News & Events

This is the 2nd year running that a Freediving event has been held at Camberwell Pool as part of the International Freediving calendar thanks to local organiser and athlete Liv Philip who has been working alongside leisure centre staff with the backing of Southwark Council.

Venue: Camberwell Leisure Centre, Artichoke Place, SE5 8TS 
Date:   Sunday 31st May
Entry:  Free
Time:  First dive 10.45am and last dive at 17.00pm   
 
New investment by the council of around £2m in Camberwell Leisure Centre will encourage future international events like this to welcome pool users from across the globe to Southwark. 
 
This year there are over 20 athletes attending the event from as far afield as Germany and South Africa as well as freedivers from all over the UK. UK National Champion Liv Philip bases her training at the pool and wanted to build on the success of the first event last year. 'We managed to create an event where athletes had a safe and relaxed environment where they could build on there performance in a competition.' After some fantastic performances, many athletes well exceeded their personal best and demand for a second competition was high.
 
This year's event has doubled in size as Freedivers will use Camberwell as a qualification event for the World Indoor Championships in Demark in August.  Fusion's Centre Manager at Camberwell, Simon Cooke commented: "Despite competition stakes being high amongst the top athletes, the competitors have a great mixture of experience levels and abilities, which makes the event so unique. Liv Philip agrees: "The Great Camberwell Breath Hold has a fantastic, friendly atmosphere and allows new freedivers to compete alongside some of their heros, so everyone can learn from each other.'
 
After last years event, Liv went on to break a longstanding National record in Dynamic with Fins and her own static record which now stands at 5:35, and Brighton resident Dave King broke the substantial depth record in Constant weight with fins of 80m and became the new Men's National Champion. Look out for big performances also from the UK's Alan Barber, who also trains in London and looks set for breaking his massive dynamic with fins record of 186m and hopes to regain his nofins record. Georgina Miller is training to try and break Liv's Static record. Both have done breath holds in training of approximately 6minutes, but anything can happen on the day. There is also every chance that a number of other male and female national records toppled at the event.
 
The International judges attending the Competition are traveling from Sweden and France to oversee the event and apply the stringent rules.

Spectators are welcome on the day and entry is free with an optional donation of £2 to go to Shark Trust.
 
More information from Stephen Cooke T 0207 703 3024 or visit www.fusion-lifestyle.com
 
More press information: Anne Layton 07831 572670
 
Fusion is a non-profit organisation (www.fusion-lifestyle.com) whose primary objectives are to provide facilities and services in the interests of the social and physical welfare of local communities.  Fusion aims to provide a sustainable service which enables people of all ages and abilities to access a healthy lifestyle.
 
The freedivers have a number of competitve disciplines in freediving - some peopel are specailists in one particilar discipline, and some people like Liv, train and compete in all....
 
Dynamic with fin - as far as you can go up and down under water without breakig the surface whilst using a monofin or bi-fins  (types of flippers - freedivers call them fins though). This is judged on distance.
 
Dynamic No fins - as above but with out the aid of a fin - one of the most physically and technically demanding disciplines.
 
Static - holding your breath for as long as possible whilst stationary, face down in the shallow end of the swimming pool with a safety diver watching over you - this is judged on time.
 
Constant weight with fins  - Diving as deep as you can in open water on a line using a fin and propelling yourself both down and up using a fin.
 
Constant No fins - as above without the use of a fin - also very demanding disciline.