The stage has been set for a series of spectator-friendly world record freediving attempts at the Genesis Recreation Pool in Masterton from Friday through until next Wednesday, November 7.
Coming as part of a competition likely to attract up to a dozen freedivers from all parts of the country, organisersare keen to give the Wairarapa sporting community ample opportunity to support Martinborough's Kathryn Nevatt as she looks to claim the world women's record in the discipline of dynamic without fins.
The record is held by Russian Natalia Molchanova at 160m which means to beat that mark Nevatt will have to hold her breath under water while swimming at least six and a half lengths of the pool.
Each of the sessions planned for the competition are at times which should be attractive to the general public.
The Friday session will run from 10.15am to 11am and there will be two sessions on Saturday, 10.15am to noon and 4.45pm to 6pm. Sunday will see competition events run from 9.45am to 11.30am and they will be followed by "have a go" promotion, during which members of the public will be invited to experience the thrills of freediving under the watchful eye of Nevatt and other divers.
Monday is a rest day, with Tuesday's session running from 10.15am to 11am. The final day of competition is Wednesday, when events will be held between 10.30am and 11.15am.
Nevatt may not be the only competitor looking to set a new world record in dynamic without fins.
Holder of the men's record of 218m, Dave Mullins of Wellington, is seriously considering looking to extend that mark. He is said to have twice the lung capacity of an average person and can hold his head underwater for more than eight minutes.
