Herbert Nitsch
Encyclopedia
Herbert Nitsch is an Austrian
free-diver who has held world records in all of the eight apnea
free-diving disciplines recognised by AIDA International
. He is the current freediving world record champion and “the deepest man on earth”. This title was given to him, when he set the current world record in No Limits discipline at the depth of 214 meters (~702 feet). To date, he has achieved 31 official World Records (see Table below).
Nitsch, who works part time as a pilot
for Tyrolean Airways, holds the No-Limits
record, the prestigious title of "Deepest man on Earth" in which the diver can make use of a weighted sled to descend as far as possible and uses an air-filled balloon to return to the surface. Nitsch set the world record in Spetses
, Greece http://www.aida-international.org/aspportal1/code/page.asp?sType=wr&CountryID=4&actID=3&ObjectID=136 in June 2007 when he descended to 214 m, beating his own record of 183 m set the previous year. He also held the world record in the Constant Weight event, which is considered by many to be the classic free-diving discipline: the diver descends next to a line, not using the line and unaided by a sled, and must maintain a constant weight, meaning that no weight can be dropped for the return to the surface. Nitsch exceeded the then world record in 2006 when he dived to a depth of 110 m, but failure to complete the strict surfacing protocols within the allotted time meant that the dive was disqualified. After this he took on Marcus Greatwood
as his coach (until December 2007). In Hurghada
, Egypt
, in December 2006 he did a Constant Weight World Record dive of 111 m, adding 2 m on top of Guillaume Néry
's previous record.
Nitsch worked hard in 2007 and on 14 June 2007 he achieved 214 m (702 ft) in Spetses
, Greece
on a revolutionary sled. Building on his fitness for the No Limits Herbert set the Constant weight (No Fins) record during The Triple Depth in Dahab, Egypt, and went on to push the Constant record to 112m during the World Championships in Sharm. Herbert also won the AIDA Individual World Championships.
Of the other five AIDA recognised events, Nitsch has been the world record holder in four: Static Apnea
, Dynamic Apnea
, Free Immersion
and Dynamic Apnea without fins. He set a time of 9 mins 4 secs for the world Static Apnea record in December 2006 when he held his breath underwater in a swimming pool in Hurgada, a time that was beaten by 4 secs in 2007 by Tom Sietas
of Germany. His record of 66 m for Constant Weight without fins, set in 2004, was beaten by 14 m in 2005 by Czech
free-diver, Martin Štěpánek, who is also the holder of the Free Immersion record of 106 m; Nitsch recorded 100 m in September 2003, but his record was bettered by a dive of 101 m by Carlos Coste
of Venezuela
in October the same year and then twice improved upon by Štěpánek. Nitsch's Dynamic Apnea record, 183 m set in 2002, has been beaten by 40 m by Tom Sietas and women's champion, Natalia Molchanova
of Russia
, has also swum further than 200 m. Sietas also holds the Dynamic Apnea without fins record at 183 m, beating Nitsch's 2001 distance of 134 m by almost 50 m.
During the 2009 Vertical Blue
competition at the Dean's Blue Hole
in Bahamas, he broke the Free Immersion world record at 109 m. On the last day of the competition, he performed a world record dive in Constant Weight at 120 m, beating by 6 m the previous record that he had set a few days earlier. He used his arms only in the last 40 m of this ascent, with a total dive time of 3:58.
72m = AIDA Lake Record; after 2001-12-31 AIDA International no longer separated the records achieved in a lake from those in the sea.
Austrians
Austrians are a nation and ethnic group, consisting of the population of the Republic of Austria and its historical predecessor states who share a common Austrian culture and Austrian descent....
free-diver who has held world records in all of the eight apnea
Apnea
Apnea, apnoea, or apnœa is a term for suspension of external breathing. During apnea there is no movement of the muscles of respiration and the volume of the lungs initially remains unchanged...
free-diving disciplines recognised by AIDA International
AIDA International
The International Association for Development of Apnea is the world wide rule- and record-keeping body for competitive breath holding events . It aims to set standards for safety, comparability of Official World Record attempts and freedive education...
. He is the current freediving world record champion and “the deepest man on earth”. This title was given to him, when he set the current world record in No Limits discipline at the depth of 214 meters (~702 feet). To date, he has achieved 31 official World Records (see Table below).
Nitsch, who works part time as a pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
for Tyrolean Airways, holds the No-Limits
No-Limits Apnea
No-Limits Apnea is a AIDA International freediving discipline in which the freediver descends and ascends with the method of his or her choice. Often, a heavy metal bar or "sled" grasped by the diver descends fixed to a line, reaching great depths. The most common ascension assistance is via...
record, the prestigious title of "Deepest man on Earth" in which the diver can make use of a weighted sled to descend as far as possible and uses an air-filled balloon to return to the surface. Nitsch set the world record in Spetses
Spetses
Spetses is an island and a municipality in the Islands regional unit, Attica, Greece. It is sometimes included as one of the Saronic Islands. Until 1948, it was part of the old prefecture of Argolidocorinthia, which is now split into Argolis and Corinthia...
