We were lucky enough to meet Eva André, a young French freediver of international level whose background and beauty compete with the incredible images she posts on her Instagram. I don’t know about you, but diving to a depth of 77 meters without breathing fascinates us! So we had some questions to ask Eva!
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Cannelle, Kitiwaké :
Hello Eva, thank you very much for taking part in this interview. We can only be bluffed by your courage, by your mastery and by these sublime images… So tell us, what made you start freediving and made you want to progress in this discipline to the point of reaching a world level?
Eva André, apnéiste :
I discovered freediving in 2017. I was doing my level 2 scuba diving in a club that trained very good freedivers. I tried it, I loved it. Very quickly, I found it easy to descend. This coupled with very good sensations, it’s the perfect cocktail to want to go deeper and deeper.
Cannelle, Kitiwaké :
Just so we understand. What are the motivations and skills that one must develop to practice freediving at a good level?
Eva André, apnéiste :
In freediving, there are many factors to work on to progress. There is the physical (adaptation to the pressure, breathing, compensation of the ears…) and especially the mental. The physical aspect can be worked on in a classical way, sport, stretching, which allows to keep a good condition. For the mental part, I think it’s a matter of feeding it with good dives and good sensations under water to give it the desire, the hunger to go back!
Cannelle, Kitiwaké :
7th at the world championship in the CWT single fin category with a dive at 77 meters and 3rd in France in 2021, why did you choose this discipline in particular?
Eva André, apnéiste :
I find the undulating movement very poetic, it is what attracts the eye and is in my opinion the most beautiful discipline. Then the feeling of sliding and speed is really pleasant. I hope to have enough energy to work on another discipline next summer, although I think this one will remain my favorite!
Cannelle, Kitiwaké :
It took you only 4 years to become 7th in the world, would you say that youth is an asset to progress from a physical and mental point of view?
Eva André, apnéiste :
Freediving is a very special sport. You can go very deep, very fast without much experience. It is not uncommon to see underdogs on the podium of very prestigious championships. It is also a sport where athletes are much older than in other disciplines and have much longer careers! I don’t think that youth is particularly an asset, it just allows more time to build up depth of experience.
Cannelle, Kitiwaké :
These results underwater are the result of your ability to master and push the limits of your body and mind. What is your preparation on land? Do you practice meditation? What kind of physical training and soft practices do you follow?
Eva André, apnéiste :
In winter, when I’m not diving, I vary the activities to stay in shape while enjoying myself, walking in the mountains, gym, skiing, swimming, stretching… The goal is to have a good physical condition without getting too tired to start the diving season in good shape. In summer, the physical part decreases and leaves more room for mental preparation and the softening of the rib cage. I do a lot of visualization which allows the brain to repeat dives without really having experienced them. It is a very effective tool but I still think I lack mastery. I should really start meditating to improve my concentration!
Cannelle, Kitiwaké :
As with yoga and other soft practices, freediving is based on a great control of the breath (and not its absence), and on the optimal use of its energy. Are there similarities between diving and land-based practices, or does the marine environment make things totally different? Do land-based practices allow one to go even further underwater and why?
Eva André, apnéiste :
Any technique that allows you to become aware of your breathing is good to take. I’m trying some square breathing or cardiac coherence exercises but the truth is that most freedivers are far from being experts in the science of breathing. It tends to evolve, but we still have a lot to learn I think. For most of us, the breath is primarily a tool to reduce our heart rate.
Cannelle, Kitiwaké :
The competition period will start again. What are your goals for 2022?
Eva André, apnéiste :
I would like to have as much fun underwater as last year, to be less stressed by the competition and the performance. In terms of numbers, it seems reasonable to me to hope to pass the 80 meters mark. But the most important thing for me is to be better than last year even if it doesn’t necessarily mean increasing my depth!
Cannelle, Kitiwaké :
You discovered Kitiwaké with the Nuna and Eka lines in recycled polyamide, what did you think of them? And what do you think about the ethical choices of the brand ?
Eva André, apnéiste :
I really loved it. I’m quite a flirt and I must admit that it’s an additional argument to push me to do sports! On top of that, the pieces are very comfortable and are totally adapted for the stretching I do. It’s even more pleasant that they are made in Europe and from recycled materials. I know that these are pieces that I will keep for a long time and that won’t go to the fast fashion’s garbage heap.
Cannelle, Kitiwaké :
Speaking of recycled polyamide, what is your point of view and experience on the invasion of plastics in the oceans? Is the deep-sea diving competition community sensitive to these issues and what are their possible actions?
Eva André, apnéiste :
Where I dive, we are rather spared from plastic, even if ghost nets remain our terror. We are all aware of the environmental issues and we are all lovers of the marine world. We are lucky, our sport is very visual and gives us the opportunity, through beautiful images, to talk about these issues. Nevertheless, our impact on an individual scale remains very limited. A strong political commitment is needed, to stop the production of single-use plastic, but also to encourage sustainable recycling initiatives, as Kitiwaké does so well.
Cannelle, Kitiwaké :
Thank you Eva for getting us into the deep end. And a big M for the upcoming competitions!
