Free diver takes his 17th record

DELIGHTED: Former Hawke's Bay man William Trubridge punches the air after achieving his 17th free diving world record, during the Vertical Blue competition in the Bahamas.

Spooky for some, but "dreamy and beautiful" for the former Hawke's Bay man whose name continues to explode across global headlines as he smashes world free diving records.

William Trubridge recently accomplished two records just days a part.

The first record took him 122 metres beneath the ocean's surface, but after a day to recover he went two metres deeper to achieve his deepest yet at 124 metres - all while holding his breath for four minutes and 34 seconds.

Mr Trubridge said he had been "snowed under" with media requests from all over since achieving his 17th world record during the Vertical Blue competition in the Bahamas.

But he was sure to respond to the paper of his home town, Hawke's Bay Today.

The diver said he unexpectedly achieved the records.

"My training had been interrupted by several injuries and viruses, so I hadn't been hitting these kind of depths before the event."

But once he started he said he felt good.

"My first two dives in this discipline, to 116 and 119 metres, felt very good, and I decided to go for it!"

Mr Trubridge took just one day off between dives and only had a second go because his first attempt "wasn't a very elegant dive".

He also had other issues which "threw" him during the ascent.

But if he could handle 122 metres, why not try a couple of extra?

When asked what the dive felt like, he said: "The descent is the easy part."

After 30 metres he was able to stop using the rope and freefell to the bottom.

"If you're relaxed and comfortable with the depth then it can be dreamy and beautiful."

But it is a different story going up.

Working against his negative buoyancy almost all the way, he said he started feeling the lack of oxygen and build up of carbon dioxide.

"Regardless, it can still be an enjoyable phase of the dive if you don't allow yourself to think about time or distance."

For the Bay man, free diving brings him what any sport can bring others - "the fulfilment of accomplishing a mentally or physically difficult challenge". "But it's also an incredible journey into a place we as a species don't spend a great deal of time."

While Mr Trubridge's family have been on the sidelines to his dives before, this was the first successful one they had seen first-hand.

"It is great to be able to share and celebrate this with them. My parents are the reason why I became a free diver."

His passion for being underwater stemmed from a bond he formed with the ocean while a toddler as his parents and brother, Sam, sailed from England.

This latest record was just a warm-up for what is to come in July as he takes on the Steinlager Live Dive.

He said that dive was a more important record attempt in the "purest discipline of free diving - unassisted".

"For that one I'm not allowed to touch the rope or use any propulsive assistance of any kind."

The dive will be broadcast live on July 20.

Not forgetting his roots, Mr Trubridge said he was aiming to be home for Christmas and New Year's this year.

"It's been too long, and I miss the Bay and all my friends there!"