Brad James

Still fizzing from setting a Freediving National Record for New Zealand 🤙 -71m Constant weight with Bifins #freediving #nationalrecord #nr #pb #apnea #cwt #cwtb #newzealandrecord #freediver #freedivelife #nzsummer #freedivingnz #onebreath #deep #personalbest #freedivephotography #freedivetraining

Freedivers will do anything except act normal 🤝 Everyone else: cute friendship sunset pics with drinks on a boat 💕 Freedivers: ‘bro get on my back, trust me this will look aesthetic’ 🤿😂 POV: your buddy says ‘quick pic after the session’ and suddenly you’re in a full-blown acrobatic trust exercise in 2mm neoprene 💀 No thoughts. No oxygen. Just ✨ questionable balance✨, optional equalising, bad decisions, and a friendship that’s been through too many surface intervals to quit now. At this point we’re not even training our breath-hold… we’re training how long we can hold this pose without falling in. Because nothing says peak freediver energy like risking it all… for the shot. 🔥 Tag the dive bro who turns every session into a content shoot and still says ‘nah we didn’t get it’ after 47 tries. 🫶🏼 ….aaaannnd let us know what poses YOU like, what we should do next and if you have better names for those up here 😂 🤝 @freediveproject @christindives 📍 @siquijor.freediving #buddysystembutmakeitextra #freediverlife #broposes #siquijorisland #fullsend

Our FIRST EVER Freediver Night - 𝗗𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝘄i𝘁𝗵 𝗡𝗭 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗱 𝗝𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀! @freediveproject 👉 Wed, 11 March from 6pm at Ocean Hunter Auckland - 54 Barrys Point Road, Takapuna. Free event, everyone welcome! 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗹𝗹 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻: Most freedivers equalise instinctively. They get in the water, and it just happens. They don’t need to understand exactly what’s happening. And for most freedivers this is enough. But if you want to progress deeper you may all of a sudden find equalisation isn’t as automatic and easy as it once was. That’s when it gets frustrating, because you don’t really know what changed or how to fix it. The problem usually isn’t effort. It’s awareness. In this workshop we slow equalisation right down and look at what’s actually happening anatomically and mechanically. We will look at: * Types of Equalisation - Valsalva, Frenzel, Fattah Frenzel and Handsfree * Anatomy of Equalisation - Airspaces, Doors and Locks * Why awareness and dry practice is key * Basic skills to start gaining awareness of each structure involved with equalising. You’ll learn how to feel and control the movements involved, clean up your Frenzel, and understand what needs to be in place before going deeper or moving toward mouthfill. Whether you’re still figuring out Frenzel, sitting around 30m, or starting to think about 40m — this session gives you the foundation to keep improving instead of guessing. Depth comes easier when you actually understand what you’re doing.

If you’ve been thinking about going deeper, this is it. This March we’re hosting Brad James — ranked 14th in the 2025 world rankings, current AIDA NZ National Record holder in CWT Bi-fins (85m), and three-time World Championship representative. Over a decade at depth. Refined systems. Proven progression. Brad’s focus is simple: build the foundations that hold when the line gets serious. • Deep equalisation that works under pressure • Mental strategy for consistent performance • Dry training that directly transfers to depth • Breaking plateaus with precision, not guesswork But this isn’t just classroom theory. We’ll be training in some of the best dive locations in the world: Poor Knights Islands. Bay of Islands. Clear water. Real depth. Incredible structure. Workshops. Step days. Depth sessions. Advanced insights with world-level standards — delivered in world-class locations. If you’re moving toward Advanced or Master level, or simply ready to see what’s actually possible for you, March is about tightening the system and expanding your edge. Small group. Serious progression. Details and dates coming soon. @freediveproject

Back to depth. Equalisation is OK. Flexibilty is improving rapidly. Relaxation not quite there yet 😅 Either way, we’re back and beginning the build 💪 although I don’t think 28°c water is doing anything to prepare me for Taupo 😂 #freediving #insta360 #garmin #letthedepthbegin #freedivetraining

