The BFA Committee 2009

Chair - Sam Kirby

chair@britishfreediving.org

 

I've been freediving since 2001, when I took it up whilst teaching scuba in Egypt. Since then it's taken over my life. I've competed on the UK team at several World Cups, captained and coached the team, become an AIDA judge, taught numerous people to freedive and served time both as Education Officer for the BFA and Education Officer on the AIDA International Board. These days I focus my attention on the UK, running Saltfree Divers, the UK Depth Championships and now have the honour of chairing the BFA.

My key aims for my year as Chair are to:

Make sure all our members see a benefit to being part of the BFA

Work will all the committee, clubs and instructors to grow the sport of freediving

Make sure at least one pool and one depth competition happen here each year

Make sure the BFA supports at least one recreational and social freediving event each year

Make sure that the needs of UK freediving are presented fairly and firmly to AIDA as it makes decisions that affect us

Make sure the BFA supports UK Team athletes as far as it possibly can

Ensure parity and fairness in all that the BFA does, across all UK freedivers and clubs event support, planning, publicity, team selection etc.

Do get in touch if you have any ideas that will help us achieve these goals.

Clubs - Steve Millard

clubs@britishfreediving.org

 

I took up snorkelling in 1992 and was eventually involved in the running the Scuba club where I learnt. I am currently running my own Freediving school and club in the North of England which has been established for a number of years. I am also helping a couple of smaller groups get up and running under the wing of my own club.

In addition to working closely with the current groups and supporting them as required I hope to be able to start up groups where currently there is no provision for training so people to be able to Freedive somewhere close by once they have qualified. Please contact the BFA and let us know you are out there, I will be starting a database of divers, available pool sessions, dive sites and putting together some resources so that individuals can find buddies (essential in this sport), secure use of dive sites and pools and organise their own sessions safely which is essential in this sport.

See you at a session soon.

Competitions - Stuart Bond

competitions@britishfreediving.org

 

Stuart Bond mostly likes to go freediving. See him at a pool, quarry or ocean near you...

E-Media - Martyn Jones

e-media@britishfreediving.org

 

My love affair with the sea started for me as a kid on our annual family holidays to Cornwall. Although I was lucky enough to be introduced to swimming from a young age I didn't get my first mask and snorkel until around the age of 4. Shortly after, my parents realised the wisdom of the purchase as they found themselves left in peace on the beach for the duration of our holidays. The magnetism of this different world soon found me snorkeling out to Cornish wrecks, isolated pinnacles and in pursuit of sea life like basking sharks. By the age of 10 I was able to persuade my mum (with help of the local dive shop) that a birthday present dive knife was a necessary piece of kit for my skin diving pursuits. Once again my parents realised the investment as I started returning with flatfish for the beach BBQ. By the time I was a teenager I had purchased my first spear gun and to this day you'll find me in pursuit of the allusive bass, or just exploring, any time the sea allows.

I got into "freediving" (as defined by the sport) through Marcus at NoTanx with a view of meeting other like minded individuals I could entice down to the sea to join my adventures. Marcus introduced me to Nice, CIPA, the cru and the philosophy. I didn't quite get it at first, as I have always been relaxed in the sea and water, but I eventually found another level through freediving techniques that just put my in the "zone". The peace of mind I have found in the moment, while submerged, goes beyond any states I have reached while mediating out of water. In my position for the BFA I hope to be able to share some of that fun with others and any of you that fancy an experience in the sea or lakes can feel free to contact me at the BFA to find out how you can get involved with our watery adventures.

Membership - Rachel Sharp

membership@britishfreediving.org

 

Coming soon...

Press Officer - Sara Campbell

press@britishfreediving.org

 

I discovered freediving by accident after moving to Dahab in Egypt to teach yoga. Having found freediving, nine months later, I found myself in possession of three World Records and a World Championships gold medal - again by accident! In hindsight my love affair with the sea had started many years earlier, in the swimming pool and later on holiday in the sea, where I discovered I could swim much further, deeper and longer underwater than anyone else. At the time I just thought it was one of those useless talents we sometimes randomly discover about ourselves....

