A moment
of stillness.

DAY 1 · AFTER THE MORNING STATIC

Peter Green

Peter treats his first competition hold as a starting point. Contractions arrived earlier than he wanted, but he hopes to build toward longer attempts and push when the sensations are better. He explains that a registration mistake left him without an afternoon start that day, with further attempts planned afterward.

He arrived after 23 hours of flying and is still struggling with jet lag. He says his coach Florian suggested a run on arrival, which he tried on a treadmill. This is also his first outdoor static competition: he appreciates the warm pool, helpful staff and birds around the venue. The conversation ends with time to recover and eat before the next day.

Watch interview · approx. 1:08:13-1:10:43 ↗

Verified against broadcast captions and playback. Timestamps approximate.

DAY 1 · AFTER THE MORNING STATIC

Florian Dagoury

Florian welcomes a format that gives static specialists several chances to settle into competition. He contrasts it with events where they wait through the dynamic disciplines while pressure builds, then have only one attempt. He hopes repeated starts will help him reproduce the performances he manages in training.

His plan is to reassess each hold around nine to nine-and-a-half minutes and push only when the sensations suggest a strong reserve. He admits that ambition pulled the first attempt beyond that plan. Last year, repeatedly chasing ten minutes left him fatigued; this year he wants to conserve energy for the right opportunity. He describes a racing heart early in the hold and says the pressure of pursuing a world record, rather than simply winning, is difficult to manage.

Watch interview · approx. 1:56:16-2:01:17 ↗

Verified against broadcast video and captions. Link includes the introduction; timestamps approximate.

DAY 1 · AFTER A DYNAMIC DIVE

Tracy Roxanne

Tracy is surprised that the commentators thought her dynamic dive was fast: she felt she had slowed down and was gliding. They compliment her turns and discuss the difference between how a dive feels underwater and how it looks from outside.

She explains that her red card came from the order of the surface protocol: she removed her nose clip and spoke before completing the required sequence. She acknowledges that she had not practised it enough. The conversation also covers feeling hypoxic at the final turn, controlling the monofin at the surface and listening to her coach. The strong distance and the disqualification are treated as separate parts of the performance.

Watch interview · approx. 2:46:51-2:49:18 ↗

Verified against broadcast captions and playback. Timestamps approximate.

DAY 1 · PACING A 150 M BIFINS DIVE

Jiachen Liu

Jiachen says the familiar pool helped her first competition feel like training. She had first reached 150 m there two weeks earlier. Her initial target was 125 m; still feeling comfortable at that point, she continued to match her best.

The discussion turns to kick-and-glide pacing. Her coach has encouraged her to move faster after 100 m, but she explains that her pace feels comfortable. She describes reminding herself to keep her head down, an unplanned arm pull and the mental checks she used during the dive. Despite nerves before her first competition, she finishes pleased with the result and undecided about which discipline to try next.

Watch interview · approx. 3:35:07-3:37:50 ↗

Verified from broadcast speech/transcription; timestamps approximate. Guest names cross-checked against AIDA where available.

DAY 1 · FIRST COMPETITION AND LESSONS LEARNED

Rachael Jaichandran

Rachael is delighted with a personal best at her first competition, despite receiving a yellow card for failing to touch the wall at the start. She says she did not know about that requirement and sees it as a mistake she can avoid next time.

She explains that much of her coaching happens remotely because she and her coach live in different cities, with occasional visits for in-person training. Small technical details can be harder to catch that way. She thanks the people who made the event welcoming and enjoyable, and looks forward to more competitions.

Watch interview · approx. 3:55:08-3:57:15 ↗

Verified from broadcast speech/transcription; timestamps approximate. Guest names cross-checked against AIDA where available.

DAY 1 · BIFINS PERSONAL BEST

Xin Chun Lee

Xin Chun describes a difficult start: a fast heartbeat over the first 50 m and fins catching against the wall on turns. She kept moving and later felt she had enough left to extend the dive beyond 150 m.

She is happy with the personal best and thanks her instructors and training buddies, many of whom are competing alongside her. Her next challenge is a first competition attempt in no fins, a discipline she feels less confident in. She plans to approach it with an emphasis on enjoying the experience.

Watch interview · approx. 4:03:24-4:04:43 ↗

Verified from broadcast speech/transcription; timestamps approximate. Guest names cross-checked against AIDA where available.

DAY 2 · FIRST COMPETITION STATIC

Mun Hoi Tham

Mun Hoi says his first competition dive followed a familiar pattern: contractions arrived around the third minute, he surfaced around five minutes and completed a clean surface protocol. The commentators discuss the value of meeting a planned target rather than being drawn into an unplanned extension.

