WATCH: Falling into the blue – Free diver breaks record with 64 metre dive

Like a mermaid she elegantly dives down into the black abyss – calm and beautiful – a mastered skill which has earned her seven national records.

No other woman in Africa has free dived deeper than 36-year-old Natalie Rudman who recently broke a long-standing record in Bali.

“Bali is where the ocean opened up for me as a free diver. I did not tell anyone that I wanted to break my hero and fellow South African Hanli Prinsloo’s record of 63 metres – a record she held for eight years,” said Rudman, who grew up in Durban.

She shared her story with The Courier last week during her visit to her parents in Ballito.

Using only a monofin, Rudman dived 64 metres deep – having visualised every metre of the dive a million times before in her mind.

“The dive is very structured. Your lungs compress to about half their size at ten metres and more as you go down. You can feel the pressure on them. At around 25 metres I start using the air in my cheeks to equalise the pressure on my ears. Then you become negatively buoyant and start free falling.

“This is my favourite part as you feel like you are flying through the water. You have to keep your whole body relaxed and clear your mind completely.”

While it might sound terrifying to most to dive into the darkness with nothing but a single breath of air, Rudman said it is an incomparable feeling.

“Free diving is an internal journey. I love the sensation of completely disconnecting from the world and fully trusting my body and training. It is instant meditation because if you are anywhere else in your mind you have to come up, and usually come up fast. You really have to be completely present under water,” said the well-traveled yoga instructor who always meditates before a dive.

Natalie went on to break her own record when she reached 67 metres in the constant weight discipline at the Sabang International Freediving Competition 2018 in Indonesia last November.

She said pushing her body so far was something she would not have been able to do ten years ago.

“I have always loved being in the ocean and letting myself drift in the utter serenity under water, but my mind was always all over the place. My travels through India and the lessons I learnt from yoga have taught me to deal with my mind and to let go of the constant chatter.”

After three years of free diving, Rudman said she hoped to inspire more women to start this “beautiful practice” and will be offering free diving level 1 (up to 20m) and level 2 (up to 35m) courses at Sodwana Bay until February 5.

WATCH: Natalie at the Sabang International Freediving Competition 2018 in Indonesia last November.

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