#142 | Pete Botman | Master's Champion

02/02/23 • 80 min

Pete Botman is a Canadian/Dutch freediving athlete and instructor based in Dahab, Egypt. He is a 100m+ diver, multiple World Record holder in the CMAS Master's category and didn't start freediving until he was later in his forties.
In this episode we discuss:
Pete was born and raised in Canada but grew up speaking Dutch.
He joined the swim team and competed at quite a high level until aged 16.
Teaching, coaching, lifeguarding, and cross-country skiing.
How difficult is cross country skiiing?
The possibilities of youth and hangovers!
Pete didn't start freediving until he was about 46 years old!
About 10 years as a PADI scuba instructor leading up to freediving.
Coming out of an awesome 2022 season for Pete.
Pete and Olga Rodnova run Personal Best freediving together in Dahab, Egypt and Kas, Turkey.
The difficulties of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on running a business.
How to juggle training and teaching?
Shout out to David Mellor and his first 100m dives!
Stumbling blocks with throat squeezes and how Pete overcame them.
Reverse packing and squeezing.
Pete was 59 old years at the time of the interview.
Age is no barrier to freediving!
'Freediving is just about getting back up" ;)
Donny gets 'narced' from dives deeper than 60m!
Is narcosis just about nitrogen or are the other gases involved, too?
Pete achieved world record in many disciplines in the Master's category in the CMAS Outdoor World Championship.
The last championship and a rivalry with Jesper Stechmann and Jens Stoetzner.
About being coaching to Giorgos Panagiotakis?
Swimming with dolphins is the best kind of CO2 training!
Comparing Egypt and Taiwan's climate.
What does training session, week, look like for Pete?
Fondly remembering the beer-can-in-the-ass chicken and thoughts on nutrition.
Shout out to the Ukrainians who can't be diving right now!
DESERT ISLAND QUESTIONS - Patreon Exclusive
Shout out to some special people!
Why does he freedive?

For freediving courses, workshops and retreats in Egypt and Europe visit www.truedepthfreediving.com!

For all episodes of the Freedive Cafe Podcast, visit www.freedivecafe.com
For freediving courses and training in Dahab, Egypt, visit www.freediveandthrive.com
To support on Patreon: www.patreon.com/freedivecafe

For freediving courses, workshops and retreats in Egypt and Europe visit www.truedepthfreediving.com!

Previous Episode

#141 | Tito Zappalà | Love & Freediving

Tito Zappalà is an Italian freediver and coach. He worked under the eye of Andrea Zuccari at Freediving World in Sharm el-Sheikh for five years before moving up to Dahab when he currently lives and coaches.
In this episode we discuss:
Tito and Kat's plans for the winter.
Only 3 people in 7 years who pissed him off!
Tito is from the galaxy and the stars, and ... specifically from Sicily, Italy.
Early start in freediving, spearfishing with his father.
Selling the family gold for a Gopro.
Tito's early work as an underwater photographer.
Starting work with Andrea Zuccari at Freediving World.
Working for Andrea for 5 years.
Why did Tito move up to Dahab.
Shout out to Kat4dive!
Shout out to Gus Kreivenas!
Tito's style of teaching and coaching in Dahab.
Shout out to Ali of Aqua Maria! The episode before this one!
Tito's first competition in the Blue Hole in 2021.
Jumping from 80m to 100m in two dives!
Tito's first 100m dive,
Tito's World Record attempt in Variable Weight (VWT)
What is Variable Weight?
Shout out to Walid Boudhiaf and his 150m World Record in VWT.
Shout out to Marco Nones!
Shout out to Carlos Diezel of Dahab Freedivers
Shout out to Stavros Kastrinakis of Freediving Club Greece.
Detailed information on the training process for the World Record attempt.
Is another attempt on the books?
Biggest mistakes in freediving safety?
Top tips for freediving equalisation.
DESERT ISLAND QUESTIONS - Patreon Exclusive
Why does he freedive?

For freediving courses, workshops and retreats in Egypt and Europe visit www.truedepthfreediving.com!

Next Episode

#143 | Jordy Duncan | Phoenix Rising

Jordy Duncan is not only my awesome co-host on the Freediving Journal News Dispatch, but an up and coming elite freediver in her own right.
Jordy has only been diving for around 2 years but has managed to achieve distances in the pool of more than 200m, which for me is an absolutely mind-blowing achievement!
Perhaps more interesting than Jordy's rapid rise as a freediving athlete is to see that in the context of where she's coming from.... Jordy has struggled with an eating disorder for much of her life and her discovery of freediving and applying herself to it has been instrumental in her recovery.
In this episode we discuss:
Jordy is originally from Townsville, North Queensland, and is now located in Brisbane.
Shout out to Townsville and Cairns folks!
Shout out to Jack Webb at Freedive Far North Queensland.
Shout out to Ant Judge.
Getting burnt out at a young age from swimming.
Weight gain after quitting swimming.
Start of a party lifestyle and drinking a lot.
The development of Jordy's bulimia and what bulimia nervosa is as a medical condition.
Crying out for help and not knowing how to ask.
Jordy was offically diagnosed with bulimia nervosa at age 21.
Working ski-seasons on Japan and France.
First time going to hospital for recovery.
Did Jordy know how underweight she had become?
Why is bulimia a taboo subject?
Comparing alcoholism and eating disorders.
Jordy's discovery of freediving through Tinder!
Black-outs and an underwater black-out.
Starting coaching with Samo Jeranko (#87)
Moving in with Amber Bourke! (#40)
Jordy is one of the best pool freedivers in the world and only getting better!
How, where and when does Jordy train?
Goal to compete at AIDA Pool World Championships in June.
Let's help Jordy get to South Korea!
Jordy works for the Queensland state government in human resources.
Jordy's plans for 2023.
The ongoing struggle of our conditions and addictions.
How does Jordy fuel herself for training now, and deal with food and the complicated issues she has with it?
DESERT ISLAND QUESTIONS - Patreon Exclusive
Shout out to special people.
Why does she freedive?