So, after two years in competitive freediving, I decided to put my other talents into helping the fabulous little sport in the UK. I have worked as a PR consultant, including running my own business, for many years, and feel that I'm perfectly placed to help raise awareness of the sport in the UK. My aim is to help clubs to grow, individuals to raise sponsorship and change the public perception that what we do is 'dangerous' and 'crazy'!

Alongside my own coverage I have always tried to promote the BFA and AIDA and now just take this on as a formal responsibility. Press around the globe have written and talked about me, including prime time TV slots both in the UK and US. I am therefore an experienced spokesperson for the sport - and seeing how much I also like talking, this is an obvious bonus :-)

I will be splitting my life between the UK and Dahab, running coaching and teaching yoga in both places and so hope - and look forward - to meet many more British freedivers!

Records & AIDA Liaison - Dave Griffiths

records@britishfreediving.org, aida@britishfreediving.org

 

I have been scuba diving for many years and I still make my living in the diving industry. I was lucky enough to complete my AIDA 2 star course in Dahab a few years ago and although I have tried in Chepstow a couple of times, I decided that for me freediving is to enjoy the reefs and life on them - when I want to go deeper I make sure I have something to breath from on my back!

I am also an AIDA judge and look forward to helping the BFA in any way I can.

Secretary - Louise Ireland

secretary@britishfreediving.org

 

I've always enjoyed scuba diving, snorkelling and just generally being in the water and have been intrigued by freediving for a long time. However, I was only introduced officially to the sport on a trip to the Maldives in March 2008. Since completing my AIDA ** in Chepstow on return to the UK, I have been a regular diver with Saltfree and Richmond freediving.

Sponsorship - Marcus Greatwood

sponsorship@britishfreediving.org

 

Marcus Greatwood started NoTanx Apnea 10 years ago. He has successfully organised World Records, international conferences and publicity events centred around the esoterically sport.

His unique Breathing and Relaxation techniques are taught around the world, enabling people to improve concentration and productivity in a wide range of situations from Sports, to Exams, to SCUBA diving.

Training & Safety - Maria-Teresa Solomons

training@britishfreediving.org

 

I came to yoga because of mountains and wanting to climb high and through yoga I came to freediving, in wanting to see what it felt like to disappear into the deep. So, 12 yrs ago I sought out and was trained by some of its oldest icons and later, helped set up some of the first UK pool courses. I have competed, and still hope to compete and am learning a lot through judging.

Freediving is both expansive yet deeply intimate and in the process of discovering depth and the sea, it has allowed me for brief moments, to empty myself of everything. In yoga they say when the breath is still the mind is at peace and we can return to the source of stillness which is the Way of Nature. It has been part of my life for a long time and in the right hands, it is a beautiful gift to share.

Treasurer - Ben Noble

treasurer@britishfreediving.org

 

Many moons ago, as a chubby 12 year old I saw the Big Blue on tv and instantly related to it, feeling like a Jacque Mayol trapped in an Enzo body, but luckily without the annoying female sceaming at me to come back all the time. So hence began a love affair with the ocean on the beaches of Australia (yes i'm Australian but please - you don't have to bow). Years later on my honeymoon in Fiji I met a man with very long fins, and it turned out he lived in the next suburb from me. Unfortunately due to some extreme gastro (his, not mine) I never saw him again that holiday and only knew his first name. By luck I ran into him 2 months later in a dive shop in Sydney and started doing some spearfishing. Later, I started pool training with a couple of Sydney guys before moving to the UK in 2005. In the UK I started training with Mark Harris and the guys at the Richmond Club, and later started up with Crystal Palace and SaltFree in Chepstow. Being a Chartered Accountant, I joined the BFA in 2006 as Treasurer and have continued on to this day, despite having left the UK to head home in late 2008. I am a competitive freediver - i've competed all around Europe, the Red Sea and the UK, and nothing gives me greater pleasure than beating the English at yet another sport. I am an AIDA Judge, Instructor, inventor of the world's greatest pipe-mask, hold 3 Australian records and am possibly the world's deepest breath hold accountant, though unfortunately not many people admit they are an accountant these days so it's hard to prove. I look forward to serving the BFA again through the magic of apnea accounting.