Only One Freedive Center Brings the Competition Spirit Back to Sharm El Sheikh
Only One Freedive Center brought the competition spirit back to Sharm El Sheikh with two six-day AIDA and CMAS Depth competitions. Across every event, Immersion Freediving was fully involved, with Pim Vermeulen serving as Main Judge, and Aruna Yamashita as the main Safety Freediver in the water.
Edition No. 1 — AIDA The first edition brought together 26 athletes—15 men and 11 women—who completed a total of 80 dives.
The sea greeted us kindly at first, offering two days of smooth and effortless conditions. But after the rest day, the ocean showed its true character. Shifting currents tested athletes and organizers alike, slowing the pace and forcing everyone to adapt. The changing conditions caused significant delays and eventually led to the cancellation of the final part of the competition. Despite these challenges, the event became something truly remarkable. Two World Records and eight National Records were set, with the spotlight firmly on the incredible Nataliia Zharkova.
After several years without training or competing, Nataliia returned to competition in spectacular fashion. She first descended to a new World Record of 112 m CWTB, and later added another World Record with a 106 m FIM dive. Both performances were executed with remarkable control and her trademark mental strength. The conditions in which she set these records were, to say the least, extremely challenging. Her ability to remain focused and perform at such a level despite the tricky conditions made her achievements even more impressive.
Edition No. 2 — CMAS The second edition brought 16 athletes to the competition line, completing a total of 45 dives.
This time, the sea was kind to us throughout the entire competition, providing consistently good conditions and allowing the event to run smoothly. Once again, the results were remarkable: five World Records and 12 National Records were set. The spotlight this time was on Eugen Goettling, who delivered outstanding performances throughout the competition. All of his dives were executed with impressive control, accompanied by his unmistakable habit of repeatedly counting down to 10 seconds before his start—a ritual that became a familiar feature of his performances.
More Than Just Records
In the end, what stood out was not only the impressive number of records, but the spirit of the events. Athletes, judges, safety divers, organizers, and friends came together in a close-knit, family-like atmosphere, sharing their passion for depth and for the sea. The competitions were not simply about results; they were about bringing people together and bringing the competitive spirit back to Sharm El Sheikh.
The events concluded with a relaxed beachside ceremony in Sharm El Sheikh, celebrating the athletes and everyone who had contributed to making the competitions possible. And as we closed this chapter, one thing was already clear:
This is only the beginning.
More competitions at Only One Freedive Center are already on the horizon, and we look forward to welcoming athletes back to Sharm El Sheikh for the next chapter of depth competition, edition 3 – an AIDA event “for Kings & Queens” with potential WR performances by the Queen.
