SaltFree Divers - Freediving meets, courses and competitions in the UK

Sam Kirby runs Saltfree and Double Dip - and this year she's going to enter it too. Fired up by some winter training in Dahab, Sam's going to have a go at Constant Weight and if she can sort out her corkscrewy right leg, Constant Weight No Fins too. If she has to buy the trophies, she might as well have a chance of keeping one.....

Stuart Bond took home the best newbie prize and is back with a bang this season. Powered by lentils, quinoa and strange sprouting things most people do not recognise as food - he's got a surprising amount of energy for one who doesn't eat chocolate. When he's not saving the Panda he's secretly training in Dahab and Dorothea - but can he do it without the motivation of a free D4??

Kattie Lussier brings an international flavour to Saltfree with her French Canadian touched by Inuit accent and tough, camping in midwinter ways. When she's not painting beautiful oil paintings of us all she's working hard to gain control of her errant monofin and persuading buddies to join her for an "in tents" experience so she's not "all alone on the prairie!". This is Kattie's first comp - could she be a contender for best newbie?

Jay Stewart has just celebrated his first birthday at Saltfree - with organic healthy ginger cake and a few nuts and berries. Our resident Yogi, rumour has it Jay loves Saltfree so much that he cycles over from Bristol on weekends we're not training just to smile at the lake! His devotion has paid off and he's talking serious depths - will his Yogi powers help him on the day? Watch this space......

George Miller has fought the demons to become one of Saltfree's deepest laydeez - and she's also a star in the pool, currently holding the UK Static record. George has claimed in the past that Saltfree is her favourite place to dive - even though she also spends several weeks each year in the Bahamas... We hope the lake heard that comment and is kind to her on comp day!

Liv Philip is another Bahamian babe in the winter months. She does seem to spend more time sunbathing on the pontoon than in the water these days but that doesn't stop her rivalling most of the Saltfree blokes. Will this be the summer she brings up some rocks (or something more useful like my lost Stinger) from the bottom of the pit?

Liv is sponsored by Fusion Lifestyle and Eat Natural.

Erlend Breidal is unlikely to be put off by the greenness or coolness of our lake... Joining us all the way from Norway, Erlend will be having a go at Free Immersion and Constant Weight with Fins. We're looking forward to swapping stories of how we all cope with the shivery stuff and hope to learn a few things from him. Welcome Erlend!

David Tranfield (aka Tranny) is more frequently seen in the tropics - so we're a little surprised he's going to take on the green, but he'll get a warm welcome! He's sent us a photo of himself looking quite tough so maybe that's how he's going to take up the challenge of Double Dip. He might have a silly name but don't underestimate the Transter!

James Cluskey is a hardened northerner, trained by the mysterious coach in white socks known as Millard. Millard's coachee Mandy Mermaid took the UK by storm with her record-breaking performance at the Camberwell pool comp - will JC do the same at Double Dip?

Mandy "Mermaid" Buckley was chosen as the Saltfree Mermaid back in 2005 and hasn't looked back. Now diving with us all year round and enjoying the deep green, Mandy has also become a bit of a chlorine-addict and has just got her first British record in the pool for Dynamic with Fins. We hope the Saltfree Comp goes as well for her as Camberwell did!

Mark Harris thought he might retire, then the he thought again and just couldn't miss out on the chance of some more blue glass for his mantelpiece. He's been away taking up other challenges recently and might not be aware of the newbies creeping up behind him... but we're guessing he's still in with a pretty good chance!

Ross Matthews is one of the original Saltfree mob but has been a bit of a stranger for the last couple of years. Has he been away to some secret freedive boot camp? Has he had his eardrums replaced with bionic super deep new technology? We're looking forward to seeing him again... even if he hasn't done any of that!

"Deepest Dave" King is one of the Saltfree Old Skool posse. More recently he's been working too many Saturdays and enjoying the delights of nearly-married life to be able to dive that regularly. Now term's over, all he's got to do is get his hayfever undercontrol and he'll be rocking. He's always been the Deepest Dave but will he be the deepest overall?

Ferenc Worum was our doctor at the comp last year and didn't have the medicine to fight off the freediving bug..... A no-fins specialist he's hoping for a Hungarian record - and so are we because Mr Crocs knows how to say "Congratulations" in Hungarian!

Ian Campbell is trying to take over Benny B's role as Saltfree's Resident Aussie! But will he dive as deep as Mr B? and will he bring along a lovely wife to do the countdowns? We miss you Benny and Penny but welcome Ian!

Gary McGrath is a mean camper and can start a fire with just a couple of sticks and an evil glare.... He's been out in the Blue Hole, learnt a few new tricks and is starting to look like a real contender. But what hat will he be wearing this weekend? And will he cook us all breakfast on the campfire?

John Cooknell is a mystery diver..... but we hear he's been training pretty hard in the pool... so who knows what might happen!

Marc Lenoir is a Blue Hole regular so we're proud he's chosen to join us at Saltfree and wish him a very warm welcome. Coached by Linda at Freedive Dahab, he's certainly got the technique - but can he make it work in the green? Bonne chance Marc!

MT Solomons is one of the UK's most experienced judges, and has worked all over the world. She's relatively new to green water so we'll extend her a very warm welcome, especially if she is brave enough to get in! Thanks for joining us MT!

Dave Griffiths is back as Head Judge and general Pontoon Master. Dave spent most of his winter break making sure the pontoon looks good so anyone found graffiti-ing, dropping weights on it or huffing and puffing too violently in the direction of the shed will be tied up in perfect knots and beaten with a monofin......

Niall Flinn is taking on his own challenge - that of trying to get decent photographs of us over the weekend. Smile sweetly if you notice him doing the paparazzi thing on the warm up lines.

Jacques the Ladder - aka Inverted Solitude, serious piece of underwater artwork - will be keeping you company in the transition area at this year's competition. Try to let his calm and tranquil vibes rub off on you as you prepare to dive....