TAKE A DEEP BREATH

For six-time UK national record holder Georgina ‘George’ Miller, reaching depths of up to 65 metres doesn’t faze her in the slightest. Even when diving deeper than any recreational scuba diver, the owner of the freediving school Aquacity, in Cornwall, actually finds it relaxing. So what is this extreme sport?

Freediving is simply when you rely on holding your breath underwater until resurfacing. As simple as this sounds, it takes a lot of training to do this safely and efficiently. Once mastered, it’s a great way to explore the UK coastline.

Throughout July to August is a perfect time to go and see blue sharks circling the southwest coast.

For now, let’s jump into George’s fins and dive deep into the life of a freediving professional.

Everyone is a beginner at some point; do you remember your first dive?

It was amazing! I made my way down to the sandy bottom and was blown away by how quiet and beautiful it was— then I suddenly thought: “Wow this is kinda deep,” and rushed back to the surface.

What exciting things can you see around the UK freediving?

The UK has a bad reputation for being cold and murky — it does have its moments, but mostly it’s amazing. Divers who have learned in tropical places come here and are blown away by the abundance of life— it’s like a garden of kelp and so many fish. My favourite are seals, but it’s also amazing to get to see blue sharks and dolphins, plus we often see whales from the boats and massive bluefin tuna later in the summer.

Being based in Cornwall; how do you combat the cold even in the summer?

It’s not always easy, but that is part of the charm. I have actually grown to love the cold. One trick is to try and swim as often as I can in just a swimsuit— so it makes putting on a wetsuit feel very luxurious. Mechanically we respond better to the slightly colder water as it slows your heart rate down and helps conserve oxygen, so it’s an advantage for freediving.

So, how do you control your breathing in order to dive so deep?

Learning the science behind breathing is important for freediving along with safety and techniques, but it’s mostly about relaxation. The more relaxed you are the longer you can hold your breath.

What happens if someone panics?

I t’s so important to never dive alone. Always dive with someone who is qualified and understands freediving. Freediving is a really safe sport because if you are feeling uncomfortable you can’t really get anywhere deep. It’s when you relax that you see results, so it’s super important to take your time. It’s very individual, a few people come to us to learn because they are nervous, but sometimes the greatest fears can become the greatest passions. Learning calming breathing techniques are good skills to carry into all aspects of life.

Have you had any scary moments when freediving?

I saw a tiger shark when my friends were spear fishing out in the Bahamas – it was pretty cool, but it was probably sensible to get back into the boat as it was definitely hunting.

What is the most surreal freedive experience you have had?

Without a doubt diving with humpback whales! They were floating around between 15-30 metres, and we had the very great honour of swimming down to see them. It’s incredible when you can see a creature that big looking right at you and kind of understanding. Absolutely breath-taking and when they vocalise you can feel the sound in your chest rather than hear it.

Now here is the question everyone is wondering: How deep have you dived and how long can you hold your breath?

I’m really interested in competing so the deepest I have dived is 65 metres and the longest breath hold is a bit over seven minutes. I absolutely love the feeling of deep diving, when you free fall into the blue and you start to lose the edges of yourself, it’s just pure flow state and connection to the ocean.

Your ultimate top tips for beginners? Take a course and never freedive alone. It’s an incredible underwater world and a wonderful community – you will love it!