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Alchemy freediver Enchante Gallardo is currently in the Bahamas, waiting to compete at Vertical Blue. Since this is her first time out there, we caught up with her and asked her to describe her daily life leading up to the competition. Here's an exclusive sneak peek at the world's biggest freediving competition.
"I arrived in Long Island, Bahamas on June 20 to allow for several weeks of training before the competition. I had spent a few weeks in Florida teaching and assisting freediving courses before coming here. When I had free days there, the conditions were not ideal so it didn’t allow much time for personal training in the water, therefore I haven’t had much time to train depth before coming here.
I have never been to Long Island before. This is my first time competing in Vertical Blue and my first time on the island. I have been looking forward to coming to this beautiful island to dive. I have many friends who have either competed or trained here, so I have heard a lot of great things and seen many beautiful photos which only heightened my excitement. I feel very fortunate to be here competing alongside so many great freedivers which have been very inspiring and have truly increased my motivation to train here and more so even after this competition".
"I have to say I am rather enjoying the lifestyle here currently. The scene is very laid back as one might expect in the Bahamas. Long Island is an island split by the Tropic of Cancer and known as one of the most scenic islands in the Bahamas. There are many long beautiful beaches with fine white sand that are not overcrowded with people. You can find many picturesque views without a person in sight. There are a few shops and restaurants where you can find your amenities and groceries and even enjoy a meal out. There are places to spearfish as well if you are keen to catch your own food. I am enjoying the easy-going lifestyle and having the time to focus on training and competition since my home life back in Hawaii doesn’t usually allow me this much time to focus on my own personal training".
"The first day I arrived at the Blue Hole I was ready to get in the water and start training. I am staying within walking distance of the blue hole which is nice. I walked down to the Blue Hole with my new housemate Bianca. It was the day after I arrived on the island and there were already a bunch of other athletes who had been here training. The diving area was a little smaller than what I had expected but beautiful nonetheless. I was excited to dive in the infamous Dean’s Blue Hole. A warm place with no current or waves that take 15 seconds to swim to the platform with 202m of depth, what more could a freediver ask for.
Training in the blue hole is nice compared to training in Hawaii. It is nice to have easy access to depth. In Hawaii, Oahu specifically, it’s necessary to take a boat out to get significant depth, and then you are subject to wind, waves and current. The Blue Hole is protected so it nice not to have to worry about all of those factors. It might take some readjusting when I return home after the competition. I did run into some challenges with the thermocline the first week I was here training because this is something that I wasn’t used to. It definitely took a little time to adjust and I would recommend some time to adjust to diving here. Some people also need time to adjust to the darkness. I am currently not using a light, but haven’t run into issues with the darkness. I am using the hectometers so I can see the line the whole way down. I have heard the darkness can contribute to narcosis people experience.
I haven’t had much time to spend on depth training since 2019, however, I did have the opportunity to spend a few weeks in Dominica in January to help kick off some training. I try to get out on a line in Oahu with friends when time permits, but I also try to stay in physical shape through cross-training and dry training. I include resistance training and running several times a week. I also include diaphragm stretching and packing stretches. I have not had a coach, but I appreciate advice from other athletes around who have been more than generous with sharing information and experiences.
Here I have mostly been focusing on depth progression, training about two to three days on and one day off. I try to maintain fitness throughout training without exhausting myself through light jogging and other light workouts when I know I will have a rest day the next day. Adequate rest and recovery are pertinent as to not burn out before or during the competition".
"My daily diving routine usually consists of me waking up, doing some light yoga and stretching, meditation, and visualization for the dive I want to do that day. Then I pack up and head to the blue hole. If I dive late in the afternoon I may eat something light, like oatmeal a few hours before and make sure to stay hydrated always. After diving, I will usually come back, wash gear, eat something, and rest and fill in my dive log. It’s nice to be able to have lunch or dinner with other divers who are around as well. On the off days or some days in the afternoon after diving, I enjoy exploring the island a bit, checking out the beaches or other sites.
For those who would like to compete in VB, I would recommend coming early to give themselves adequate time to adjust to diving in the blue hole. I would also advise bringing some food like healthy snacks, supplements, and amenities like things to repair gear as resources on the island are somewhat limited. This year I want to see how far I can progress during the competition. I would like to at least beat my own record and also enjoy the opportunity I have to dive here. I am excited to see what transpires throughout the competition. I wish the best to all the athletes in the competition"!