The Slow Newscast Deep Water
Nov 18, 2025
Lydia Gard, an investigative reporter and travel writer, dives deep into the world of freediving after discovering its allure at Dean's Blue Hole. Her passion turns into an investigation when she uncovers doping allegations among elite divers. The conversation touches on intense sensations of holding breath, the community's polarized reactions to discovered banned substances, and the ethical implications of competition in the sport. Lydia highlights the dire consequences of unchecked drug use, setting the stage for an urgent conversation about the future of freediving.
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How A Retreat Sparked A New Calling
- Lydia Gard recounts falling in love with freediving after a breathwork retreat led to multi-minute breath-holds and ecstatic feelings.
- That first experience pulled her deeper into the sport and eventually into investigating its darker controversies.
Depth Is Built On Stillness
- Freediving demands calm, slow breathing and profound stillness rather than adrenaline-fuelled aggression.
- Success is built on months or years of patient training, not single dramatic moments.
Record Dive Then Rumours At Vertical Blue
- Gary McGrath achieved a 112-metre British national record at Vertical Blue in 2022, a three-minute-plus dive.
- The 2023 competition, however, became defined by rumours and scandal rather than records.