Freediving is not just a sport; it’s a calling, a quiet obsession that pulls you beneath the surface and dares you to discover who you are. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of immersing myself in this world—not just as a diver but as a teacher, a lifelong student, and now, an author. The Depth Collector is the culmination of this journey, two books born from countless hours of training, teaching, and learning alongside freedivers of all levels. More than that, it’s a love letter to the art and science of freediving—and a humble confession that no matter how much we train or achieve, we will always remain students of the water.
The Inspiration Behind the Books
Freediving has always been about more than reaching greater depths for me. It’s about the process: the countless hours spent mastering breath control, overcoming mental barriers, and refining techniques. It’s about confronting my flaws and limitations and finding ways to rise above them. As an instructor, I’ve seen how each diver’s journey is unique, shaped by their individual goals, fears, and breakthroughs. This perspective, combined with years of experience, my relentless desire to provide the best teaching possible, and an insatiable thirst for learning, planted the seed for The Depth Collector.
I could tell you that I wanted to create a guide that captured the essence of freediving and inspired divers at every stage of their adventure. But the truth is, I didn’t write this book entirely for others—at least not at first. Initially, it was for me—to document the lessons I’ve learned, to reflect on my journey, and perhaps, to solidify my own understanding. But as the pages grew, so did its purpose. Little by little, it became something more: a unique resource, a way to carve into eternity the wisdom I’ve gathered, to show the world that I’ve fully lived this passion, and, if you’re willing to dive into these 800 pages, a tool to guide you on your exploration of the ocean and yourself.
Years in the Making
As you can imagine, these books didn’t come together overnight. Calling it a long process would be an understatement. The idea first sparked during the Covid pandemic, when I couldn’t go in the water. To keep my mind and body busy, I started training static apnea (STA) and decided to write a book about it. That’s when I caught the bug—I discovered a passion for writing about training that matched my love for freediving itself.
At the same time, I was developing a new master’s course and shaping its theoretical framework. One section focused on training for freediving, and I quickly realized that many of my students lacked a clear, systematic way to improve safely and effectively. Initially, I structured the course around four pillars—CO2 tolerance, technical skills, physical preparation, and mental techniques. But as I explored further, it became evident that these pillars were just the beginning. The framework expanded to eight pillars, adding hypoxia resistance, anatomical adaptation, nutrition, and recovery.
Each of these pillars is equally important, forming a balanced structure for progress. I vividly remember sketching this idea on a napkin in a Taipei restaurant, creating a skill graph that would later become the foundation for understanding how freedivers could measure and refine their training.
The Depth Collector is truly the product of a decade of exploration, teaching, and collecting insights from the freediving community. Every chapter is rooted in real-world experience. And it’s not just my voice in these pages; it’s the collective wisdom of students, colleagues, and fellow divers who have shared their stories, challenges, and triumphs with me.
From Theory to Depth: What’s Next in The Depth Collector?
But honestly, this is just where the story starts getting good. These pillars? They weren’t just ideas floating around—they became the backbone of The Depth Collector. Each one is a mix of lessons learned the hard way, insights shared by incredible freedivers, and a whole lot of trial and error. Trust me, there were plenty of “well, that didn’t work” moments along the way.
In the next part, I’ll break it all down for you—the eight pillars that form the core of the book, plus the little extras that make it truly unique (hint: think QR codes, colorful illustrations, and even a hoodie-wearing octopus). So stick around, grab a cup of tea, and let’s dive into Part 2 of How Years of Training and Teaching Freediving Became a Book.
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