Sara Campbell, 'part woman, part fish', regains freediving record

TimesOnline ^ | Jacqui Goddard

[cripplecreek]

I think they exhale on the way to the surface. Something to do with the re expansion of the air in their lungs.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Sounds like it would cause some brain damage. Probably enough to make a person think it makes sense to continue doing this over and over again, for ever-longer periods and at ever-greater depths.

[mamelukesabre]

So a naked human body stops floating when below a certain depth, right? When diving, you will reach a depth where you will start to sink like a rock. Is that how it works?

[driftdiver]

“I think they exhale on the way to the surface. Something to do with the re expansion of the air in their lungs.”

Scuba divers exhale when ascending or their lungs will expand and cause severe injury/death. The air compresses at depth and will expand when the pressure decreases.

The air in free divers lungs is the same as the air at the surface. When it expands it will not exceed the volume of their lungs. The story indicates she forces it back into her system to keep oxygen in her brain.

[driftdiver]

“So a naked human body stops floating when below a certain depth, right? When diving, you will reach a depth where you will start to sink like a rock. Is that how it works?’

Depends on the persons body, but yeah pretty much. I think fat people tend to float better.

[massatoosits]

Yikes! I used to go to 20 meters which was work without wieght, enjoy some bottom time and then kick like hell back to the surface. The more I read about blackouts, the less I was tempted to push it. Getting cautious as in my middle age.

[Future Snake Eater]

Good Lord. 314 feet...I’ve been to about 130 in full gear. This woman is nuts, but more power to her.

[massatoosits]

Did I skip the spell check?...

[driftdiver]

20 meters without air tanks, thats pretty good. Of course a lot of people black out doing that. Thats why I take my air with me. :)

I really need to get back in the water.

[OCCASparky]

I think they exhale on the way to the surface. Something to do with the re expansion of the air in their lungs.

Only if you're on scuba gear, breathing compressed air. You're subjected to 14.7 psi of pressure at sea level. Your body is pressing out with the same amount of pressure, which is why you don't feel it. Now when you dive, water places a pressure of 44 psi per 100 feet, or roughly 1 atmosphere of pressure per 33 feet (we were taught 3 atmospheres for every 100'.)

So if you take a breath of air from a tank while at 100', the air in your lungs is the same pressure as the water and atmospheric pressure on your body; i.e., about 60 psi. If you were to ascend without exhaling, your lungs would eventually burst or undergo what's known as an embolism, where the aveoli rupture. Embolisms have been documented to occur in as little as 3 feet of water. The first sign we're taught to look for in embolisms is frothy pink (highly oxygenated) blood.

However, because she takes no equipment down with her and doesn't breathe air under pressure, it's perfectly safe for her to breath hold, dive, and come back up all in the same breath without exhaling.

That being said, it takes someone VERY in tune with their bodies to do something like this.

[massatoosits]

You=wise, me formerly=foolhardy.

[driftdiver]

I’ve always admired the folks down that far without bulky tanks.

[OCCASparky]

The more I read about blackouts, the less I was tempted to push it. Getting cautious as in my middle age.

I was initially certified in Hawaii, then had the fortune (or misfortune) of going to Guam for my next duty station. Rock in the middle of nowhere, but great diving. I was in the same berthing area as the ship's divers--great guys, if a little crazy. Sadly, one did a breath hold dive and had a "shallow water blackout" and drowned. Kid was only 19.

[numberonepal]

A couple of more pics here and it's worth a Freediving Hottie Ping!

Mehgan Heaney-Grier


Tanya Streeter

[massatoosits]

Note what is critical here: low body fat..among other things.

[driftdiver]

Fit women are beautiful

[massatoosits]

Sad. Even buddy up it can still end ugly. Tanked and shallow is my motto now that I have kids. No need for a test beyond that.

[driftdiver]

“Tanked and shallow is my motto now that I have kids. No need for a test beyond that.’

Me too, besides thats where the pretty fishes and girls in bikinis are.

[swain_forkbeard]

Look at the fins on that one!

[swain_forkbeard]

Amen.