Northlander Sacha Williamson is the country's first female freedive instructor trainer, and just one of two nationwide. Freediving is exploring underwater with a single breath, Williamson can hold hers for over 4 minutes.
Williamson grew up on and in the water, and is now one of around 5000 qualified freedivers worldwide. She teaches the skill to others at Freedive Aotearoa in Northland.
Photo: Freediving Aotearoa / Facebook
Williamson says her diving career began in a somewhat haphazard manner. Her dad, a commercial diver, needed someone on the boat, so she began to look after the topside and make sure it didn’t go anywhere.
“Back then it was a bit more cowboy style.”
One day he asked if she wanted to jump in for a dive. Williamson was hooked and before long became an apprentice.
But doing something as your job means you lose it as your hobby, she says.
Not much of a hunter or competition diver, she was more into “going for a bit of a cruise” and taking photos.
Seeking different ways to be in water and curious about how far she could push her body, she dropped the tank and found free diving.
“I think every kid has jumped in a pool and tried to get to the bottom, or throwing coins over, or daring each other just to go a bit further.
“I think it’s that, I think this childlike play comes back.”
When you’re holding your breath, you’re dealing with the most primal part of being a human, she says.
“Your brain's going to tell you that you’re going to die if you’re not going to start breathing.
“If you’re thinking about holding your breath, you’re going to focus on holding your breath, then the thing that you’re focusing on becomes more intense.”
Free divers train to overcome that and stay calm – and it comes in handy when you’re a mother, she says.
“I think you find a different kind of strength within yourself too.”
Williamson takes her mind to a sandy beach, where she can feel the sand crunching beneath her feet and smell frangipani in the air.
She can hold her breath for a maximum of 4 minutes 15 seconds.
“One of the tasks you can do is give yourself a mantra to repeat over and over. It gives your brain something to do but it also gives you the feeling of completion each time you do it, which gives you a sense of satisfaction.
“You will tell yourself something that will make yourself feel invincible or incredible, like ‘I am safe, I am strong, I’m invincible’. You say it slowly and calmly.
“Or one of the ones you can say, anyone can use it, is ‘I am, the lizard king’” she laughs.
How long you can hold your breath underwater depends on a range of factors; how much you’ve eaten, how you’re feeling, what you’re doing underwater.
“Every day’s different and you only get good at what you train at doing.”
It’s mind-blowing what you can see while you’re freediving, she says.
“Even the way the light can reflect into the water, you’re just memorized.
“It’s just beautiful. The moment I get into the water I just feel like a better version of myself.”
