#167 | Juani Valdivia | Freediving Doctor
Jani Valdivia is from Peru and is based in Tampa, Florida where he works as a neurosurgeon. He is also a member of the AIDA Science and Medical Committee and a competitive freediver himself. Juani also appeared on episodes #99 and #135. In this episode we discuss: Catching up with Juani. Juani was on Long Island, Bahamas at the time of the interview, preparing for Vertical Blue, 2025. Remote assessment of an injured freediver. An example scenario of a remote assessment, using lung squeeze. Th...
22 Aug 1h 37min
#166 | Marco Puliafito | Blue World Freediving
Marco Puliafito is from Sicily, Italy. He left an 18 year career at Pfizer pharmaceutical company to open Italy's first dedicated freediving training centre, Blue World Freediving. In this episode we discuss: Shout out to our interpreter Tony Scafidi It was Donny’s first time in Sicily and first time in Italy. Marco is from Catania, Sicily. He started freediving as a child, following in the footsteps of his father who was a strong spearfisherman. Spearfishing is a huge part of the culture in ...
26 Juli 47min
#165 | Jeroen MG Van Haudt | Freediving Medic
Jeroen is from Belgium. He is a passionate health-care provider working as an intensive care unit nurse, with a love for technical innovation, teaching and diving, and a former business owner in composites resins 3D-shaping for the nautical and entertainment industry. Jeroen is perhaps best known to us in the freediving community in his role as freediving medic in some of the biggest freediving competitions in the world. Today’s discussion is a wide-ranging and thorough exploration of f...
25 Juni 1h 56min
#164 | Tea Košnjek | Deep Strength
Tea Košnjek is a kinesiologist and a strength & conditioning coach working with Olympic-level swimmers and freedivers around the world. From pool to depth disciplines, she helps athletes optimise their performance by focusing on strength, movement efficiency, and mastering technique. Between 2018 and 2024, she was the technique and S&C coach for freediver Alenka Artnik, a multiple world champion and world record holder. Tea continues to support a wide range of freedivers globall...
24 Maj 2h 9min
#163 | Huang Hua Yang | Spirit of Depth
Huang Hua Yang is a former farmer and the deepest freediving athlete from the beautiful country of Taiwan. One of the deepest men in the world, he shares his freediving story and philosophy with us. In this episode we discuss: Huayang joined us from Panglao, Philippines at the time of recording, where he was training for the Asian Freediving Cup. Comparing conditions in Panglao and Taiwan. Donny lived in Taiwan for ten years and started a freediving school there. Huayang was a farmer fr...
20 Apr 1h 22min
#162 - David Mellor - No Limits
David Mellor is an English freediver who started freediving at 49 years old and achieved the incredible goal of freediving to 100 metres, in competition, at the age of 60 years old. In this episode we discuss: David and Donny sat down at The Little Blue in Dahab, home of True Depth Freediving, for this interview. David became a grandfather! David moved to Poole in England when he was 12 years old. He was a tool maker by trade and eventually opened his own factory. After three kids and a divor...
2 Mars 1h 13min
#161 | Marco Nones | Only One Apnea
Marco Nones is one of the most influential persons in the development of freediving on Egypt's Red Sea and a coach to some of the best freedivers in the world. In this episode we discuss: We met for this interview at Only One Apnea Centre located in Reef Oasis Blue Bay Resort in Sharm El-Sheikh. Marco first came to Sharm in early 2000 as a scuba diving instructor. The AIDA World Championship was organised by Marco in 2007 and 2008. Marco is from Genoa, Italy. He started in the scuba busines...
5 Jan 1h 16min
#160 | Enchante Gallardo | Rise and Shine
Enchante Gallardo is a Hawaii born freediving athlete who has recently surpassed the 100m depth. In this episode we discuss: Enchanted was born and raised on Oahu, Hawaii. She went to school in California and lived for many years in Puerto Rico. She did her first course with FII in Hawaii and immediately fell in love. She spent a lot of time around the water as a kid in Hawaii. About surfing and growing up surfing, and wild ocean conditions. Questions from Patreon supporter Philip. About tr...
3 Dec 20241h 6min
