News
Great Northern and BFA UK National Pool Competition Report
The Great Northern Freediving Competition and the BFA UK National pool championship results are now in. There were two days of competition. Day one was Apneists UK Dynamic No Fins Day (DNF) and was a small National competition with guests and a great way of involving a few new volunteers and newbie athletes into a very relaxed and easy session at Wright Robinson pool in Manchester. Day two was the BFA UK National pool competition and the 8th Great Northern International Pool Competition. Winners for these competitions were combined point score for Static apnea added to a choice of dynamic with fins, or dynamic with no fins (DNF multiplied by 1.3).
The Easter weekend gained a few people who may not have made it, and lost a few who were taken up, so next year it will be on a neutral weekend with no significant calendar event. I was very happy to see a few new faces – we had 9 new divers out of the 31 entered starting over the two days and many of them put in pb or close to pb performances which was nice. It was good to see Lucy Hannell podium as she has been out for a while – nice swim. And Lucelle Simms was solid all weekend despite having a very short warm up just before her static.
There was a lovely DNF swim by Borys Bajorek to beat the current Hungarian National record holder Mike Benke. Mike had his arm bent to enter as he was out of form, and after he podiumed he asked then if he could enter the second day as all of a sudden his motivation had suddenly come back. Eoin Clarke did a massive swim, but he woke up in the arms of friends after singing ‘keep on swimming keep on swimming’ until the safety decided he had swam far enough – 34 metres longer than planned – but I’m definite we will see another Irish National record very soon.
The static event saw lots of white card performances, but it seems the best dives were left for the dynamic with fins / dynamic no fins event. Alice Hickson came back into the room and put a very solid, and very clean 161m DNF in which immediately put her out of reach of any mortal that had entered. Great swim also by Lucelle at 150m who was there really to put numbers on the board, but the numbers were good. In the Men’s event Phil Fennell put in a big 169m swim, and only missed first spot because of Adam Drzazga having a bigger static earlier.
Below is a run down of now official podium places. The two days’ results in full can be found here.
Apneists UK Dynamic No Fins Competition
Male
1st place Borys Bajorek
2nd place Mike Benke
3rd place Phil Fennell
Female
1st place Lucelle Simms
2nd place Lucy Hannell
3rd place Claire Elwood
The second day on April 16th was a joint competition – the 8th Great Northern Freediving competition and the BFA UK National pool championships running alongside it. We saw some great performances even though many of the athletes were out of full pool training this time of the year.
BFA UK National Pool Competition
Male
1st Place Adam Drzazga
2nd place Phil Fennell
3rd place Tom Elliot
Female
1st place Alice Hickson
2nd place Lucelle Simms
3rd place Nancy Gibson
8th Great Northern International
Male
1st Place Adam Drzazga
2nd place Phil Fennell
3rd place Tom Elliot
Female
1st place Alice Hickson
2nd place Lucelle Simms
3rd place Nancy Gibson
Best Newbie Overall
Male
Mika Meskanen
Female
Alexandra Mikheeva
[hr style=”single”]
Thank you to all of our amazing volunteers, and also to our sponsors:
See you all next year!
Gear News
Introducing the TR-80, IR-50 and CS-30 Regulators from DYNAMICNORD
Whether you are a beginner or a professional diver – with the three new main regulators from DYNAMICNORD, everyone will find their favourite regulator. They all look super stylish.
Excellent performance with the TR-80
Quality and performance are the be-all and end-all for regulators. It is not for nothing that the TR stands for Tec Reg. The innovative design of the TR-80 guarantees absolute reliability – even in ice-cold waters.
Perfect breathing effort at 0.8 J/l / certified for diving in waters below 10 degrees / structural design made of solid brass for best cold protection / membrane-compensated design with dry seal of the first stage / reduced exhalation effort thanks to optimized exhalation membrane and bubble deflector / adjustable Venturi (dive/predive) and adjustment knob for individual inhalation comfort / innovative design of the front cover prevents free-flow in strong currents or when diving with scooters / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 2 HP and 4 LP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.
