QUESTIONS & ANSWERS WITH PETAR KLOVAR, WORLD CHAMPION IN FREEDIVING 2022
HELLO PETAR. FIRST OF ALL, OUR HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS FROM ALL AT TITONI FOR BECOMING WORLD CHAMPION IN FREEDIVING. CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE FEELING AFTER YOU REALIZED YOU HAD DEFEATED THE PREVIOUS WORLD RECORD BY 5 METERS?
After I finished my dive, the first feeling that overwhelmed me was relief. All the hard work through the year finally paid off and the fact that it was 5 m deeper than the old record in that discipline and deepest competition dive ever, made it even better.
WHAT DOES TIME MEAN TO YOU WHEN YOU ARE UNDERWATER?
Time underwater can be tricky to explain. For me the focus is completely on the moment, the current position in water, the technique and many other little adjustments. I feel the movement of time, but just as byproduct of all small things I'm trying to perfectly execute in a dive. Time awareness is a subconscious necessity which becomes more important as you go deeper, because exposure to nitrogen and narcosis from this warps time a lot, many divers slow down a lot and fail their dives because of this. Rhythm of the body and dive plan must be timed before and practiced to perfection, because in the end, especially with deep dives like this, every second can be the most important one.
HAVE YOU NEVER EXPERIENCED FEAR DURING YOUR DIVES, AND IF SO, HOW DID YOU DEAL WITH IT?
I have experienced fear during dives and that fear is usually closely connected with depth narcosis. Most common thing is doubting my own possibilities, feeling stressed and panicked.
Sometimes even questions like who I am and why I'm doing this have come to my mind in the hardest dives.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT QUALITY FOR A FREEDIVER?
The most important quality in freediving for me is persistence. The mental component in freediving is the most significant and the ability to push yourself to the limit is what makes a difference.
DO YOU HAVE ANY UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES UNDERWATER THAT YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH US?
The most memorable moment is my first 100m-dive. Not even one dive after or before that could be compared to it. After that I knew there is only one career path for me and that is freediving.
WHAT DOES THE SEA AND NATURE MEAN TO YOU IN GENERAL?
Nature, especially the sea, means a lot to me. I couldn't imagine myself not living close to the sea. From when I was a kid, I would spend whole summers in the sea and the rest of the year in the pool. Water is a big part of me and my childhood.
“YOU DIDN’T COME INTO THIS WORLD. YOU CAME OUT OF IT, LIKE A WAVE FROM THE OCEAN. YOU ARE NOT A STRANGER HERE.” YOU ONCE WROTE THESE LINES ON YOUR BLOG. WOULD YOU LIKE TO EXPLAIN THESE THOUGHTS TO US?
In that post I quoted [the British philosopher] Alan Watts. I like to listen to him and get a different perspective. For me this quote perfectly describes the connection between freediving and life. Immersion in the sea is the same as immersion in life.
I SOMEHOW HAVE THE FEELING THAT YOU ARE ON THE ONE HAND A PROFESSIONAL DIVER, BUT ON THE OTHER, YOU ALSO THINK A LOT ABOUT LIFE IN GENERAL. AM I ASSUMING RIGHT? AND WHAT IS YOUR LIFE PHILOSOPHY?
I love to think that I know something about life, but then often realize I don't have the slightest clue. So, the answer would be, yes. Life philosophy - do not worry too much, either way, it's going to pass.
