New Taiwanese free diving record of 93 meters set by Afa Zhang

New Taiwanese free diving record of 93 meters set by Afa Zhang

2023-04-28

Have you ever heard of free diving? The sport involves diving deep under the water without any breathing apparatus. Yes, that means surviving on just one breath of air. The sport has taken off worldwide in recent years, and Taiwan’s divers have also embraced the challenge. Now diver and coach Afa Zhang has a set a new national record, for the deepest free dive in Taiwan. He chatted to FTV about how free diving helped him find himself again in a world full of noise.

Afa Zhang bobs up and down in the water. He’s carefully regulating his breathing. The countdown to the start of the competition begins. He takes in one final breath of air, then dives under the water, kicking his powerful tail to dive deeper.

He leaves the audience behind at the surface, along with all sounds. In just over a minute, he reaches 93 meters below the surface, the target depth. He picks up a white tag to prove his accomplishment, then turns around and begins the ascent. By his side swims an attendant to make sure he’s safe.

And then he’s back above the surface, exhaling and inhaling again. He signals he’s OK to the judge, who confirms he completed the dive. Then applause breaks out all around. By achieving 93 meters in this contest, Zhang has set a new Taiwanese record.

The professional free diver is also a mermaid performer. His agility and grace mesmerize audiences.

Afa Zhang
Free diver
Free diving is a place where I have no burdens and no stress. But actually the pressure is greater in the water – because of the laws of physics, the water pressure is very high. But you just go down with one breath, and then there’s nothing left except yourself. There can often be too much noise in life. Everywhere you go there’s the sounds of other people, and even the environment can have a big impact. But in the water all that’s left is your heartbeat. Or sometimes, when it gets even quieter, it can feel like you can hear the fish talking to you. That’s something really fascinating about free diving, I think. Because I can do whatever I like in the water, just like a fish.

After a period feeling lost and directionless, Zhang found free diving when he graduated from university. Diving helped him find himself again. Though it may seem like a dangerous extreme sport to some, for him it’s a path of getting to know the sea, getting to know himself, and mastering the knowledge of the sport. The rewards are priceless.

Afa Zhang
Free diver
You go through breath training again and again, and you realize, “Wow, I’m more capable than I imagined!” And you want to see where your limits are, or how far or how deep you can swim. Water sports are always something that take some getting to know. Everyone says the sea is dangerous, but what’s actually dangerous is that you don’t know how to assess the risks and you haven’t got to understand it.

Free diving is not just a way to have fun. It’s a chance to get to know the ocean, get closer to yourself – and maybe even discover a whole new perspective on life.

全世界最令人著迷運動自由潛水教練找回自己

2023-04-28

台灣有一群愛好自由潛水的朋友，他們只憑著一口氣，不需要任何裝備，就能潛入大海，台灣有一名自由潛水員兼教練張逸先，他說，自己也曾經迷失過，是大海接納了他，讓他重新找回自己。

在海浪上起伏，張逸先快速調整自己的呼吸，隨著比賽時間進入倒數，吞入最後一口氣，一個躬身下潛，猶如鯨豚般擺動著單蹼往下。

不僅把觀眾拋在後頭，連聲音也留在水面上，時間只過了一分多鐘，已經來到這次比賽的深度93米，抽了一張白色標籤，證明達到預設深度，完美轉身，張逸先開始往上游，旁邊戒護人員，也一一潛到他身邊，確保狀況。

吐出第一口氣，大口呼吸，向裁判比了OK，最後在裁判宣布成功，四周響起掌聲，這一場比賽，張逸先不僅拿到93米的好成績，也寫下國內紀錄。

張逸先是一名專業的自由潛水員，也是人魚表演者，在海裡他盡情的擺動身體，表現他最美的一面。

[[自由潛水員張逸先]]
“自由潛水對我來說，是一個很沒有負擔、沒有壓力的事情，但在水裡面其實壓力比較大，物理的關係水壓很大，可是你憑藉著自己一口氣下去，那時候只剩自己。其實在生活之中很容易太多雜訊，到處都是別人的聲音，或者是說甚至環境，都很影響，但在水裡面只剩下自己的心跳，甚至有的時候再安靜一點，好像會聽到魚在跟你說話的感覺，這是我覺得自由潛水很迷人的地方，因為我可以像一條魚一樣，自由自在的在水裡面。”

過去曾經對人生失去方向的張逸先，大學畢業後接觸潛水，重新找回自己，雖然很多人認為，自由潛水是一件危險的極限運動，但他說，如果願意了解大海，了解自己，也了解這項運動，大海的回饋，絕對讓你意想不到。

[[自由潛水員張逸先]]
“透過一次又一次的訓練的呼吸，然後讓自己了解到，哦，原來我比想像中更厲害，你也會想要去看看自己的極限，或是我可以游到多遠遊到多深。水域活動一直是一個需要被認識的一件事，大家都說海很危險，但其實危險是在於你不知道怎麼樣去評斷風險，跟沒有去了解這件事情。”

潛水不單只是一個休閒活動，同時也是一場機會教育，用潛水認識海洋，一起發現海面下的寶藏，也一起重新反思我們的生活。

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