, Greece http://www.aida-international.org/aspportal1/code/page.asp?sType=wr&CountryID=4&actID=3&ObjectID=136 in June 2007 when he descended to 214 m, beating his own record of 183 m set the previous year. He also held the world record in the Constant Weight event, which is considered by many to be the classic free-diving discipline: the diver descends next to a line, not using the line and unaided by a sled, and must maintain a constant weight, meaning that no weight can be dropped for the return to the surface. Nitsch exceeded the then world record in 2006 when he dived to a depth of 110 m, but failure to complete the strict surfacing protocols within the allotted time meant that the dive was disqualified. After this he took on Marcus Greatwood
Marcus Greatwood
Marcus Greatwood is a British freediving coach. Although an international coach he is most noted for his inception and development of "NT Style" Freediving, based on relaxation and breathing techniques . Marcus has coached 5 world records with Herbert Nitsch including the 214m NoLimits record set...
as his coach (until December 2007). In Hurghada
Hurghada
Hurghada is a city in the Red Sea Governorate of Egypt. It is a main tourist center and second largest city in Egypt located on the Red Sea coast.- Overview :...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, in December 2006 he did a Constant Weight World Record dive of 111 m, adding 2 m on top of Guillaume Néry
Guillaume Néry
Guillaume Néry is a French free-diver specialised in Constant Weight free-diving.He broke the world record in 2002 at -87 meters in the Villefranche-sur-Mer harbour, in Alpes-Maritimes, France. Then, in 2004, he pushed the record to -96 meters in Saint-Leu, la Réunion...
's previous record.
Nitsch worked hard in 2007 and on 14 June 2007 he achieved 214 m (702 ft) in Spetses
Spetses
Spetses is an island and a municipality in the Islands regional unit, Attica, Greece. It is sometimes included as one of the Saronic Islands. Until 1948, it was part of the old prefecture of Argolidocorinthia, which is now split into Argolis and Corinthia...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
on a revolutionary sled. Building on his fitness for the No Limits Herbert set the Constant weight (No Fins) record during The Triple Depth in Dahab, Egypt, and went on to push the Constant record to 112m during the World Championships in Sharm. Herbert also won the AIDA Individual World Championships.
Of the other five AIDA recognised events, Nitsch has been the world record holder in four: Static Apnea
Static Apnea
Static Apnea is an AIDA International discipline in which the freedivers hold their breath for as long as possible with their respiratory tracts immersed, their body either in the water or at the surface...
, Dynamic Apnea
Dynamic apnea
Dynamic Apnea covers two of the eight categories recognised by the International Association for the Development of Freediving. That of Dynamic Without Fins and Dynamic With Fins...
, Free Immersion
Free Immersion
Free Immersion is a AIDA International freediving discipline in which the freediver dives under water without the use of propulsion equipment, but only by pulling on the rope during descent and ascent....
and Dynamic Apnea without fins. He set a time of 9 mins 4 secs for the world Static Apnea record in December 2006 when he held his breath underwater in a swimming pool in Hurgada, a time that was beaten by 4 secs in 2007 by Tom Sietas
Tom Sietas
Tom Sietas is a free diver. He specializes in the "static apnea" event, holding his breath under water, and the "dynamic apnea" event, swimming the greatest possible distance underwater without breathing. Sietas started free diving in the year 2000...
of Germany. His record of 66 m for Constant Weight without fins, set in 2004, was beaten by 14 m in 2005 by Czech
Czech people
Czechs, or Czech people are a western Slavic people of Central Europe, living predominantly in the Czech Republic. Small populations of Czechs also live in Slovakia, Austria, the United States, the United Kingdom, Chile, Argentina, Canada, Germany, Russia and other countries...
free-diver, Martin Štěpánek, who is also the holder of the Free Immersion record of 106 m; Nitsch recorded 100 m in September 2003, but his record was bettered by a dive of 101 m by Carlos Coste
Carlos Coste
Carlos Coste is a world class free-diver and record-holder. He started his training in Apnea and Free-diving in 1996, and got his first national record in 1998. In October 2003, he became the first human to achieve a Free Immersion of more than 100 meters, certified by Guinness World Records...
of Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
in October the same year and then twice improved upon by Štěpánek. Nitsch's Dynamic Apnea record, 183 m set in 2002, has been beaten by 40 m by Tom Sietas and women's champion, Natalia Molchanova
Natalia Molchanova
Natalia Molchanova , born 8 May 1962, Ufa, Russia is a Russian champion Freediver and is the current President of the Russian Freedive Federation....
of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, has also swum further than 200 m. Sietas also holds the Dynamic Apnea without fins record at 183 m, beating Nitsch's 2001 distance of 134 m by almost 50 m.
