PERFORMANCE FREEDIVING INTERNATIONAL AND CAYMAN FREEDIVING ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCE DEJA BLUE 8 AND CAYMAN OPEN NATIONAL FREEDIVING CHAMPIONSHIP

West Bay, Grand Cayman, May 12, 2017 – Performance Freediving International and the Cayman Freediving Association are pleased to announce an exciting event taking place this coming week in the beautiful waters off Grand Cayman. For the 8th year under the banner Deja Blue, and for several years prior, Performance Freedving International (PFI) has staged its annual international freediving competition on Grand Cayman. This year, the newly formed Cayman Freediving Association (CFA) is proud to be joining PFI to co-host the inaugural Cayman Open National Championship (CONC) to run concurrently with Deja Blue 8.

These events will produce stunning displays of human potential as freedivers, diving on a single breath and without the aid of air tanks, will descend hundreds of feet in the ocean and travel multiple lengths of the pool, surfacing to the applause of amazed spectators while they await the official “white card” of the judges which signifies a clean and successful dive.

Over the past two weeks of pre-competition training off Seven Mile Beach, competitors have already dived over 92 meters (301 ft.) deep (and back!) and held a single breath for over 8 minutes in preparation for testing themselves next week against elite divers from the US, Canada, China, Brazil, Bermuda and many local Caymanians. Over the past several years, interest among local freedivers has been so keen that local freediver and Cayman national record holder Jeremy Walton, a local attorney, helped form the Cayman Freediving Association last year to govern the sport in the Cayman Islands and to promote its safe practice. “I’m very impressed with the strength and depth of the talent among our Cayman freedivers. We expect outstanding performances and a number of Cayman national records to be broken this week. I encourage anyone interested to come watch these amazing athletes perform.”

PFI’S founder and CEO, Kirk Krack, one of the most widely regarded pioneers in the history of the sport, is thrilled to be back hosting yet another successful event on island. “We’re very excited to be putting on yet another Deja Blue in Cayman” says Krack. “This year we have over 25 athletes and an equal number of supporting volunteers coming to Cayman to participate in what is really the Ironman of freediving. The island’s amazing waters and great pool facilities provide the perfect setting for these athletes to perform their best. Next week’s competition will follow two weeks of training camp where these divers have been progressing toward personal bests and perfecting their technique. We have a world-class volunteer safety team including freedivers and technical divers on rebreathers who ensure the athletes’ safety and it’s really exciting to see these athletes realize their potential. Plus, we always have a wonderful time on island and Caymanian hospitality is very special. This year should be our best event yet.”

This competition will offer unique opportunities for media coverage as the spectator/media boat will moor alongside the competition rig and safety boats off Seven Mile Beach on Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday mornings next week, with opportunities to view the pool competition in the evenings at Camana Bay pool on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. Organizers expect multiple national records to be broken in each of the 3 ocean depth disciplines and 3 pool disciplines, providing plenty of opportunity for exciting viewing.
For more information on press credentials or attendance, please contact Kirk Krack at (345) 927-3044 or Jeremy Walton at (345) 516-0301.
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Performance Freediving International (PFI), formed in January 2000, has been the pioneer in the sport of freedive training and safety. With certified instructors worldwide, its mission is to help students “Explore Your Potential Safely Through Education.”

Cayman Freediving Association, formed in 2016, has over 40 members comprised of Cayman nationals and residents who’ve associated to educate themselves on safe freediving practices, to train and recreate in the pristine waters of the Cayman Islands.