Ooredoo Maldives, in partnership with Freediving Instructors International (FII), has announced an exclusive event dedicated to the growing freediver community in the Maldives. Titled “Safe Beneath the Surface: Freediving Safety Session with a World Champion,” this session aims to support increased safety measures in freediving, helping to avoid incidents and promoting best practices. The event will take place at 8.00 pm on 3rd July 2024 at Ooredoo Maldives Headquarters in Hulhumale’.
The session will be led by two renowned speakers from FII, the first and only recreational freediving education agency in the United States, known for upholding the highest safety standards in the industry.
Martin Stepanek: A 13-time World Record freediver, Stepanek is one of the top freedivers in the sport’s history, having descended to depths of over 400 feet on a single breath of air. He is passionate about the physiology behind freediving and has collaborated with top researchers from Harvard University and the Karolinska Institutet of Sweden to uncover the physiological mysteries behind the sport. His participation in this research has helped scientists better understand the impact of depth and pressure on freedivers.
Errol Putigna: An internationally recognised freediving instructor from Toronto, Canada, Putigna has been immersed in the world of freediving from a young age. He works closely with Stepanek at FII and has helped develop freediving curricula such as FII’s Junior Freediver programme. Putigna is one of the most sought-after freediving instructors globally, teaching both recreational and professional level certification courses across the United States, Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Spain, and Qatar.
Khalid Al Hamadi, MD and CEO of Ooredoo Maldives, stated, “At Ooredoo Maldives, we are committed to supporting initiatives that promote safety and well-being within our communities. This freediving safety session is a significant step towards ensuring that our growing community of freedivers can pursue their passion with the highest standards of safety and knowledge. We are proud to partner with FII and bring world-class expertise to the Maldives.”
Martin Stepanek, Founder of FII, added, “Freediving is a beautiful and challenging sport that requires not only physical and mental strength but also a deep understanding of safety practices. Through this event, we aim to further equip the Maldivian freediving community with the knowledge and skills needed to dive safely and confidently. Thank you, Ooredoo Maldives, for assisting us in sharing our insights and contributing to the growth of safe freediving practices in the beautiful Maldives.”
Interested participants can register for free at ore.do/freedive.