During the 2009 Vertical Blue
Vertical Blue
Vertical Blue is a freediving school that operates at Dean's Blue Hole, in The Bahamas, and is presided over by freediving world record holder William Trubridge...
competition at the Dean's Blue Hole
Dean's Blue Hole
Dean's Blue Hole is the world's deepest known blue hole with seawater. It plunges in a bay west of Clarence Town on Long Island, Bahamas.-History:The full depth of the cave was reached by Jim King in 1992....
in Bahamas, he broke the Free Immersion world record at 109 m. On the last day of the competition, he performed a world record dive in Constant Weight at 120 m, beating by 6 m the previous record that he had set a few days earlier. He used his arms only in the last 40 m of this ascent, with a total dive time of 3:58.
Official World Records by Herbert Nitsch
| apnea Apnea Apnea, apnoea, or apnœa is a term for suspension of external breathing. During apnea there is no movement of the muscles of respiration and the volume of the lungs initially remains unchanged... | Record | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| DNF | 131 m | 27 January 2001 | Geneva Geneva Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland... |
| DYN | 170 m | 24 February 2001 | Geneva Geneva Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland... |
| CWT | 72 m* | 16 June 2001 | Millstätter See Millstätter See -General facts:Lake Millstatt is situated in the Central Eastern Alps, near the town of Spittal an der Drau. With a surface area of it is the second largest lake of Carinthia , though with by far the deepest and most voluminous. Its steep shore gives the lake a fjord-like character... |
| CWT | 86 m | 11 October 2001 | Ibiza Ibiza Ibiza or Eivissa is a Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea 79 km off the coast of the city of Valencia in Spain. It is the third largest of the Balearic Islands, an autonomous community of Spain. With Formentera, it is one of the two Pine Islands or Pityuses. Its largest cities are Ibiza... |
| DYN | 172 m | 10 November 2001 | Berlin Berlin Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union... |
| DNF | 134 m | 24 November 2001 | Wiesbaden Wiesbaden Wiesbaden is a city in southwest Germany and the capital of the federal state of Hesse. It has about 275,400 inhabitants, plus approximately 10,000 United States citizens... |
| DYN | 181 m | 2 February 2002 | Vienna Vienna Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre... |
| FIM | 92 m | 27 February 2002 | Austria Austria Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the... |
| DYN | 183 m | 16 November 2002 | Berlin Berlin Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union... |
| FIM | 100 m | 5 September 2003 | Millstätter See Millstätter See -General facts:Lake Millstatt is situated in the Central Eastern Alps, near the town of Spittal an der Drau. With a surface area of it is the second largest lake of Carinthia , though with by far the deepest and most voluminous. Its steep shore gives the lake a fjord-like character... |
| CWT | 95 m | 5 September 2003 | Millstätter See Millstätter See -General facts:Lake Millstatt is situated in the Central Eastern Alps, near the town of Spittal an der Drau. With a surface area of it is the second largest lake of Carinthia , though with by far the deepest and most voluminous. Its steep shore gives the lake a fjord-like character... |
| CNF | 50 m | 6 September 2003 | Millstätter See Millstätter See -General facts:Lake Millstatt is situated in the Central Eastern Alps, near the town of Spittal an der Drau. With a surface area of it is the second largest lake of Carinthia , though with by far the deepest and most voluminous. Its steep shore gives the lake a fjord-like character... |
| CNF | 62 m | 11 September 2004 | Spetses Spetses Spetses is an island and a municipality in the Islands regional unit, Attica, Greece. It is sometimes included as one of the Saronic Islands. Until 1948, it was part of the old prefecture of Argolidocorinthia, which is now split into Argolis and Corinthia... (Greece) |
| CNF | 66 m | 12 September 2004 | Spetses Spetses Spetses is an island and a municipality in the Islands regional unit, Attica, Greece. It is sometimes included as one of the Saronic Islands. Until 1948, it was part of the old prefecture of Argolidocorinthia, which is now split into Argolis and Corinthia... |
| NLT | 172 m | 2 October 2005 | Žirje Žirje Žirje can refer to:* Žirje, Croatia, an island and settlement in the Adriatic Sea in Croatia* Žirje, Slovenia, a village in the Sežana municipality in Slovenia... (Croatia) |
| NLT | 183 m | 28 August 2006 | Žirje Žirje Žirje can refer to:* Žirje, Croatia, an island and settlement in the Adriatic Sea in Croatia* Žirje, Slovenia, a village in the Sežana municipality in Slovenia... |
