On Sat, 9 Jun 2001 22:39:40 -0500, Mike Wallace <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>On 9 Jun 2001, at 18:16, David Strike wrote:
>
>> On Saturday, June 09, 2001 1:15 PM, Mike Wallace wrote:
>>
>> (snip)
>> > I am making a trip to both the Arctic and Antarctica as a support
>> > diver for Daros Gray, a Scot, who is going to attempt to set records
>> > for freediving at both Poles, or more correctly closest to both poles.

>> > It's my understanding that The Discovery Channel
>> > has signed on as sponsors. I have heard Daros mention Bob Talbot
>> > and Imax filming also.
>>
>> Mate!  What a coup!  :-)
>
>Depending on how you look at it, I was either in the wrong place and
>the wrong time, or the right one at the right one. :-)

Sounds more like wrong place at the right time to me.   :-)

I made it to the last of the "sneak preview" of Ocean Men today!
It was filmed by Bob Talbot, the same one who'll be filming
your expedition if IMAX is part of it!

The 35-minute film was about two champion freedivers in two
different categories:  Pipin Ferreras in the "no holds barred"
category -- descended to 531 fsw hanging on a ton of lead (it
seemed) on guide wire, and then aided by a missile on ascent.
I was less impressed by this mechanically aided feat than his
ability to clear his ears at the speed/depth of descent.  :-)

His world record dive had at least 10 support divers at various
depths, from the boat Ocean Explorer, registered in Cozumel, MX!

The other was world champion Umberto Pellizari, in the "unaided"
freediving category (no descent or ascent aids) to 161 fsw.

Both men used several different fins, during practice and record
attempt -- all Cressi long fins!  I was particularly interested
in their kicking style.  During practice, both use the dolphin
kick, but during his record descent/ascent, Umberto used the
freestyle kick.

One of the most beautiful scenes was during Pipin's practice dive
in which he was gliding gracefully in his slow-motion-like dolphin
kicks, and several wild dolphins swam right next to him, swimming
and gliding in almost synchronized motion.

An interesting and unusual documentary.

If you got a chance to see it, don't miss it -- if for nothing else
but to see Pipin flashing past support divers one after another,
to a depth equivalent of a 52-story building, and then return to
the surface, all in one breath!  :-) The antithesis to the SCUBA
maxim, "DON'T hold your breath".

>I have since seen some of his photo's and I will admit that I am more
>than excited about getting to do this now. Neither of the poles were
>ever on my, "Gee, I'd like to go there someday list", but now they
>are firmly planted! One of the good things about this for me is that I
>don't have to do any organizing or planning. I just have to show up
>when called and get in the water and give the one finger wave to
>Daros twice as he goes past me. :-) I am going to try and get one of
>the camera companies to sponsor me and send me a camera to
>play with after Daros hits the surface. :-)

To what max depth will Daro attempt to do his ice freedive?

At what depth will you be his support diver?

In both dives in the "Ocean Men" record attempts, the support divers
start 5 minutes before the freedivers.  It didn't say what gas they
were using, but for Umberto's quick 161 fsw unaided free bounce,
I must have misheard the depth, because after Umberto's successful
ascent, the support divers were doing deco, and Umberto brought
down a bottle of champaign, opened it and took a sip at their deco
stop and passed the bottle around.  :-).

Crazy bunch of Italians.

-- Bob.