Freedive Baitball Photo Dare

Lindi Eksteen

25/07/2022

Have you ever seen 16 freedivers in one photo each visible and in frame? Well you're in luck because this close-knit community of Freediving Johannesburg made it happen!

On Sunday 24 July 16 freedivers head out to Miracle Waters on a sextuple dare from Janet, founder and instructor of Freediving Johannesburg to dive the chilly winter waters for the freedive baitball photo challenge. This, after 13 freedivers accepted a quadruple dare the weekend before at Bass Lake diving waters at a very chilly 13 degrees Celsius.

We all arrived extra prepared. Those who didn't have hoodies before now had them, and not forgetting gloves either. To our relief the waters were quite a bit warmer than Bass Lake measuring temperatures at a pleasant 17 degrees C.

Janet had new students there who were doing their open water practical for the freediving course that they were attending over that weekend, and all did exceptionally well.

We all suited up and wasted no time to get in the water and submerge as far down as possible. Dirk Botha and Gene van Heerden were diving to the sunken mini-bus with witch I joined in. A few others were diving at the big sunken platforms with Adam Bown. Then we heard the call, "come it's time" !

Underwater photographer Albert Smuts is ready with his gear. There were three buoy lines next to each other for the photo 'bait-ball' attempt. I directed, grouping people into 4 groups counting them in when to dive down, and explaining how and where they should be positioned. As I shouted to the divers to go, I went down on the last count to get my spot. I remember looking over to the whole group to observe the sight and what a splendid view it was! Everybody positioned perfectly, and we got the shot on the first try!

I can only imagine what we will get up to next ..