Dive Deeper, Discover More: Unveiling the World of Freediving with Miguel Lozano

May 27, 2022

How does someone dive to over 100 meters (328 feet) below the surface on a single breath? Is it superpowers or just hard work? What steps should you take if you want to become a deeper freediver? We reached out to Miguel Lozano, national record holder for Spain and the world’s third deepest man in the Free Immersion discipline (FIM), to find out the answers to these questions and more. Join us as we delve into the world of deep freediving.

 

Who is Miguel Lozano?

Miguel Lozano is a professional freediver from Spain, who took home two silver medals in two of the three deep freediving disciplines (Constant No Fins and Free Immersion) in the AIDA World Depth Championships in Cyprus in 2015.

In 2016, Miguel performed a 122 meter (400 feet) free immersion dive (FIM) at the Caribbean Cup Competition in Roatán (Honduras), an achievement that today ranks him as the third deepest person in the world in this discipline.

Miguel has opened three freediving schools which he visits throughout the year to teach courses and run workshops. You’ll find these schools in:

So, without further ado, let us ask this deep-diving Spaniard some questions about how to dive deeper.

 

1.What is your history in freediving, and what are you up to these days?

"Since I was a child, I was spearfishing in a small town north of Barcelona. So when I started freediving in 2004, I already had good information, and experience in the water, and I adapted quite fast.

"My first record attempt was in Dahab, Egypt in 2009, where I achieved a national record for Spain. The depth was 72 meters (236 feet) deep in the free immersion discipline (FIM). This record took me around six months to train for and was the first time I dedicated my time to training and discovering who I was as a freediver.

Freediving is still currently very involved in my life. I am still training and competing, and I also enjoy teaching between the centers in Dahab and Tenerife."

 

2. How does it feel to dive to your deepest depths?

"Every dive is a little different. But from the night before to right before the breathe-up (the preparation breathing before the dive), I try to stay completely relaxed and to feel secure about the depth I am going to dive to. It is also important to have trust in the people who will be there with me for the dive.

The feeling of deep freediving is so nice. As my speed increases, the temperature drops, and the light fades.

I lose my sense of sight, which allows other senses to be heightened and my relaxed feelings to be magnified.

As I enter the freefall part of the dive, where I am flying without gravity, this is where I feel all alone and completely relaxed."

 

3. Can anyone do deep freediving?

"I think most people who have confidence and skill in the water, who are dedicated to training, and who progress gradually with a passion for the sport can get to between 80 and 100 meters (262 to 328 feet) deep.

To go deeper than that, I would say there are factors to consider such as adaptation, equalization, narcosis, diving rhythm, increased dive times, decompression sickness; these are unique to different individual’s physiology."

EXPLORE THE DEEP BLUE - BECOME A FREE IMMERSION FREEDIVER WITH SSI.

 

4. What are the important things to focus on when trying to become a deeper freediver?

"Of course you need to train and plan the dives. But what is most important is the passion. Many people want to increase their depth with very fast progression. But for me, it was never about getting deep quickly in order to get the records or to get sponsors.

I trained because of the pleasure of freediving. I enjoyed training with other divers with the same mindset and passion for the sport, who I could learn from. Being able to take my time and not progress too quickly allowed me to enjoy the process. Which I think is the most important thing.

Stretching, improving technique, practicing equalization; these are all important for progressing as a freediver.

But most people rush, and this is when they experience problems and perform badly. Enjoy the path, this is the best way.

I think the most common problem for freedivers is that people are sometimes too worried about their physical condition, but they do not train enough for the specific thing they want to achieve.

If you want to be a deep diver, yes being in good shape and practicing technique in the pool is important, but you must also practice deep freediving.

This is where you will learn how to equalize deep, and your body will develop adaptations to the depth."

 

5. What drives you to push yourself to achieve record depths?

"I love training. I do not have a personality or ego that pushes me to need to win or become a champion.

I do it because I like the lifestyle of training; being in a beautiful location, surrounded by friends, focusing on my health and fitness with things like stretching, eating well, and getting enough rest.

I also like to see what I am capable of achieving, this is an interesting thing to discover about myself."

READ MORE: 10 BEST FREEDIVING SPOTS IN THE WORLD.

 

6. What is your favorite thing about freediving?

"I am a nature lover. I like going out on a boat and diving into new waters to see what rare animals I can find. I like the sound of the sea, I like to float on the surface, feel the hug of the water, and see the deep blue colors.

Freediving helps me to relax, and connect more with myself and my body, as well as with nature."

 

7. Any final tips for someone looking to progress as a freediver?

"There are many ways to approach freediving, so always be open to learning.Accept information from everyone who gives it to you, because you will find different perspectives and unique advice.

With passion and love, you can make freediving a career, enjoy the journey of training, and become respected in the community."

If you take your time, enjoy the process, and put in a little hard work and dedication, you can become a deep freediving success like Miguel.

The SSI Training Techniques course will help you discover your strengths and weaknesses as a freediver and create a personalized training plan to improve your skills and performance. Find out more here:

HONE YOUR FREEDIVING SKILLS - JOIN SSI’S TRAINING TECHNIQUES PROGRAM ONLINE TODAY.