"This is why I free dive": A journey into the deep | William Trubridge | TEDxChristchurch

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to hold your breath for minutes on end, descending 300 feet and more under water? In this extraordinary talk -- part meditation, part heart-stopping adventure -- world champion freediver William Trubridge not only takes you there, but offers a profound answer to the question: "Why do you do it?"
In 2005 William was the first freediver to dive at Dean's Blue Hole, now recognised as the world's premier freediving venue and site of the annual Vertical Blue event. There he broke his first world record in the discipline of CNF (Constant Weight No Fins) in April 2007, diving to 81m. Since then he has broken this record multiple times. In 2010 he became the first human to descend to 100m (330 feet) during Project Hector, an event aimed at bringing awareness to the plight of New Zealand's critically endangered Hector's and Maui's Dolphins species. In July 2016 he furthered this record to 102m (334 feet) as part of the Steinlager "Born to Defy" project, which was broadcast live to New Zealand television. William also holds the world record in Free Immersion, with 124m (406 feet), set at Vertical Blue in May 2016. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@juliamazurok9642]

Free dive is the highest level of meditation, selfcontrol and embracing the Earth existence

[@rotmee]

This video was a true lifechanger for me. Two years later I nearly have the national record within reach. Without this video I probably would have been shadow (mentally) of a human with no compass in life. Thank you so much for saving me!🙏

[@themacrowizard]

🤿❤️

[@fabiocaetanofigueiredo1353]

Happy for you 🙏

[@PHONiX_Au]

How did it go?

[@nelwalsh6650]

Where are you now?

[@Maria-wy9ou]

How are you now?

[@waynefreediver7616]

Hands down the best TED talk in its entire history.

[@mintsnake]

Learning to freedive has helped me so much with my anxiety, especially since I'm still learning to equalize and be comfortable with the creatures of the ocean and using my snorkel, mask, and fins properly. It's been slow-going, but it has been going hand in hand with practicing Stoic philosophy, and I feel the clearest and happiest, most motivated, and most fulfilled (and healthiest!) I've ever been in my life. Thank you Mr. Trubridge, for that beautifully-executed talk.

[@charlesg7926]

No offense but I’ve tried both freediving and scuba diving, and scuba diving is honestly 1000x better. I’ve been doing scuba for 5+ years and it gets better every time. Free diving was boring in a week. I understand some people just can’t afford the scuba diving equipment, but really there’s just no comparison. You can go way deeper, see much more, and it’s still safer. You can also have equipment like DPV’s, rebreathers, etc to go even deeper and farther still. You can dive deep walls, traverse beautiful caverns and caves, and enter and explore wrecks. *If anybody needs a dive buddy in DC area I will literally buy you some gear.* Nobody deserves to have to free dive when scuba diving exists!

[@fluffy6628]

@@charlesg7926 thats actually such a nice thing to do wow you’re cool man

[@charlesg7926]

@@fluffy6628 Thanks, just trying to help out. And I’m being dead honest

[@Holm.Q]

@@charlesg7926 that is a nice experience man but with freediving it’s about much more then the scenery and the depth in my opinion, something about submitting your body into this different world and truly trying to adapt your body better to it is just an experience one can’t buy.

[@LaChambola]

@@charlesg7926 They are 2 completely different disciplines, both unique, none better than the other

[@jimm533]

Mind and body control: boss level

[@anetaslaveykova4631]

Actually, it is more like letting go and focus on the moment and the task at hand

[@scottherf]

It is a mind game. Never fails to amaze me when I do it.

[@Ma.Mama.is.a.StreetDogg]

He has really transformed into an aquatic animal........I felt it when he says "why don't just stay up on the surface" and points his hand upwards.....while we would naturally point downwards to show the surface.....:P

[@williamtrubridge]

Haha, that's an interesting insight - thank you for that observation!

[@nancyleedunn]

Really beautiful! Speaks philosophically and poetically about free-diving. Brought me to tears when talking about returning to that first breath. Stunning.

[@GrantWGraves]

Wonderful talk William. Well thought out, well paced, well rehearsed, and beautifully delivered. Great job painting verbal pictures allowing an audience that has a very remote chance of understanding a dive to follow you along on yours. We can't hide from ourselves in the water. Bravo!

[@tomhoornstra9533]

Exactly.

[@Beautiful_Sound_1995]

I'd love to try it, but I've been doing co2 tables and now i have chest pains occasionally right where my heart is. So maybe it's not a good idea.

[@williamtrubridge]

@@Beautiful_Sound_1995 You might want to have that checked, as it could be a sign of an underlying condition. Normally there are zero contraindications to freediving unless you have an existing heart condition or extremely high blood pressure.

[@shreyps]

there's so much calmness in his voice...

[@michaelkeon3215]

Watching in 2020 (sadly late). This is by far one of THE best TED's I have ever watched... CAPTIVATING!

