No-limits apnea is an AIDA International freediving discipline in which the freediver descends and ascends with the method of his or her choice. Often, a heavy metal bar or "sled" grasped by the diver descends fixed to a line, reaching great depths. The most common ascension assistance is via inflatable lifting bags or vests with inflatable compartments, which surface rapidly. The dives may be performed head-first or feet-first.
Contents
This form of diving is considered extremely dangerous by diving professionals; the various organizations that organize and promote breath-hold activities have not officially recognized no limits apnea, given that they’re not willing to deal with the consequent dangers. No-limits apnea has claimed the lives of several divers.
Challenges
The three main differences between free diving disciplines that involve diving to depth and those that occur at the surface are that you can not interrupt the dive, there are periods where work is performed and the diver is impacted by direct effects of pressure.
Records
The current no-limits world record holder is Herbert Nitsch with a depth of 253.2 m set on June 06, 2012, in Santorini, Greece.