Newcomer sets UK freediving record

Ed Wardle, 40, from London, made the dive to 55m off Santorini in Greece. He was under water for 2min 11sec.

The dive, ratified by world governing body AIDA, beat Dave Tranfield’s record of 53m, which had stood for a year.

The world men’s record is held by New Zealander William Trubridge, at 101m.

In Constant Weight Without Fins, the competitor swims by breaststroke down and back up the dive line, carrying any weight of choice throughout the dive. Wardle dived weightless.

He is expected to extend his record before long, having dived to 60m in practice. He hopes to attend the world championships hosted by Greece in September.

Surprisingly, Wardle entered the sport despite being scared of depths. “To be honest, I’m afraid of deep water,” he said after his record dive. He has had to “work hard to manage the instinct to panic”.

Wardle is used to a challenge, however. An adventurer and documentary film maker, he has climbed Everest, trekked to the North Pole and spent seven weeks alone in the wilds of Canada.

He was nominated in the Best Breakthrough Talent category of last year’s BAFTAS for his Channel 4/National Geographic programme Alone in the Wild.

Related links
Hat trick of records for British freediver
British Freediving Association
AIDA