Stop guessing, start progressing. 📈 What does a science-based Off-season actually look like? A Off-season isn’t just about working harder—it’s about working smarter to build a better engine for next season. 1️⃣ Pre-Testing: Identifying your baseline and targeting key metrics. 2️⃣ Muscular Strength: Building the foundation to handle higher loads. 3️⃣ Energy System Development (ESD): Conditioning that actually transfers to your sport. 4️⃣ Mobility & Stability: The essentials that are often overlooked but keep you durable. 5️⃣ Post-Testing: Validating the progress and preparing for what’s next. #coachandcraft #strengthandconditioning #freediver #freediving #offseason

After not living up to my own expectations at the @aidafreediving Depth World Championship I had kind of written the season off as a shit one. But looking back, it wasn’t all bad. Pool Season was strong, PBs and Competition bests in all disciplines and I set a decent bar for CMAS pool comps for NZ Men having done no specific training. Depth was tough. Still managed PBs in everything but CNF (didn’t try 😅). 4x National Records across AIDA and CMAS. And I narrowly got more white cards than yellow, but it came down to the last dive of the season to seal that one 😂 The coolest part, is based off @freediveranking_com I finished up 14th in the World Rankings for 2025. Considering I feel like I didn’t feel like I got the most out of my depth season, this is a huge win. Training for 2026 has already begun, let’s see what we can do. 📸 @andac.kazar @lukecoley #freediver #2025recap #competition #freediving

You’ve probably seen freedivers using this little tool before. It’s an Otovent and it’s an essential tool for training frenzel equalisation dry. Why? Because it creates gentle over-pressure, so you can actually feel what’s moving instead of guessing. But firstly you have to know how to use it. Second you need to practice infront of a mirror so you can see the movements. You can’t be sure you’re doing it 100% correctly if you can’t see it. The video shows what you should look for with each movement. Simple tip for these exercises before you start. Say the letter out loud a few times. That tongue position is where each exercise should begin. P lock: - Lips seal the mouth. - Tongue relaxed and low. - Cheeks inflated - Use lips and cheeks to push air into the balloon (like doing a creepy smile). - Relax the cheeks, let the air come back, then repeat. T lock: - Tongue tip behind the top front teeth. - Sides of the tongue seal along the upper teeth. - Keep your mouth open so you can see it. - Lift the back of the tongue to compress, then relax and repeat. K lock: - Back of the tongue seals against the soft palate. - Keep it as low as you can while holding the seal. - Lift to compress, lower without losing the seal, repeat. How to know if you’re doing it right? I’ve highlighted what you should look for in the video. Can you see these things when you do the exercise in front of a mirror? If so, you’re likely doing it right! If not, keep practicing. Learn these on land. They’re much easier to master dry and they will feel more natural when you take them into the water. Save this and come back to it when you need to practice. #freedivingtraining #frenzel #equalisation #freedivingtips beginnerfreediver

Whether you’re a snorkeler wanting to duck-dive a few metres, a spearo chasing fish, or a freediver aiming for a new PB, equalisation is the thing that decides how far you can go. No equalisation = No depth. So what is equalisation, and why does it matter so much? As we descend, water pressure increases and compresses our body. We typically feel this in the bodies airspaces: Ears Sinuses Mask At first it’s uncomfortable. If you keep going, it becomes painful. Push past that and you’re putting yourself at real risk of injury. Equalising is simply the act of adding air back into these spaces to restore the volume of air to get rid of this discomfort. The two most common techniques are Valsalva and Frenzel. Valsalva is a pressure manoeuvre. You pinch your nose and try to exhale. The pressure forces air into the middle ear, creating that familiar popping sensation. This works well enough for casual snorkeling, but it’s inefficient and, for most people, stops working somewhere around 5 to 10 metres. Frenzel is different. Instead of exhaling, you use your tongue and mouth to generate pressure in a much more targeted way. Once it’s learned, Frenzel feels easier, more controlled, and far more effective. Most divers can use it comfortably to 30 to 40 metres, and experienced freedivers can go well beyond that. This is why Frenzel is the preferred equalisation method in freediving and spearfishing. But Frenzel can be hard to learn. Frenzel isn’t difficult because it’s complex. It’s difficult because it requires control and in order to develop that, it requires awareness. You’re learning to control: The jaw The cheeks The tongue The soft palate The glottis That’s five different structures, all being coordinated and controlled to equalise the entire time you’re descending. It’s a bit like juggling. Hand someone five balls and ask them to juggle and most people won’t get far. Teach them how to control one ball at a time, then progressively add more, and it suddenly becomes manageable. Equalisation works the same way. Break it down, train the parts, and give it time. When it clicks, depth opens up in a way that feels effortless. 📸 @lukecoley