[@Melanie-user-te6ly9bi5e]

Incredible. William has the perfect name for his mastery, the true bridge between the yin and yang, the rational and intuitive realms. Thank you.

[@guysmallthwaite5348]

Really enjoyed this. I have free dived for over 10 years on and off and have admired Williams conviction. Watching this has helped me understand myself and why I have been so different to my peers who have been more conventional. Life is short and being able to spend your time doing what you are drawn to is so important.

[@ogi22]

Hello. I have a very specific question about what happens after such dive? Does divers need to use a hyperbaric chamber? How do you deal with nitrogen solved in your bloodstream and tissues? I had a bit of an argument with a friend today and that's why i started to look for those free diving clips, but so far i didn't find any info about the diver care AFTER such dive.

[@brainburb]

@@ogi22 unlike scuba divers, freedivers have only one breath worth of nitrogen in their bloodstream. Hence they do not need to worry about bends like scuba divers do. Do they stiil get high from nitrogen under pressure? Yes. Do they need to worry about other issues (taravana)? Yes. But no nitrogen bubbles forming issues. And no decompresdion stops needed.

[@ogi22]

@@brainburb Thank you good Sir for your answer :D

[@jaivkoltun4948]

This is precious. . . What a wonderful journey out of this world and back to our physical origins. . . Beautiful heart & soul presentation. . . Blessings. . .

[@hersenskim]

Absolutely the best TED talk I've ever heard. Happy diving mate

[@tomhoornstra9533]

A beautiful form of meditation, and a beautiful meditation in its own right. Freedive of the mind.

[@joriley9646]

This was mesmerizing! I’m 52 and nearly 200 lbs but this talk makes me wanna go free dive lol

[@palmistryslaps]

This is the best Ted Talk I've ever seen. Thank you for articulating your experience, William Trubridge

[@lifewithjown]

he talks so calmly and relaxing. been wanting to freedive and just watching videos about it makes me excited and nervous at the same time.

[@williamtrubridge]

You should definitely try it out! I believe everyone should at least once in their lifetime, as it is such an integral experience to living on this watery planet 🌍

[@scsilversmith]

I'm an amateur free diver myself, but the way he said our story, is just... chills... deep ocean chills down the spine...

[@ikravchik]

William is a philosopher.

[@kikufreedom308]

Best tedtalk ever watched, calm, mindful, interesting etc, Listen while going to sleep, walking.. his voice is like the relaxing sound of waves.

[@danglybit1]

Articulate and exceptional.. I have been a recreational free-divier for a few years now, and still love to watch free diving videos..this is one of my favs.

[@Pete_R63]

This one is good. Also watch the Ted Talk with Guillaume Nery on freediving.

[@Gianlucafreediver]

I keep watching him and his dives. I am non professional freediver and I know what it takes to reach nearly 60 meters. The real challenge is how you do them and be able to enjoy all the sensations of this journey within yourself. That is the end game.

[@davidedamenofreediver]

This is pure poetry baby

[@annalisa14]

Davide Dameno Freediver - now go from this to the poetry of Jim Morrison.

[@PoetryETrain]

@@annalisa14 lol

[@eduardocupertino2122]

That's poetry, brother

[@tsetse]

wow who knew it was so deeply spiritual

[@PalCan]

Best TED talk ever

[@brigettw]

His voice moves like water.

[@jeffufuuuu]

I thought holding my breath for 3 minutes was cool... this is incredible

[@stillakilla]

Jesus, my man didn't hold back his breath from the very beginning. Powerful intro.

[@jobsteven1179]

Feeling overwhelmed

[@nhotskeeparagas3775]

Bravo, Magnifico 👌

[@muhannadalnafeesi]

an amazing description so well said now I have a depth wish, thank you,

[@kensvideos1]

Much, much love.

[@oehtisham]

Wow! this is so incredibly well put together. Thank you.

[@beautifypacify2703]

What an amazing, amazing journey. Thank you so much for taking us down there!

[@thespeakercoachnz]

A magnificent and magical experience working with you William, you delivered one of the more intense talks I've seen in a long time my friend :)

[@williamtrubridge]

Thanks Michael - if it wasn't for your coaching this talk would have been as flat as a floundser! 😂

[@corkleijn4493]

That was awesome, I’ve never dived but I was there all the way!

[@djdavidphillips]

Wonderfully presented. Nailed it.

[@sararibeiro3959]

Fantastic talk!

[@moniqart-artastherapy1929]

Absolutely lovely

[@DieNow13]

wow, that was absolutely amazing and a very accurate description

[@bushidooffaith4706]

Great job explaining how our minds work, and how you feel on your journey. Thank you!

[@talsilver1815]

What a legend A true hearted Trubridge Inspiration to all

[@alanrobertson3172]

Excellent.

[@pmstorm]

Amazing talk! Thank you, William.

[@justintheconer]

Beautiful journey. Thanks for taking us on it!

