:a temporary suspension of breathing.

André Musgrove - Free Diver of Spearahamas

I had the privilege of capturing a bahamian free diver and spear fisher, André Musgrove this past week. It was such a great experience to have photographed his connection with the ocean. We visited a very famous site here on the island called Nari Nari where the cessna from Jaws4 The Revenge was sunk. Along with the islands very own statue park just off of Clifton Heritage Nature Reserve.

It takes great discipline to free dive, as the human body is submerged the heart slows down to 25 percent to allow the body to hold a longer breath. Being at the bottom, and looking up to see the rays of light trying to break through the water. It is truly a breath taking experience!

A Free diver must trust their body to survive under the water. Once the need for oxygen takes hold, they must rise to the surface, arms out wide, as the air in their lungs lifts them towards the surface. To me, it was almost like photographing grace and precision quite different from photographing scuba divers.

“I Freedive so that I don’t have to be held back by the gear worn in scuba diving, its the closest thing that comes to flying. In free diving you have to know your limitations and whether or not to stay within them or to exceed them.”

The location was a perfect fit seeing that he sees it as a form of flying. The cessna plane wreck has been sunk for over 28 years. Used in 1987 for the movie Jaws 4 The revenge, this airplane was a small Cessna 310 that was originally used as a prop in the movie.

Also visited Virtuoso Man from the artist himself Willicey Tynes, Bahamian Sculpture Artist. Face to Face with the other man of the sea, André seemed to be very relaxed in the underwater world.

“Most people panic at the thought of holding their breath for seconds without oxygen, but I think it is extremely fascinating. It has became my lifestyle however, it is also a form of relaxation and a relaxed body consumes much less oxygen than a tense body.”

Working with André was a lot of fun for me. Even more so, shooting him free diving at the movie set of Jaws 4 The Revenge. I look forward to more adventures with his free diving and spear fishing team.

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