This was his only entered dive. He prepared for roughly a month, training twice a week with submaximal holds and CO2 tables, and felt reasonably relaxed on the day. He had not had time to prepare for dynamic events, but hopes to return and try them at a future competition.

Watch interview · approx. 0:32:51-0:34:28 ↗

Verified from broadcast speech/transcription; timestamps approximate. Guest names cross-checked against AIDA where available.

DAY 2 · MORNING STATIC AND AFTERNOON PLANS

Feng Ming (Emma) Li

Emma is pleased with her 5:44 morning static, although it is not her personal best. She has another static attempt that afternoon and hopes to improve, making this a day focused on breath holds rather than dynamic distance.

She explains her changing wetsuit choice: the morning felt cool enough for part of a suit, while she expected warmer afternoon conditions to suit her usual training without one. There is also a light exchange about the dog that normally accompanies her training. She says her final attempt of this competition will be later that day.

Watch interview · approx. 1:04:09-1:05:49 ↗

Verified from broadcast speech/transcription; timestamps approximate. Guest names cross-checked against AIDA where available.

DAY 2 · RELAXATION AND REPEAT ATTEMPTS

Dirk Gubbels

Dirk feels much more relaxed than on Day 1. He is still adjusting after travelling from Switzerland, and found his earlier three-millimetre wetsuit too warm for the pool. He also tried listening to a tone during this hold, something more familiar from his dry training.

He values having another opportunity after an uncomfortable dive. Rather than forcing the previous day’s attempt, he had saved his energy; this time he thinks some reserve remains. Tom joins to explain that repeated chances were central to the event’s design. Dirk also appreciates the time available in the competition zone to settle down, and praises the broadcast coverage.

Watch interview · approx. 1:07:42-1:11:22 ↗

Verified from broadcast speech/transcription; timestamps approximate. Guest names cross-checked against AIDA where available.

DAY 2 · A RUSHED WARM-UP

Cecilia Joanita

Cecilia is relieved after a demanding hold. She says contractions arrived unusually early, around the first minute, and connects the difficulty with a rushed preparation rather than presenting the dive as straightforward.

She had planned a four-minute final warm-up, but her coach told her she needed to move to the competition lane with her start approaching. She stopped that warm-up at roughly two minutes. The short interview centres on that disrupted transition and her relief at completing the attempt.

Watch interview · approx. 1:23:45-1:25:23 ↗

Verified from broadcast speech/transcription; timestamps approximate. Guest names cross-checked against AIDA where available.

DAY 2 · MORNING 8:13 STATIC

Peter Green

Peter’s 8:13 is an improvement, but he describes it as uncomfortable. Contractions arrived much earlier than in his usual training, and he still feels unsettled by travel and lack of sleep. He credits Aaron Fisher’s calm coaching voice with helping him through it.

He believes there may be more available, but says a harder afternoon attempt will depend on how he feels, particularly when contractions begin. The conversation touches on record ambitions, the friendship developing between the two athletes and the difficulty of recovering from jet lag. He reports waking at one in the morning and remaining awake since then.

Watch interview · approx. 1:26:00-1:28:48 ↗

Verified from broadcast speech/transcription; timestamps approximate. Guest names cross-checked against AIDA where available.

DAY 2 · COACHING EACH OTHER THROUGH COMPETITION

Aaron Fisher & Peter Green

Aaron describes Day 2 as calmer: the noise and nerves carried into the first day have begun to settle. He values a three-day format because static athletes often have only one competition attempt, whereas repeated starts give them time to adjust. His 8:09 feels like another step in a process he has been working on for about two-and-a-half years.

He speaks about gradual progress and the sport’s personal meaning: comparing his expectations of himself with how he responds in the water, then using that experience to keep developing. He will judge the next attempt by sensation rather than promise a particular time. Peter joins the exchange about coaching each other, describing the strain of jet lag and thanking Aaron for being beside him.

Watch interview · approx. 1:43:08-1:46:27 ↗

Verified from broadcast speech/transcription; timestamps approximate. Guest names cross-checked against AIDA where available.

DAY 2 · TRAINING VERSUS COMPETITION

Florian Dagoury

Florian is frustrated that another 10:07 does not reflect what he can do in training. He felt little reserve and describes a sudden change near 9:45, after the hold had seemed promising. His reported average heart rate was substantially higher than in training, which leads him to suspect competition stress even though he does not always feel mentally anxious.