VO2max and economy tests have already been completed. Because of initial technical issues with the equipment, it was also tested after some training. But we still got useful data to use throughout the season. I’m grateful to Dr. New for facilitating everything for us, including discussing and adjusting protocol, scheduling an appointment, and providing exceptional service. #strengthandconditioning #offseasonprogram #coachandcraft #freediving #freediver

2025 was an interesting season. I managed personal bests in all disciplines for Pool and Depth (except for CNF, which I didn’t even attempt). When it came to Depth, aside from EQ, the dives were easy. Physically, I felt strong doing these dives. I didn’t feel any signs of hypoxia, little urge to breathe, or even lactic acid. This seemed great, but it was also a curse. It was a curse because I got complacent. I put less focus on maintaining my strength and fitness so that I could have more energy to dive. As a result, my strength plateaued, my fitness went backwards, and I gained significant weight during the season. To top it off, by the time the competitions rolled around, my energy levels weren’t very high (probably because I hadn’t been working out). Now, my plan is to spend the rest of 2025 building a solid base for 2026 and focusing on Strength and Conditioning with @tham.sc and @coachandcraft We’ll take a data-based approach and test my baseline metrics. Then, we’ll train for two months and then re-test to track my improvement in these key metrics. It’s going to be intense, but I’m looking forward to this challenge. 📸 @daanverhoevenfreediver at the AIDA World Championship #freediving #freediver #offseason #basetraining #strengthandconditioning

Over the weekend, I competed at the @suunto Freediving Games, organised by @freediveranking_com in Wrocław, Poland. It was my first CMAS pool competition, and based on Freediving Ranking, there were no CMAS pool dives by New Zealanders. This made it a great opportunity to set the base Men’s NRs for the pool disciplines. The biggest challenge was the turnaround. There were only 13 days between my final depth dive and the first dive of this competition, which wasn’t much time to train while travelling and recovering from back-to-back depth competitions. So, in the end, the only pool training I had going into the competition was a session two days before the event, where I sorted my weighting and practiced some turns in the monofin. I competed in Static, Dynamic No Fins, and Dynamic Monofin. Static was the pleasant surprise. I had no expectations for this dive, but I was aiming for 5 minutes, which was a safe bet. Especially considering CMAS rules that have an easier surface protocol, but there’s no coaching for the surface protocol, and you’re not allowed to rest your chin on the pool edge while recovering (something I normally do). To finish with a competition best of 6:01 and finally tick off the last requirement for @aucklandfreedivingclub 666 club made me incredibly happy. Dynamic ended at 157 meters. I had hoped for more, but honestly, that was all that was in the tank on the day. The hypoxia cloud started to come on shortly before the turn at 150 meters, so I decided to do the turn and come up for a safe white card. With the video coming from @dars.systems which was streaming the event. Dynamic No Fins was first and probably the worst dive. I gave in to the voices and came up at 107 meters. It was clean, but this dive definitely came down to the lack of training. Either way, it’s three NRs and despite having done no specific training, has set a modest bar for the next Kiwi fellas who go and take on a CMAS pool competition. #freediving #competition #poolcompetition #cmasfreediving #dynamicapnea #staticapnea #freedivingnz