Many surfers who are committed to elevating their skills in the waves eventually start to train and incorporate breath work and free diving into their routines. Yet, many may not know just how beneficial free diving skills are to surfing.

Months ago, I spoke with Hanli Prinsloo, an 11 time South African free diving record-holder about the benefits surfers stand to gain from learning the basics--and then some--about breath work and free diving. She told me about how her time with big wave legend, Greg Long, who started his journey many years ago and how it helped save his life in heavy water situations.

We will have a future story with Hanli soon, to dive deep on her story, stay tuned.

OnlyFans & athletes

Hundreds of professional athletes have joined OnlyFans over the last couple of years across heaps of sports and disciplines. The platform has been cultivating these collaborations to demonstrate the variety of the platform--it's not just adult content---to connect athletes and educators with their fans. This allows elite individuals to share behind the scenes content on their approach, determination, and personality while showing the work it takes to get to the top. Not to mention, this also helps athletes support their training and living costs. For surfers, this is a huge draw as the industry has changed so much that endemic brands alone cannot cover the costs it takes to survive in this day and age. Other athletes on the platform include global tennis star Nick Kyrgios, Olympic pole-vaulter Alysha Newman, mountain biker Stefan Garlicki, Brazilian MMA artist Cris Cyborg, X-Games Gold Medalist Leticia Bufoni, as well as surfers Pedro Scooby, Billy Kemper, and Moana Jones-Wong.

Read on to hear more from the free divers who competed in the event and who have joined OnlyFans for the aforementioned reasons.

Johnny Vicari

Beyond competitive success, what benefits does freediving give you in your day-to-day life?

Freediving benefits my day-to-day life in so many ways. First is the relationship it builds with the ocean and with marine life — it genuinely becomes ‘home.’ Connecting with nature on a single breath becomes a spiritual experience. When you do an early morning reef dive or line session, the rest of the day just feels lighter.

Getting connected to your breath is a form of meditation. It slows down a racing mind, teaches you how to relax, and helps you get comfortable with the uncomfortable. It lines your thoughts up in single file. I’m less agitated, less reactive, and more grounded throughout the day.

The biggest benefits for me are spiritual and mental. Physically, the CO₂ training carries over too — runs become easier, my body handles stress better, and my lung capacity and flexibility are noticeably improved.

If you could teach someone one thing about breathing / freediving, what would it be?

There’s a lot to teach in freediving, but for newcomers I start with how to take a proper full breath. Most new divers take shallow breaths and don’t actually fill their lungs.

I teach it in three stages. First: belly breathing — releasing the diaphragm to open the lower lungs. Second: loosening the back muscles and rib cage to fill the mid-lungs. Third: the ‘topper’ — relaxing the shoulders and letting the upper chest expand. Settling into a full breath can feel uncomfortable at first, so the key is to relax.

You can follow Johnny Vicari on OnlyFans here.

What's your personal best record and what are you hoping to achieve here at the competition?

My personal best is 63 meters (206 feet), and beyond diving I’m passionate about underwater photography. Running professional freediving tournaments has always been a dream of mine. I want to build a real connection between the athletes and the audience — to let their stories come out and show the human behind the wetsuit.

The depths these athletes reach are mind-blowing, but the emotional side of the sport is just as powerful. I have a very clear vision of where this sport should be, and I’m here to help it grow.

Harry McCahill

Beyond competitive success, what benefits does freediving give you in your day-to-day life?

Mental resilience, pause before reaction, mindfulness, control over breath and body. General health and fitness.

If you could teach someone one thing about breathing and freediving, what would it be?

Breathing, learn to box breath or pause on exhale to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, get out of flight or fight mode. Never dive alone, take a course with a reputable diver. 

What's your personal best record and what are you hoping to achieve here at the competition?

My PB is 79m without fins or CNF discipline, considered the purest form. I had hoped to break the current NR of 83m at the event but with organizing and managing dive eye this will not be possible this time. But in the near future, yes. 90m is my best overall depth. 

You can follow Harry McCahill on OnlyFans here.