He considers several possible explanations, including his own ideas about blood pressure, and discusses how he manages contractions while trying to keep other muscles relaxed. These are his observations and hypotheses, not established explanations for this dive. He also notes that heart rate alone does not consistently predict his performance. With more attempts available here and competitions later in the year, he remains determined to understand the gap between training and competition.

Watch interview · approx. 1:46:30-1:56:04 ↗

Verified from broadcast speech/transcription; timestamps approximate. Guest names cross-checked against AIDA where available.

DAY 2 · DYNAMIC PACING AND TECHNIQUE

Michelle Ooi

Michelle explains how she adjusted her pace during the dive: she felt she was kicking hard, tried to moderate the second 50 m, then committed to the final section. Approaching 150 m, she decided she could turn but did not want to extend the dive too far.

The commentators praise her smooth movement and large kick. She says she has experimented with a smaller kick without finding it effective for her, prompting a discussion about textbook efficiency versus a style that feels comfortable. She is tired but happy, plans to try bifins the following day, and jokes about looking good for the camera rather than dwelling on the distance.

Watch interview · approx. 2:09:54-2:12:19 ↗

Verified from broadcast speech/transcription; timestamps approximate. Guest names cross-checked against AIDA where available.

DAY 2 · BEHIND THE COMMENTARY DESK

Flory, with Tom Way

Tom turns the interview around and asks commentator Flory about her own connection to the event. She travelled from Indonesia and is supporting Fitri, who had previously come to watch her compete in Manado. That is why she occasionally leaves the commentary desk to buddy a static dive.

She enjoys seeing the competition through the broadcast screens. Asked about the two countries’ freediving scenes, she describes her impression of training in Jakarta while acknowledging that this is her first competition visit to Singapore. They also compare pool and depth diving as very different experiences, especially the role of equalisation and the sustained awareness of contractions in the pool.

Watch interview · approx. 2:37:54-2:39:57 ↗

First name as introduced; surname unverified. Interview verified from broadcast speech/transcription; timestamps approximate.

DAY 2 · NERVES AND A FINISHING SPRINT

Vince To

Vince says he felt mentally relaxed but noticed his heartbeat accelerating during the countdown, even more than on Day 1. He visualised the previous dive and tried to stay with the effort a little longer before beginning his finishing sprint.

He explains that sprinting helps him stay engaged when he feels close to giving up after 100 m. The commentators notice that he delayed that acceleration this time. He is pleased with the personal best and will return to work rather than compete on the final day. His account describes his own experience, rather than a pacing prescription for other divers.

Watch interview · approx. 2:59:13-3:01:16 ↗

Verified from broadcast speech/transcription; timestamps approximate. Guest names cross-checked against AIDA where available.

DAY 2 · RETURNING TO FREEDIVING

Ze Jiang (introduced as Jeff)

Introduced as Jeff, Ze Jiang is pleased to have gone two metres beyond the previous day’s distance and earned a white card after a red on Day 1. The discussion turns to his swimming-based approach, frequent strokes and limited gliding.

He says he largely swims naturally rather than using specialised no-fins technique. The commentators suggest that equipment and more glide could be areas to explore. He first took a freediving course roughly twelve or thirteen years ago, stopped for about a decade and returned around two years ago. He now has more time for the sport and sees gradual improvement, but will be working rather than diving on Day 3.

Watch interview · approx. 3:40:50-3:42:48 ↗

Verified from broadcast speech/transcription; timestamps approximate. Guest names cross-checked against AIDA where available.

DAY 2 · MEDICINE & SAFETY

Dr Ashley & Jason, with Tom Way

Tom asks Ashley and Jason why they choose safety work instead of competing. Ashley recalls looking up during dives and seeing her buddies watching over her, which inspired her to become a safety diver. Jason describes the work as tiring but rewarding enough to return to: each athlete and situation presents something different to learn.

They explain the preparation led by head safety Enrico, combining theory with practical scenarios. Jason emphasises understanding the reasons behind procedures, aligning the team with current guidelines and building confidence among newer volunteers. Later, Tom asks Ashley about her earlier role as competition doctor and her decision to work in the safety team this year.

Watch interview · approx. 4:06:00 ↗

Verified from the broadcast audio and video. Ashley and Jason are introduced by first name; surnames unverified. Includes a short lead-in before the conversation.

DAY 2 · HYPERBARIC MEDICINE & FREEDIVING SCIENCE

Dr Ethan, with Tom Way

During a walk around the venue, Tom brings Dr Ethan into a discussion about diving medicine. Ethan describes his underwater medical officer training during national service and carefully distinguishes his role in identifying hyperbaric injuries from his senior colleagues’ authority to treat them. He explains how recreational diving experience connects with that work.

