SEAstream #31 will take us deep into the depths of the ocean with freedive national record holder Maria Antonia Vergara.

Maria grew up in Panama and is a six-time freedive national record holder in the country. Her journey to freediving has allowed her to find a meditative and therapeutic hobby that has become her life’s passion. This Wednesday, March 9th at 11am UTC, we’ll be interviewing Maria about her experiences freediving live on Instagram (@sea_token). We’re so excited to talk with someone just as passionate about ocean life as we are!

Freediving is a competitive sport that involves going deep underwater without the use of any breathing devices or equipment. Freedivers take one breath and carefully submerge themselves as deep as they can go, using a monofin, two fins, or no fins at all. Some forms of the sport involve following a rope down into the depths. These talented swimmers use the power of their bodies, minds, and lungs to become one with the ocean, going as deep as their bodies allow to break records.

After taking her first freediving course in 2017, Maria was smitten. She went on to get her instructor’s certification in 2018. Now, she works for an educational freediving company as a program organiser and manager, while she trains towards her personal goal of reaching 70 metres in depth. Freediving certainly brings people closer to the ocean, as there is so little separating the human from the underwater world. This means Maria has a unique perspective and passion for ocean conservation, which we are super excited to discuss during SEAstream #31 this Wednesday.

Join us live on Instagram, @sea_token as we ask Maria questions about the sea turtles she’s been swimming with all over the world. Travelling to places like the Philippines and Bali to freedive, Maria has lived out her love for the ocean in various marine environments. If you have any questions you’d like us to ask Maria, send them to us on Twitter (@sea_token). You’ll be entered into a chance to win $20 worth of $SEA.