Last weekend New Zealand born freediver William Trubridge (with 17 world records to his name) dove down over 400-feet into the ocean, absolutely demolishing the previous world record (video below). Not content with his results on Monday he got back into the water and dove down an astounding 407 feet below the surface, spending 4 minutes and 34 seconds plunging into the Bahamian depths with nothing but the air in his lungs to keep him alive.
In doing so William Trubridge bested his own world record, and set new free diving world records twice within three days. Here’s the footage of his world record setting dive in The Bahamas of 407 feet. To be clear, this is a ‘free immersion’ world record which means that he did not use fins when diving but instead pulled himself along a weighted rope anchored to the ocean floor. This dive took place at Deans Blue Hole in The Bahamas:
On Monday William Trubridge took to his Facebook page to share news of this insane feat with the free diving world:
Today I decided to have another crack at shifting the Free Immersion record up a notch or two. I felt like if I avoided the problems at the bottom plate of the last dive then I should be able to manage a greater depth.
The result was a much more smooth dive to 124m in 4:30. This time I was in complete control for the ascent, and surfaced with less difficulty.
While video of this new record is being compiled, here is the full video of the previous dive. Look for the dodgy leg kicks as I start to become anxious for the surface on the way up!
Thanks again to all my friends, family and crew, and to all of you who have supported me so warmly!
The website GrindTV noted that this was a sanctioned world record, with the ruling body International Association for Development of Apnea on hand to verify the new world record. They also made mention that the previous world record, the one that was broken TWICE, was set by none other than William Trubridge himself when he dove down to a depth of 396-feet back in 2011.
(h/t GrindTV)