Many of the passengers of the Morning Star would like to know how Grayson\'s freediving course went- here is a journal entry he shared withus....\"Back from Cayman. Did not make the 60 meters but am very happy with a 5 minute-35 second breath hold and 165 feet as a max depth. Thursday was the day for max depth diving and only two attempts allowed for our personal targets. My first dive Tuesday was going to be 50m, already had been to 45m a number of times. If my skin color was good and it felt right I was going to attempt 60m (198feet) next. On the first attempt I was on the way down, did not have as good of form as I could have and was slower than I should have been. I also saw the reef at 250feet which kinda made me nervous but my sinuses were great and I was going for it. At 41m my right arm was snatched back behind me and I was stopped cold on the way down. The safety lanyard had gotten wraped on the decent line that it was attached to. Here I am at 41.6m (140feet) on one breath, heart racing from seeing the bottom, not having good form on the way down causing me to be about 12 seconds behind schedule, and now afixed to the down line with 30lbs of lead still 9m below me. For about two seconds I panic heading up to the surface but not going anywere. I was able to get my self together right about the time Kirk, the lead instructor and safety diver, came to my rescue. He unhooked, untangled it then reattached it to the reference line and I made it to the surface 115 seconds after I began my decent. They would not allow me to lower the plate to the 60m mark without making a 50-55m prior dive. Its all about safety and baby steps to deeper diving. Anyway, I am happy with my personal best of 51 meters, a almost 6 minute breath hold, and a 66 foot dive lasting 3 minutes and 50 seconds on one breath. I feel more competent then ever befor and am ready to share a wealth of knowledge of safety with all crew that freedive. Freediving is deadly no matter what depth and should only be done with a partner that knows how to save you should you blackout at depth or on the SURFACE and up to 30 seconds after you surface.
Captain Grayson of Bahamas - July 06, 2010