Record-Breaking Dives: Human Limits in Freediving, and Kaş

Dives that made history

• Herbert Nitsch: reached 214 metres in No Limits in 2007, earning the title “the deepest man on earth”.
• William Trubridge: reached 102 metres in Constant Weight No Fins (CNF) in 2016.
• Alessia Zecchini: took the women’s Constant Weight (CWT) world record to 123 metres in 2023.
• Alexey Molchanov: one of the most successful athletes of modern freediving, who has gone beyond 130 metres in Constant Weight.

Records change often, so check the official AIDA and CMAS lists for the current numbers.

Kaş and records

Kaş’s clear water, with depth close to shore, is ideal for record attempts and competitions. Şahika Ercümen, one of Türkiye’s best-known freedivers, set a world record off İnceboğaz in Kaş on 26 October 2021, descending to 100 metres in variable weight without fins. Today Kaş hosts CMAS freediving competitions and the Kaş Open CMAS Cup, and Turkish national record holders I coach, including Yasemin Ulucan, Görkem Gedik and Yağmur Ergün, train in Kaş.

Techniques behind record dives

• Equalization: Frenzel, and mouthfill for deep dives.
• Relaxation and efficiency: a streamlined body position, smooth finning and free fall.
• Adaptation: chest flexibility and years of gradual adaptation to depth.
• Mental preparation: visualization and a calm routine.

Risks and safety

Deep freediving carries risks of lung and ear barotrauma, loss of consciousness and, with repeated deep dives, decompression sickness. That is why every competition and record attempt has safety divers, a counterweight system, a lanyard and a medical team ready. Every record is the result of years of disciplined, safe training.

To start depth training, see our coached training and Master Program pages.