own world record this month and help save the endangered Hector's dolphin at the same time.

Trubridge, 30, holds the record for unassisted free diving at 95 metres and he wants to extend it to 100 metres – a hectometre, making the publicity connection with the dolphin.

Born in England but raised mostly in Hawke's Bay, Trubridge has been free diving since he was eight and has already stretched the record from 80 to 95 metres.

"This depth [100 metres] 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," Trubridge said.

"The dive is expected to last four minutes in total, but since the muscles are using precious oxygen in order to propel the body up and down, it is more difficult than a straight breath hold for even twice that amount of time."

Trubridge, who spends seven months a year training in the Bahamas, will wear a special wetsuit and goggles but no flippers or other aids. The attempt will take place between December 10 and 16 at Dean's Blue Hole in the Bahamas.

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