Deep Water | Tortoise Investigates Depth Wish | Deep Water Ep1
Nov 18, 2025
In this discussion, elite freediver Gary McGrath and world-record holder Dave Mellor share insights into the exhilarating yet controversial world of freediving. Gary reveals the allure of Dean's Blue Hole and the sensory experience of deep dives. Both guests confront the troubling doping rumors that have shaken the community, detailing the emotional upheaval among divers. They also explore the tension between competition and the sport's spiritual roots, emphasizing the ongoing struggles for integrity and unity in freediving.
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Peaceful Free Fall
- Gary McGrath describes the sensory calm and stillness of descending and reaching free fall during a deep freedive.
- He says that moment is weightless, peaceful, and addictive, capturing why divers chase depth.
Record Dive At Vertical Blue
- Lydia Gard recounts Gary McGrath's 112 metre dive at Vertical Blue that earned the British national record.
- She uses this to show how elite freedivers train for huge depths and long surface times.
Luggage Search Sparks Scandal
- Maureen Simonis describes arriving at Vertical Blue and the moment divers discovered drugs in the Croatian team's luggage.
- The discovery sparked immediate community unrest and viral social-media debate.