X-Force:

Diving

Revieuwed by Rik Rösken

The reviewed episode is part of the "X-Force" series on National Geographic Channel. The episode, titled "Diving", was seen on 30 December 2003. Recently the documentary is also for sale as: X-force Extreme Adventures, The science of Diving"

The documentary of about 50 minutes tells the tale of three technical divers who visit the wreck "Niagara", nicknamed the Titanic of the Pacific. The wreck lies at a depth of 120 meters at the "Poor Knights Islands" near New Zealand. During the preparations, they are asked assistance by Tanja Streeter, a freediver who need their skills to be her safety for her training goal of 100 meters. Quite different from the technical divers with all their equipment, she tries to get to this depth on one single breath of air in the discipline "No-Limits".

Knowledge about the personal development of Tanya Streeter and the development of free diving in general leaves the more experienced audience with something to wonder about. A couple of comments of the technical divers and Tanja suffering from an spectaculair ascent black-out due to mechanical problems doesn't make things easier.

Although this documentary shall catch the attention of the audience about the existence of freediving at an sensational way, it is the question if this is the way how the freedivers would like to be the sport remembered. Not quite the documentary you are waiting for. Also the scientific pre-amble used in the title of the documentary raises eyebrows.

The DVD, sold in the Netherlands by bol.com contains the 50 minute documentary and has options on subtitles and sound.