Amazing underwater adventures with the IR-50
The IR-50 is the top regulator for advanced and experienced divers. Natural breathing is the essence of this regulator.
Ideal breathing effort at 0.8 J/l /certified for diving in waters below 10 degrees / compensated membrane / adjustable venturi (dive/predive) and adjustment knob for individual inhalation comfort/ outlet valve and deflector for minimum exhalation effort and reduction of bubbles on the face / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 2 HP and 4 NP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.
The Workhorse – our CS-30
For diving centres and diving beginners – the workhorse stands for strong construction, reliability and robustness. Perfect for your training.
Optimal breathing effort at 0.8 J/l /recommended for diving in waters above 10 degrees / non-compensated piston / adjustable venturi (dive/predive) / outlet valve and deflector for minimum exhalation effort and reduction of bubbles on the face / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 1 HP and 3 NP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.
Octopus OP-30
The OP-30 is the ideal addition to all DYNAMICNORD regulators. It is identical in construction to the CS-30.
The TR-80, IR-50, CS-30 (DIN & INT) regulators and the Octopus OP-30 are available from DYNAMICNORD dealers and in the online store.
DYNAMICNORD – Your Outdoor Companion.
Marine Life & Conservation
Paul Watson Released as Denmark Blocks Japan’s Extradition Bid
Renowned anti-whaling activist Paul Watson has been released from custody in Greenland after spending five months in detention. Denmark’s Justice Ministry rejected Japan’s request for his extradition, citing insufficient guarantees that his time already served in custody would be credited against any potential sentence.
The 74-year-old Canadian-American was arrested on July 21 in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, when his ship docked to refuel. His arrest was based on a 2012 Japanese warrant related to a 2010 encounter in Antarctic waters. Japan alleged Watson obstructed operations and caused damage to a whaling research ship during efforts to disrupt illegal whaling. Watson has consistently denied these claims, maintaining his commitment to marine conservation.
Denmark, which oversees extradition matters for Greenland, concluded that while the legal conditions for extradition were met, the lack of assurances from Japan regarding time-served credit made extradition untenable.
In a video shared by his foundation, Watson expressed gratitude and relief, saying, “After five months, it’s good to be out… and good to know they’re not sending me to Japan.” He added that the most difficult part of his time in custody was being separated from his two young sons.
Watson is a pioneering figure in marine conservation, known for founding the Captain Paul Watson Foundation in 2022 after decades of activism with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. His bold efforts to defend marine life have earned him widespread support, including from celebrities and conservationists. His work has also been featured in the acclaimed reality TV series Whale Wars.
Watson’s lawyer, Jonas Christoffersen, praised the decision, stating, “We are happy and relieved that Paul Watson is now free.” He added that Watson is eager to reunite with his family and continue his vital work.
The arrest occurred while Watson’s vessel, the M/Y John Paul DeJoria, was en route to the North Pacific with a team of 26 volunteers to intercept a Japanese whaling ship. His foundation described the arrest as politically motivated and emphasized that Watson’s actions were focused on ending illegal whaling practices.
Japan resumed commercial whaling in 2019 after leaving the International Whaling Commission, asserting that whale meat is a cultural tradition. Conservationists, however, continue to challenge these practices, highlighting their impact on marine ecosystems.
Despite the challenges, Watson remains steadfast in his mission to protect marine life and bring attention to whaling practices. His dedication to ocean conservation has made him a globally respected advocate for the environment.
-
News2 months ago
Iconic SS United States to become the World’s Largest Artificial Reef
-
News3 months ago
Book Review – 52 Assignments: Underwater Photography
-
Gear News3 months ago
DYNAMICNORD – New German diving brand enters the British market
-
News3 months ago
Exploring Cenote El Pit: A Diver’s Dream
-
Gear News3 months ago
Try BARE drysuits (and maybe even win one!) this Friday with Sea & Sea at North West Dive Fest
-
Marine Life & Conservation3 months ago
Book Review: Coral Triangle Cameos
-
Blogs2 months ago
Dive the Egyptian Red Sea this Autumn with Regaldive
-
News3 months ago
2024 Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition Announced