The conversation broadens to hyperbaric treatment beyond diving accidents, including an anonymised non-diving case. Tom shares his own experience of hearing problems after an ear injury. They then discuss growing interest in freediving research, including observations of oxygen and carbon dioxide during depth dives. These are accounts and recollections shared in the interview, not an independent review of the medical evidence.

Watch interview · approx. 6:06:20-6:14:15 ↗

Introduced as Dr Ethan and addressed as Dr Maniam; full name spelling not independently verified. Verified from broadcast audio; discussion continues over venue footage. Timestamps approximate.

DAY 2 · CLOSING COMMENTARY

Flory & Pete

The closing commentary reviews the final static round, the effect of the weather delay and the event’s overall scoring. The speakers distinguish individual-discipline results from the combined standings and explain that the best two dives in different disciplines count toward the overall result.

They initially speculate about Florian’s disqualification while discussing his surface sequence, then react to a different reason on the broadcast overlay. For the reconciled outcome, use the dive table: AIDA subsequently lists surface protocol. The stream closes with thanks to sponsors, a marine-conservation message and a look ahead to the last competition day. This entry remains labelled as commentary, with a partial replay link.

Watch interview · approx. 6:55:00 · partial ↗

On-screen first names verified; full identities unverified. Audio confirms results discussion and broadcast closing remarks. Timestamp approximate; partial segment.

DAY 3 · AFTER THE MORNING DIVE

Emily Mills

After her 5:07 morning static, Emily says she arrived later than intended and felt rushed. Benoit joined her shortly before the start, leaving little time to discuss their plan. She was nevertheless pleased to pass five minutes and hoped to save energy for her final afternoon attempt.

She has treated the competition as an opportunity to compare preparations and rebuild confidence. Emily reflects on how a new personal best quickly changes expectations: a performance that would have been a best only days earlier can begin to feel routine. She plans to work with Aaron for the final hold.

Emily thanks the organizers and says she is happy to take part. Having arrived from Japan on Thursday, she has mostly rested, with some walks and meals nearby. A food enthusiast, she looks forward to enjoying more of Singapore before her Tuesday flight.

Watch interview · approx. 1:00:30-1:05:00 ↗

Interview positions approximate; YouTube replay processing may shift them. Personal experiences are attributed to the speaker.

DAY 3 · AFTER THE MORNING DIVE

Vootipong Limpanitivat

Vootipong, introduced as Boss, joins the commentators after his 146m no-fins dive. He describes a difficult competition and explains that a delayed flight left him arriving around 1 a.m. with little rest before the first day. The hosts celebrate his recovery from a disappointing opening dive to a Thai national-record performance, which remains subject to ratification in AIDA.

He says his recent preparation focused mainly on static rather than no fins. Asked about the effort during the dive, he describes a change in how it felt compared with his previous best. These are his personal observations, not an established explanation of the result.

The lighter part of the interview explains his nickname. Boss says nicknames are customary in Thailand, describes his brothers’ nicknames, and recalls championship commentators calling him Big Boss. The conversation pauses to follow Tracy’s dive before returning to congratulate him.

Watch interview · approx. 2:37:40-2:43:00 ↗

Interview positions approximate; YouTube replay processing may shift them. Personal experiences are attributed to the speaker.

DAY 3 · AFTER THE MORNING DIVE

Tracy Roxanne

Tracy joins the booth after her 182m dynamic and first asks to watch Cecilia’s attempt. When the conversation returns to her own dive, she says the aim was an enjoyable performance rather than a particular distance. She describes letting go of expectations once she started and feeling unusually clear and relaxed.

She initially wondered whether she could have continued farther, but was pleased to finish while the dive still felt enjoyable. The commentators describe a composed surface protocol and congratulate her on a strong result.

Tracy and Pete joke about coaching preparations running late. She says that, unlike on other occasions, she did not become annoyed and remained relaxed. The interview presents that as her experience of this attempt, not a general training prescription.

Watch interview · approx. 2:43:59-2:49:15 ↗

Interview positions approximate; YouTube replay processing may shift them. Personal experiences are attributed to the speaker.

DAY 3 · CONSERVATION DISCUSSION · PARTIAL AUDIO

Naomi: sharks, rays and consumer demand

In the audible closing portion, Naomi explains why late maturity makes sharks and rays vulnerable to fishing pressure. She argues that consumer choices and demand matter, while stressing that conservation also needs to consider fishers who depend on the trade and have few other sources of income.

Asked about upcoming research, she describes planned work on the leopard ray complex: investigating maturity, reproduction and diet, with the aim of informing stronger protection. She says rays receive less research attention than sharks and that her team wants to address those gaps. The discussion closes with a ray-conservation film and a mention of a forthcoming shark video.

