Rounthwaite sinks to new depths

Wanganui's Tania Rounthwaite was runner-up at the New Zealand Depth Nationals at the weekend.

Wanganui free diver Tania Rounthwaite knows what lies beneath the surface of Lake Taupo more intimately than most New Zealanders.

The defending women's champion from 2013, Rounthwaite came second in her grade at the AIDA New Zealand Depth Nationals at Taupo against a stronger international field, bettering her depths of the year before.

Held at Taupo during the weekend, Australian Amber Bourke was the women's winner, while her countryman, Ant Judge, won the men's.

In total there were seven Australian and seven New Zealand entrants, along with competitors from Singapore, Ireland, South Africa and France.

Rounthwaite reached a depth of 37m in the free immersion (FMI) event, while involves pulling down a rope and then back up to the surface.

She also reached 37m in the constant weight (CWT) with monofins and 33m for CWT with no fins.

The CWT depths were both personal bests, Rounthwaite's no-fin effort eclipsing her 21m of the year before.

"It was quite a big jump, and it felt like it," she said.

"I was looking at the rope and wanted to grab it, which would have given me penalties.

"I was knackered after that one, I was shattered."

Rounthwaite trains at holding her breath at the Wanganui Splash Centre, but does have access to deep water facilities in her home town so she cannot train with the 3.5-4kg weights the competitors wear in CWT events.

She attended a three-day camp at the lake before the nationals and managed to set a 37.9m personal best in FMI.

"It's a lot of fun, free immersion's cool, there's something very rhythmic about it," Rounthwaite said.