| CWT | 111 m | 9 December 2006 | Hurghada Hurghada Hurghada is a city in the Red Sea Governorate of Egypt. It is a main tourist center and second largest city in Egypt located on the Red Sea coast.- Overview :... (Egypt) |
| STA | 9 min 4 sec | 13 December 2006 | Hurghada Hurghada Hurghada is a city in the Red Sea Governorate of Egypt. It is a main tourist center and second largest city in Egypt located on the Red Sea coast.- Overview :... |
| NLT | 185 m | 13 June 2007 | Spetses Spetses Spetses is an island and a municipality in the Islands regional unit, Attica, Greece. It is sometimes included as one of the Saronic Islands. Until 1948, it was part of the old prefecture of Argolidocorinthia, which is now split into Argolis and Corinthia... |
| NLT | 214 m | 14 June 2007 | Spetses Spetses Spetses is an island and a municipality in the Islands regional unit, Attica, Greece. It is sometimes included as one of the Saronic Islands. Until 1948, it was part of the old prefecture of Argolidocorinthia, which is now split into Argolis and Corinthia... |
| CNF | 83 m | 21 October 2007 | Dahab Dahab Dahab is a small town situated on the southeast coast of the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. Formerly a Bedouin fishing village, located approximately northeast of Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab is considered to be one of the Sinai's most treasured diving destinations... (Egypt) |
| CWT | 112 m | 1 November 2007 | Sharm (Egypt) |
| CWT | 114 m | 4 April 2009 | Long Island Long Island, Bahamas Long Island is an island in the Bahamas that is split by the Tropic of Cancer. Its capital is Clarence Town. Long Island is one of the Districts of the Bahamas and is known as the most scenic island in the Bahamas. The population is roughly 4,000 inhabitants.-Geography:Long Island is about 130... (Bahamas) |
| FIM | 109 m | 6 April 2009 | Long Island Long Island, Bahamas Long Island is an island in the Bahamas that is split by the Tropic of Cancer. Its capital is Clarence Town. Long Island is one of the Districts of the Bahamas and is known as the most scenic island in the Bahamas. The population is roughly 4,000 inhabitants.-Geography:Long Island is about 130... (Bahamas) |
| CWT | 120 m | 11 April 2009 | Long Island Long Island, Bahamas Long Island is an island in the Bahamas that is split by the Tropic of Cancer. Its capital is Clarence Town. Long Island is one of the Districts of the Bahamas and is known as the most scenic island in the Bahamas. The population is roughly 4,000 inhabitants.-Geography:Long Island is about 130... (Bahamas) |
| VWT | 142 m | 7 December 2009 | Long Island Long Island, Bahamas Long Island is an island in the Bahamas that is split by the Tropic of Cancer. Its capital is Clarence Town. Long Island is one of the Districts of the Bahamas and is known as the most scenic island in the Bahamas. The population is roughly 4,000 inhabitants.-Geography:Long Island is about 130... (Bahamas) |
| FIM | 112 m | 8 December 2009 | Long Island Long Island, Bahamas Long Island is an island in the Bahamas that is split by the Tropic of Cancer. Its capital is Clarence Town. Long Island is one of the Districts of the Bahamas and is known as the most scenic island in the Bahamas. The population is roughly 4,000 inhabitants.-Geography:Long Island is about 130... (Bahamas) |
| CWT | 123 m | 9 December 2009 | Long Island Long Island, Bahamas Long Island is an island in the Bahamas that is split by the Tropic of Cancer. Its capital is Clarence Town. Long Island is one of the Districts of the Bahamas and is known as the most scenic island in the Bahamas. The population is roughly 4,000 inhabitants.-Geography:Long Island is about 130... (Bahamas) |
| FIM | 114 m | 19 April 2010 | Long Island Long Island, Bahamas Long Island is an island in the Bahamas that is split by the Tropic of Cancer. Its capital is Clarence Town. Long Island is one of the Districts of the Bahamas and is known as the most scenic island in the Bahamas. The population is roughly 4,000 inhabitants.-Geography:Long Island is about 130... (Bahamas) |
| CWT | 124 m | 22 April 2010 | Long Island Long Island, Bahamas Long Island is an island in the Bahamas that is split by the Tropic of Cancer. Its capital is Clarence Town. Long Island is one of the Districts of the Bahamas and is known as the most scenic island in the Bahamas. The population is roughly 4,000 inhabitants.-Geography:Long Island is about 130... (Bahamas) |
| FIM | 120 m | 25 April 2010 | Long Island Long Island, Bahamas Long Island is an island in the Bahamas that is split by the Tropic of Cancer. Its capital is Clarence Town. Long Island is one of the Districts of the Bahamas and is known as the most scenic island in the Bahamas. The population is roughly 4,000 inhabitants.-Geography:Long Island is about 130... (Bahamas) |
72m = AIDA Lake Record; after 2001-12-31 AIDA International no longer separated the records achieved in a lake from those in the sea.