The opening portion of this interview has silent source audio in the captured window. This summary covers only the audible ending; the guest is addressed as Naomi, but her surname and organization were not verified.

Watch interview · approx. 3:11:40-3:15:20 · partial ↗

Partial audio coverage. Replay positions approximate. Guest first name verified from the spoken closing thanks; on-screen Flory/Pete labels do not identify this guest.

DAY 3 · POOLSIDE COMMENTARY

Flory and Ethan: before the afternoon static

Before the afternoon starts, the commentators discuss Peter’s preparation, wetsuit choices and the trade-off between warmth and freedom to expand the chest. A doctor question leads to a discussion of facial sensation and the dive response. The speakers distinguish what they know from an untested suggestion about whether removing a wetsuit top would affect that response; that suggestion is not presented here as an established benefit.

Asked about his own diving, Ethan says he prefers dynamics and enjoys moving. He compares a static personal best of roughly five minutes with a no-fins swim lasting about four and a half minutes, describing static as a relative weakness rather than a discipline he dislikes.

The conversation returns to the first heat, including warm-up positions and floats used for preparation. This is poolside commentary, not a separate athlete interview. The broadcast labels Flory and Ethan are retained; their full names were not verified.

Watch interview · approx. 3:50:20-3:58:20 ↗

Names verified from on-screen labels and the spoken question to Ethan. Approximate replay interval; medical discussion is summarized as speaker commentary, not practical treatment advice.

DAY 3 · COMMENTARY DISCUSSION

Tom Way and Ethan: breathing, nerves and preparation

Tom describes how the technical and organizational pressure has eased by Day 3 as the cameras and event routines settle. Ethan, introduced in the audio as Dr Ethan, joins him for a conversation about pre-dive preparation and nerves.

They compare personal approaches to breathing, timing and relaxation, and discuss research that they say relates breathing patterns to performance anxiety. Their remarks include personal observations and physiological hypotheses, not independently verified guidance. The summary intentionally omits their procedural details and does not endorse hyperventilation.

They return to the competition before the 12:48 heat. On-screen labels later confirm Tom Way and Ethan; Ethan’s surname is not verified.

Watch interview · approx. 4:06:40-4:14:40 ↗

Approximate replay positions. Statements summarized as speaker accounts; full names used only where verified.

DAY 3 · ORGANIZER DISCUSSION

Pat, Tom Way and Ethan: organizing the competition

Introduced as the co-organizer on the ground, Pat describes a hectic opening day, including another event at the venue and a wedding. The team adjusted rounds and delayed static so the wedding’s drumming would not interrupt a dive. By the final day, she says, operations had become much smoother.

Pat and Tom reflect on the workload behind a competition and how easily a smooth final day can overshadow months of preparation. Ethan relays praise and an ambitious suggestion from an athlete; the organizers respond with humor about the difficulty of expanding the format.

The conversation turns to allowing athletes to change disciplines before the next day. Tom argues that another opportunity can reduce the pressure of a single attempt. The group also acknowledges that this flexible format differs from a world championship. Pat’s first name and organizing role are verified from the spoken introduction; no surname is inferred.

The discussion continues into the next heat’s preparation. Asked about a return to freediving after time focused on triathlon, Ethan says he has recently joined university divers to coach and offer advice, and enjoyed a dynamic swim that felt familiar again. He sees some carryover from his endurance training. The group compares preferences for static and dynamic order, while acknowledging that experience and individual responses differ.

Watch interview · approx. 4:23:40-4:33:50 ↗

Approximate replay positions. Statements summarized as speaker accounts; full names used only where verified.

DAY 3 · CLOSING INTERVIEW

Peter Green: successful protest

Peter joins the closing discussion after successfully protesting his morning surface-protocol disqualification. He says he gave an early OK gesture before removing his face equipment, then followed coach Pat’s instructions and completed the sequence within the time limit. He reports that the decision was reversed to a white card; Noxy independently confirms his 8:19 and 99.8 points.

He credits Pat both for clear coaching during the attempt and for encouraging the protest. The group discusses the difficulty of judging the sequence from the commentary position. This is Peter’s account of this specific decision, not a substitute for the competition rules.

Peter also explains his equipment preferences: he removed the fuller suit in the heat for comfort and flexibility, while the hood helps him shut out surrounding noise. Asked about competing again, he says he plans instructor training in Panglao and hopes to find further competitions in Asia or nearer home.

Watch interview · approx. 5:28:05-5:32:15 ↗

Approximate replay position; overlay retains commentator labels rather than naming the guest.