Nature

Meet The Croatian Freediver Who Is One Of The Best In The World After Only Three Years

This is the Croatian freediver who has become one of the best in the world in only three years with first place in at least one discipline.

Petar Klovar, 30, from the Croatian port city of Rijeka, can hold his breath for eight minutes and told Newsflash that the secret to taking on the “biggest challenges in freediving is good mental preparation”.

He added: “That’s why in freediving we do a lot of relaxing exercises and stretching.”

A photo of Petar Klovar, 30, from Rijeka, Croatia. (@petar_klovar, @d.delak/Newsflash)

Petar said: “My love for freediving started when I met Vitomir Maricic (multiple world record holder) who introduced me to this sport a few years ago. I quickly realised that I really enjoy every aspect of freediving.

“Over the years, we travelled all over Croatia and the world to dive in the most beautiful seas on the planet. From marine life to beautiful people, we explored and encountered so many new things.”

Petar added: “Last year I was third top freediver in the world, and that was something very special for me. It was hard to imagine, I couldn’t even picture myself in the top eight, let alone third overall. I was thrilled with that.”

A photo of Petar Klovar, 30, from Rijeka, Croatia. (@petar_klovar, @d.delak/Newsflash)

This year the success is continuing after he won first place in the AIDA Dynamic Apnoea (DNF), which is diving without fins that requires the freediver to swim as far as they can underwater.

Competitions and record attempts usually take place in a swimming pool, and the rules require the diver to use only the propulsion provided by hands and feet.

He said: “In my first year, I went to Belgrade to participate in the pool world championship and my best result was second place in dynamic monofin.

A photo of Petar Klovar, 30, from Rijeka, Croatia. (@petar_klovar, @d.delak/Newsflash)

“Regarding sea depth, I hold the national record in free immersion apnea (the cessation of breathing).”

Petar said free immersion apnea is “an AIDA International freediving discipline in which the freediver dives under water without the use of propulsion equipment, and only by pulling on the rope during descent and ascent of 114 metres (374 feet).

He added that AIDA International and CMAS are considered the two biggest organisations in freediving.

A photo of Petar Klovar, 30, from Rijeka, Croatia exploring the underwater world. (@petar_klovar/Newsflash)

Petar told Newsflash: “The Adriatic freediving trophy is held every year on the Croatian island of Plavnik, and is organised by Vitomir Maricic. We hope the next one will be the biggest so far.

“I’m currently preparing for a sea contest with a lot of sessions as well as dry training which includes weights, workouts, and outdoor activities such as rock-climbing, running, and cycling.

“For sea competitions, I pretty much do the same along with practising as many sea dives as I can together with the other exercises I mentioned.”

A photo by Petar Klovar, 30, from Rijeka, Croatia showing the underwater relief. (@petar_klovar/Newsflash)

The freediver added: “I can hold my breath for around eight minutes in static apnea.”

Petar said: “I’m not afraid of diving in the ‘deep blue’ because in open water I feel totally relaxed and I try to enjoy every second.

“Besides freediving I’m working as a freediving instructor, personal trainer and a lifeguard.”

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