[@faridronin]

Last week was the my first experience in diving, Scuba diving and I liked it very much but man, Free diving is something else. Loved your speech William and I'm surely to comeback to the ocean when I can. I'm gonna be a Free diver.

[@bradydaniels8489]

You need further Freediving inspiration read the book deep by James Nestor, it’s what inspired me to get into Freediving, and introduced me to William Trewbridge, it’s super fascinating

[@varunsoni6408]

What a beautiful explanation

[@IvanGrande]

Beautiful.

[@vaidiyer]

One of the best ted talks I had ever seen. Wonderful.

[@philipp3351]

This felt like a medition. Beautiful!

[@dbrannick9585]

incredible

[@SolaimanNezami]

Great talk from a great freediver 😍

[@legendary.expeditions]

Extraordinary! Thank you!

[@kaimar5166]

One of a kind.

[@smpatwardhan]

That was extremely beautiful, poetic and philosophical. Thanks a lot.

[@consiglixacquisti_tas4168]

Very well done: thrilling, captivating, intense. A really... deep talk. Nice job mr.Trubridge, hope I'll be able to freedive like that, some day

[@simonsilva250]

Truly Fascinating

[@thedarkriver1]

Amazing!

[@gotamaexpediciones8043]

Awesome! What a journey and example. Light. Thank you.

[@joycnz]

Incredible talk William, I echo what Grant Says, you have painted an excellent picture of a journey most people will never experience, in a way that has no doubt left them feeling like they were immersed alongside you, without the water, the contractions and the many many years of training. Bravo!

[@evaml11]

Love it! What an amazing and a charistmatic man 😊

[@austinthornley1272]

Really great talk. Thanks

[@snezray2324]

Loved this talk, so spiritual and beautiful! 👏😊

[@raquelpm3441]

This is so beautiful. I feel like I am diving down the surface as you continue with your talk. Thank you!💙

[@normanquednau]

Incredible speech!!! Caught me instantaneously

[@zanetamonikasekulski814]

Thank you for this journey!! Wow... I truly enjoyed "One breath around the world ". Mr William, you are an inspiration 🙏

[@susanbuckley4153]

Wow!!! Amazing.. free divers fascinate me ..

[@yggdrasil9039]

Guided tour of a freedive. Amazing talk.

[@fabian13333]

Beautiful intense. Thank you

[@catedoge3206]

Amazing athlete and storyteller!!!

[@Dominicanbulk]

AMAZING!!!!!!

[@jmholthuysen]

Wow. Beautiful.

[@sol3cito33]

By far the best talk I heard in a long time.

[@wesnideedouard5230]

Outstanding! 🐬✨

[@soulful.healingjourney]

One of the best talk ive ever heard!ahh you described it so beautifully makes me even more excited to do my freedive course soon! As someone who loves meditation and is a therapist working with people subconscious mind this all gets me real excited and teary. Much love from Thailand😍

[@sandyjones4393]

Very good, felt like I was down there too.

[@hazemmohamed4291]

Very detailed feeling anatomy form an experience & real free diver .................... Thanks William

[@vaidiyer]

Fantastic speech

[@karinlarsen4251]

You have perfectly described my goal in meditation

[@panos4386]

mesmerising....!

[@dkdude]

Great speech! Discovering the blue hole now :)

[@anouchkamanciet5808]

Can’t wait to escape the surface... Thank you for sharing your journey

[@AngusMurray]

I still really love this talk! 🙂

[@cindymcdevitt952]

Awesome!

[@Arnis1mail]

What a great guy! I'm intrigued by the possibility of humans being long time under water. Glad you are doing it and telling others how it feels, it is a valuable experience and one that should be understood by everyone if we want to evolve as humankind.

[@jbridge3830]

Wow - flipping phenomenal talk and wonderful speaker

[@christophebonhoefferofbelg9846]

Brilliant....Bravo..👏👏👏

[@waedjradi]

So cool!

[@1chipchap]

Fantastic

[@videostarish]

Excellent! You could hear a pin drop in the theatre...!

[@ynnekrg12]

One of my favorite ted talks so far. It just resonates. This just made me decide to delve deeper into free diving and make it a way of meditating. Its gonna be a spiritual journey instead of just a mere sport. Thank you for the inspiration 💗💗

[@williamlin1676]

This is more like a poetry than a speech

[@clarafish7948]

An inspiring talk about the magic of freediving 🙏🐟🐡🐬🐢

[@exceptionaltalentspc4954]

Ufff....!! I'm so thankful I don't have to dive into the ocean to understand what it feels like... You really took me there...!! Wonderful presentation !!

[@sueallchin5376]

You are totally amazing thank you so very much Ian so inspired by watching you

[@franckdebank]

Brilliant

[@ushaganesh8085]

Just awe struck. I virtually forgot breathing listening to Ur talks. Since I am asthmatic, do regular breathing exercises, I envy your lung power