Ocean Scientist Breaks Freediving Record in National Competition

University of Miami Professor Claire Paris broke the USA Women’s National Freediving record in the freediving discipline of Dynamic No Fins with a three minutes and seven seconds swim of 128 meters (420 feet) on a single breath. She was competing with twelve other athletes in the first annual event.

“I am very happy and grateful with this National Record accomplishment. It is a reflection of my connection with water and the ocean,” said Paris, director of the Physical-Biological Interactions Laboratory at the UM Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. “I have dedicated my life to the study and conservation of the ocean and freediving makes me feel one with the water.”

Claire Paris hears the news from husband and coach Ricardo Paris, she has just set a new National record in the freediving discipline of Dynamic No Fins. Photo: Kate Fehlhaber

As an ocean scientist at the UM Rosenstiel School Claire Paris spends days observing the movements of tiny fish larvae in a unique underwater drifting laboratory. She has developed scientific instruments to listen to, and observe these important, but often unnoticed, life forms on the reefs and in the open ocean. Another powerful component to her scientific approach is how she interacts with her research subjects underwater. Paris uses her talent as a certified freediver to minimize any human disturbance to her research subjects.

The competition took place during the California Cup freediving competition at the Culver City Plunge Community Pool. Dynamic No Fins is performed by swimming without fins in a pool with the athlete holding their breath swimming as far as they can. Distance is measured with the use of a metered tape measure. Paris added three meters / ten feet to the record previously held by Shell Eisenberg of Hawaii.

USA Freediving is a non-profit association founded on a democratic representation of freediving within the United States and internationally. Founded in 2003, US Freediving brought together a diverse group of 21 founding members, all interested in the development and growth of freediving. In just six months, this highly dedicated group was able to create an association recognized as the voice of freediving in the United States by the international community. The association has grown to over one hundred members with continued growth expected.

The International Association for the Development of Apnea (AIDA) is the international sanctioning body for freediving, individual and team competition, and freediving world record attempts. AIDA nationals are individual associations that represent freediving and AIDA in their country, similar to Olympic Organizing Committees. http://www.usfreediving.org

For more information about AIDA, visit: http://www.aidainternational.org. 
Read more about Professor Claire Paris: http://news.miami.edu/stories/2015/06/deep-thinker.html