Marco Puliafito is from Sicily, Italy. He left an 18 year career at Pfizer pharmaceutical company to open Italy's first dedicated freediving training centre, Blue World Freediving.

In this episode we discuss:

Shout out to our interpreter Tony Scafidi
It was Donny’s first time in Sicily and first time in Italy.
Marco is from Catania, Sicily.
He started freediving as a child, following in the footsteps of his father who was a strong spearfisherman.
Spearfishing is a huge part of the culture in Sicily.
Marco became a freediving instructor in 2012.
Before that he worked for the Pfizer pharmaceutical company for around 18 years.
Blue World Freediving’s first location is at Santa Tecla Palace Hotel.
Blue World Freediving has a second location at Santa Maria La Scala.
Diving from the shore vs diving from the shore.
The boat is set up with sonar, counter ballast, etc.
Sicily’s water conditions, thermocline, visibility, etc.
What facilities and courses do Blue World Freediving offer?
Shout out to Nutso!
Blue World offer Molchanovs, AIDA, SSI and Apnea Academy courses.
They have seven freediving instructors on the team.
What is the future of Blue World Freediving? Competitions?
What are the main attractions of the island of Sicily?
Marco has never seen Le Grand Bleu!
DESERT ISLAND QUESTIONS - Patreon exclusive content.
Why does Marco freedive?

Donny is hosting the first ever Living Freediving Retreat in Dahab, Egypt from October 5 - 11.

For all episodes of the Freedive Cafe Podcast, visit www.freedivecafe.com

For freediving courses and training in Dahab, Egypt, visit www.freediveandthrive.com

To support on Patreon: www.patreon.com/freedivecafe

Jeroen is from Belgium. He is a passionate health-care provider working as an intensive care unit nurse, with a love for technical innovation, teaching and diving, and a former business owner in composites resins 3D-shaping for the nautical and entertainment industry.

Jeroen is perhaps best known to us in the freediving community in his role as freediving medic in some of the biggest freediving competitions in the world.
Today’s discussion is a wide-ranging and thorough exploration of freediving medical safety.

In this episode we discuss:

Jeroen is a freediver, intensive care unit nurse and freediving medic.
He also organises safety in a water stage movie studio in Brussels, working with some famous actors.
Prospecting the dive location.
Dealing with therapeutic use exemptions of drugs that could be detected on a doping test.
Rescue protocols for certain incidents.
The use of the pulse oximeter to detect problems in the diver.
Following up with athletes and incident reporting.
Doing scientific research, gathering information during competition periods.
Specific rescue protocols for black outs and squeezes / barotraumas, etc.
Most divers do not respond to the ‘Blow Tap Talk’ protocol after an underwater black out.
Training the other members of the freediving safety team.
The authority to stop the competition.
What is DCI (Decompression Illness)
Decompression sickness and arterial gas embolism (AGE). What is the difference?
How are these conditions treated?
The hot topic of in-water recompression as treatment.
There are no guaranteed safe decompression tables.
The use of breathing oxygen in-water after deep dives as a preventative measure to prevent DCI and as general recovery.
Shout out to the Patreon supporters and thanks for contributing your questions.
An example of the individual nature of symptoms DCI cases.
Some examples of difficult decisions being made: Hanako Hirose, Petar Klovar
What is oedema?
The responsibilities of the freediving governing bodies to do better for the safety of the athletes.
What is a PFO (patent foramen ovale)?
Questions from Patreon supporters Tom, and Racso and Sean.
Should you ever dive alone?
Why does he freedive?

Donny is hosting the first ever Living Freediving Retreat in Dahab, Egypt from October 5 - 11.

For all episodes of the Freedive Cafe Podcast, visit www.freedivecafe.com

For freediving courses and training in Dahab, Egypt, visit www.freediveandthrive.com

To support on Patreon: www.patreon.com/freedivecafe

Tea Košnjek is a kinesiologist and a strength & conditioning coach working with Olympic-level swimmers and freedivers around the world.

From pool to depth disciplines, she helps athletes optimise their performance by focusing on strength, movement efficiency, and mastering technique.

Between 2018 and 2024, she was the technique and S&C coach for freediver Alenka Artnik, a multiple world champion and world record holder.

Tea continues to support a wide range of freedivers globally—both pool and depth—in unlocking their full potential through strength and technique training.

In this episode we discuss:

Tea is from Slovenia, and has a background in competitive swimming.
She studied kinesiology and started coaching strength and conditioning.
Tea was inspired to look further into freediving when she saw the dives on Diveye.
Tea collaborated with Alenka Artnik (episodes #57 and #154) for many years.
What does ‘training’ mean, actually?
What are the most unique aspects of training for freediving, compared to other sports?
What is periodisation and how to do it.
What can we do during the base training phase?
How gender differences influence training decisions.
About how periods affect hormones and therefore training.
Showing up for training, perceived exertion, mental condition and how it affects motivation.
Deloading before the competition or event.
Specific attention to each freediving discipline:

(See the video version of the podcast on the True Depth Freediving YouTube channel for videos of exercises)

FIM (Free Immersion)
CWTB (Bifins)
CWT (Monofin)
CNF (No Fins)

Comparing the depth disciplines to the pool versions.
Tracking training and progress and what to track.
How to recover from training.
Supplementation (protein, creatine, omega 3, vitamin D)
Sauna, cold plunges, foam rollers, etc.
Advice for coaches on how to motivate and encourage our athletes/coachees.
Tea’s services and Instagram.
DESERT ISLAND QUESTIONS - Patreon Exclusive Section
Why does she freedive?

Donny is hosting the first ever Living Freediving Retreat in Dahab, Egypt from October 5 - 11.

For all episodes of the Freedive Cafe Podcast, visit www.freedivecafe.com

For freediving courses and training in Dahab, Egypt, visit www.freediveandthrive.com

To support on Patreon: www.patreon.com/freedivecafe