Anna-Karina Schmitt is a German freediver based in Switzerland. Today we talk about the technicalities of diving in lakes and the challenges of living with multiple sclerosis and how freediving inspires her healthy lifestyle.In this episode we discuss:Anna and I had some real challenges getting the interview done. It took 4 attempts!She was going into have surgery on her ankle the day before the interview.Anna is from Germany, but now lives in Switzerland.Her first forays into freediving in the lake in Switzerland and then with Samo Jeranko.Anna had a world record in the lake in CNF at the time of recording.Optimising life for freediving.What are the advantages and disadvantages of diving in the lake?Question from Patreon supporter Philip about lake safety conditions.How they manage safety in the lake. Torches, depth sounders.Questions from Patreon supporters about higher risk of squeezing in the lake.The interview got stopped! We reconnected a week later after Anna-Karina got out from her ankle surgery.What is multiple sclerosis and how does it affect Anna?Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease.How freediving and the freediving lifestyle support Anna’s challenges with MS.What does a typical week of freediving training look like for Anna?Does she use cold water immersion for dealing with the cold in the lake.A question from Patreon supporter Tony about dive response in the lake.Reference to Episode #62 With Kiki Bosch.Anna’s approach to nutrition and supplementation.DESERT ISALND QUESTIONS - PATREON EXCLUSIVEA dive she will always remember?Why does she freedive?For all episodes of the Freedive Cafe Podcast, visit www.freedivecafe.comFor freediving courses and training in Dahab, Egypt, visit www.freediveandthrive.comTo support on Patreon: www.patreon.com/freedivecafe
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#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.The Slow Controlled Forced Exhale technique.Assessment for DCI related or DCI-like symptoms.MFSCO2 (Mask - motor memory, Fins - fine motor skills, Snorkel - Speech, C - coordination/balance, O - orientation, 2 - vision, eye sight and eyes)Juani already did a real-world assessment on Donny.What is Telemedicine?A question from Patreon member Jorg about telemedicine.Shout out to Johnny Sunnex.A question from Patreon member Andrew Ferris about what Juani wishes every new freediver knew about their body from the start.On tracking variables such as resting heart rate and heart rate variability, blood pressure, body weight, etc.A question from Patreon member Christian Stein, about how freediving interacts with the nervous system.On over-training and sleep deprivation.Study suggesting ROS (reactive oxygen species) peak, increase after 3 days of diving.Defining what is DCI (Decompression Illness).The importance of being prepared for DCI-like issues.What is PFO and what does it mean for the freediver?An incident Donny experienced after a dive.What is supraventricular tachycardia and can valsalva manoeuvre fix it?Better post-black out care for freedivers.A question from Patreon member Adrian about research on freediving’s effects on brain health and cognitive function.A question from Patreon member Tony Scafidi about fast dive times making a squeeze more likely.Jauni’s non-profit organisation for freediving research and awareness (UNU Freediving Foundation).For all episodes of the Freedive Cafe Podcast, visit www.freedivecafe.comFor freediving courses and training in Dahab, Egypt, visit www.freediveandthrive.comTo support on Patreon: www.patreon.com/freedivecafe
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#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 ScafidiIt 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 Sicily.Marco became a freediving instructor in 2012.Before that he worked for the Pfizer pharmaceutical company for around 18 years.Blue World Freediving’s first location is at Santa Tecla Palace Hotel.Blue World Freediving has a second location at Santa Maria La Scala.Diving from the shore vs diving from the shore.The boat is set up with sonar, counter ballast, etc.Sicily’s water conditions, thermocline, visibility, etc.What facilities and courses do Blue World Freediving offer?Shout out to Nutso!Blue World offer Molchanovs, AIDA, SSI and Apnea Academy courses.They have seven freediving instructors on the team.What is the future of Blue World Freediving? Competitions?What are the main attractions of the island of Sicily?Marco has never seen Le Grand Bleu!DESERT ISLAND QUESTIONS - Patreon exclusive content.Why does Marco freedive?For all episodes of the Freedive Cafe Podcast, visit www.freedivecafe.comFor freediving courses and training in Dahab, Egypt, visit www.freediveandthrive.comTo support on Patreon: www.patreon.com/freedivecafe
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#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 freediving medical safety. In this episode we discuss:Jeroen is a freediver, intensive care unit nurse and freediving medic.He also organises safety in a water stage movie studio in Brussels, working with some famous actors.Prospecting the dive location.Dealing with therapeutic use exemptions of drugs that could be detected on a doping test.Rescue protocols for certain incidents.The use of the pulse oximeter to detect problems in the diver. Following up with athletes and incident reporting.Doing scientific research, gathering information during competition periods.Specific rescue protocols for black outs and squeezes / barotraumas, etc.Most divers do not respond to the ‘Blow Tap Talk’ protocol after an underwater black out.Training the other members of the freediving safety team.The authority to stop the competition.What is DCI (Decompression Illness)Decompression sickness and arterial gas embolism (AGE). What is the difference?How are these conditions treated?The hot topic of in-water recompression as treatment.There are no guaranteed safe decompression tables.The use of breathing oxygen in-water after deep dives as a preventative measure to prevent DCI and as general recovery.Shout out to the Patreon supporters and thanks for contributing your questions.An example of the individual nature of symptoms DCI cases.Some examples of difficult decisions being made: Hanako Hirose, Petar KlovarWhat is oedema?The responsibilities of the freediving governing bodies to do better for the safety of the athletes.What is a PFO (patent foramen ovale)?Questions from Patreon supporters Tom, and Racso and Sean.Should you ever dive alone?Why does he freedive?For all episodes of the Freedive Cafe Podcast, visit www.freedivecafe.comFor freediving courses and training in Dahab, Egypt, visit www.freediveandthrive.comTo support on Patreon: www.patreon.com/freedivecafe
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#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 globally—both pool and depth—in unlocking their full potential through strength and technique training.In this episode we discuss:Tea is from Slovenia, and has a background in competitive swimming.She studied kinesiology and started coaching strength and conditioning.Tea was inspired to look further into freediving when she saw the dives on Diveye.Tea collaborated with Alenka Artnik (episodes #57 and #154) for many years.What does ‘training’ mean, actually?What are the most unique aspects of training for freediving, compared to other sports?What is periodisation and how to do it.What can we do during the base training phase?How gender differences influence training decisions.About how periods affect hormones and therefore training.Showing up for training, perceived exertion, mental condition and how it affects motivation.Deloading before the competition or event.Specific attention to each freediving discipline:(See the video version of the podcast on the True Depth Freediving YouTube channel for videos of exercises)FIM (Free Immersion)CWTB (Bifins)CWT (Monofin)CNF (No Fins)Comparing the depth disciplines to the pool versions.Tracking training and progress and what to track.How to recover from training.Supplementation (protein, creatine, omega 3, vitamin D)Sauna, cold plunges, foam rollers, etc.Advice for coaches on how to motivate and encourage our athletes/coachees.Tea’s services and Instagram.DESERT ISLAND QUESTIONS - Patreon Exclusive SectionWhy does she freedive?For all episodes of the Freedive Cafe Podcast, visit www.freedivecafe.comFor freediving courses and training in Dahab, Egypt, visit www.freediveandthrive.comTo support on Patreon: www.patreon.com/freedivecafe
South Africa