David Mellor

Professional Freediver & 4 x CMAS Masters world record holder

How and when did you first discover freediving?

Why did you decide to continue with it to the level you are at now?

"I started freediving around 11 years ago when I did my first courses, which were the SSI level one and level two freediving programs (now renamed Freediver and Advanced Freediver) which I completed in the UK.

I continued on to do the SSI level three (now renamed Performance Freediver), in Dahab, Egypt. I really only completed the courses because I was already spearfishing regularly and knew I was not doing it right. I knew there was a better way so I decided a freediving course would be the way to learn about freediving better, and it certainly was!

After my first course, I had doubled my breath hold and doubled my depth PB, and really got hooked on freediving from then on. After my level three course I decided to become an SSI Freediving instructor and started to teach in the UK.

At that time, I had no plans to compete, I was happy being an instructor and I told myself that I would never want to go any deeper than 50 meters, but then a fellow instructor asked me if I was interested in doing a pool competition.

I decided to do it just so that I could tell my students how it feels to compete and give them advice if they wanted to compete. But after the first competition, I totally got hooked on competitions and I decided that is what I wanted to do; compete and get better at the sport."

"I recently took part in the CMAS world championships in Roatan, Honduras (Sept 2023). I performed in all four disciplines, and I entered in the "Masters" category, which is for over fifties. The category is split into age groups: 50-54, 55-59 and 60-64. I turned 60 this year, and my goal was to do 100 meters in free immersion in that competition, I did not mind what else I did.

As it turned out though, I achieved four PBs (personal bests) in all four disciplines, and they were all world records for that age category, but the 100 meters in free immersion was an absolute world record for over fifties."´

Freediving allows you to meet good people in nice places in the world, it keeps you healthy and in good shape, but you do not have to be super fit to do it. You do not need to dive deep; it can just be a way to enjoy the water."

David was Claire’s first instructor and inspired her to trust her breath hold and continue her freediving career - she’s stalked him ever since as he continues to inspire her!!

If you're interested in progressing from PADI Freediver to AIDA 3, Spearfishing courses or private coaching by David Mellor, please contact him via Facebook or Instagram - Mellsterman!