Freediver Breaks World Record By Reaching 350ft For Deepest Ever Dive

A video of someone breaking the freediving world record? Oh, go on then:

I mean, we've all tried it, seeing how long we can hold our breath underwater, as if we have some hidden talent you just haven't discovered yet.

You're there in the local leisure centre, trying to dodge dozens of arm band-clad babies and the array of colourful plasters floating through the pool, and you decide that's the moment to make your world record attempt.

You have supreme confidence that you are not just going to break it but smash it for decades to come; it's not even in question. Then about 20 seconds in this illusion quickly dissolves and you come to a sudden realisation that you are not David Blaine and this was never going to happen.

Caters

You resurface, red cheeked, gasping for air, slightly embarrassed, but reassured that the failure was probably just because you hadn't warmed up properly - you'll get it next time.

Well, before you set yourself up for further embarrassment, have a look at this amazing video of someone actually doing the biz.

Enter Alessia Secchini, an Italian freediver, who specialises in plunging to incredible depths without oxygen.

Seriously, she just holds her breath and dives in, going further and further before eventually making it back to the surface, equipped with just a wetsuit, a monofin, and obviously her arms for balance.

The video shows the 26-year-old floating off the coast of party island, Ibiza, before she takes a deep breath and heads straight down to the bottom.

Gradually the light begins to fade as she sinks to staggering depths, propelling herself with just her legs. It gets so dark Alessia has to use a light attached to her head to guide her to the metal podium at the bottom, before she turns round to make her ascent.

Caters

Seemingly effortless, she cuts through the water and as she makes her triumphant return to the surface she is greeted by a cheering crowd.

But let's not forget, she also broke the world record (hey, this is where we came in!), diving 107 metres (351 feet) - more than the length of an entire football pitch - in just three minutes and 15 seconds.

It kind of puts that 20 seconds into context now, doesn't it?

Topics: SPORT, World News, Awesome, News, Inspirational

Dominic Smithers

Dominic graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in French and History. Like you, Dom has often questioned how much use a second language has been. Well, after stints working at the Manchester Evening News, the Accrington Observer and the Macclesfield Express, along with never setting foot in France, he realised the answer is surprisingly little. But I guess, c'est la vie. Contact us at [email protected]

@SmithersDom