Gallery: The Insanely Dangerous, Weirdly Meditative Sport of Freediving
Logan Mock-Bunting01Vertical Blue Freediving event, Day 5
William Trubridge adjusts his googles before attempting a world record dive of 334 feet in the constant weight no-fins discipline. Trubridge was attempting to break his own 2010 record of 331 feet. In just under two minutes he reached his target. However, on his ascension he grabbed the dive line, signaling to safety divers he needed help close to some 65 feet from the surface.
Logan Mock-Bunting02Vertical Blue Freediving event, Day 5
Fish swim around divers as the athletes prepare for their official dives. Divers acclimate in the water, warming up with breathing exercises, stretches and practice descents before their one chance at an official dive a day.
Logan Mock-Bunting03Vertical Blue Freediving event, Day 7 - competition
Walid Boudhiaf attempts a Tunisian National record of 347 feet in the Free Immersion Discipline. He reached his target depth and returned to the surface under his own power during the 4:02 dive, but suffered a loss of motor control at the surface, resulting in a disqualification.
Logan Mock-Bunting04Vertical Blue Freediving event, Day 7 - competition
Alexey Molchanov descends. He attempted a 288-foot dive as his final chance to win the competition, but he turned early at 278 feet and came in second overall.
Logan Mock-Bunting05Vertical Blue Freediving event, Day 7 - competition
Samo Jeranko stands at the edge of Dean’s Blue Hole.
Logan Mock-Bunting06Alexey Molchanov stands on the edge of Dean's Blue Hole after his 95 meter constant weight No-fins dive at Vertical Blue 2014.
Alexey Molchanov stands on the edge of Dean's Blue Hole after his 311-foot constant weight no-fins dive. He was disqualified for a surface black-out.
Logan Mock-Bunting07Alexey Molchanov stands on the edge of Dean's Blue Hole after his 95 meter constant weight No-fins dive at Vertical Blue 2014.
Alexey Molchanov stands on the edge of Dean's Blue Hole after his 311-foot constant weight no-fins dive. He was disqualified for a surface black-out.
Logan Mock-Bunting08Vertical Blue Freediving event, Day 7 - competition
"Sandfalls" occur in Dean's Blue Hole as soft, fine beach sand drops off into the vertical cave/sinkhole.
Logan Mock-Bunting09Evgeny Sychev heads to the surface on his 101 meter Constant Weight Fins dive at Vertical Blue 2014.
Evgeny Sychev heads to the surface on his 331-foot constant weight fins dive. He made the dive but was disqualified due to improper surface protocol.
Logan Mock-Bunting10Vertical Blue Freediving event, Day 6 - competition
Kate Middleton broke her own previous national record for New Zealand by completing a constant weight dive to 223 feet with a dive time of 2 minutes and 31 seconds.
Logan Mock-Bunting11Vertical Blue Freediving event, Day 6 - competition
Chris Crawshaw ascends to the surface, successfully completing his 223-foot constant weight no-fins dive.
Logan Mock-Bunting12Vertical Blue Freediving event, Day 7 - competition
William Trubridge ascends from a 383-foot dive to win the Vertical Blue 2014 competition at Dean's Blue Hole.
Logan Mock-Bunting13Vertical Blue Freediving event, Day 5
Kate Middleton came in 3rd overall at Vertical Blue 2014 in Dean's Blue Hole.
Logan Mock-Bunting14A man swims through fish underwater inside of Dean's Blue Hole on Long Island, Bahamas.
Relaxing after a freediving competition, Daan Verhoeven floats through a school of Unicorn Leatherjacket fish. Verhoeven at one time held five of the six Dutch freediving records.
Logan Mock-Bunting15Fish swim around a woman swinging underwater on a rope attached to two platforms inside of Dean's Blue Hole on Long Island, Bahamas.
Fish swim around Louisa Collyns as she swings underwater on a rope attached to two platforms inside of Dean's Blue Hole the day after the Vertical Blue 2014 competition ended.
