The Apoyo Crater Challenge Begins: Depth, Fire, and Freediving

Written by Samuel Harrison

Photography by Dan Quinn

Something is happening in the heart of Nicaragua—inside a crater born from fire, now filled with peace.

Laguna de Apoyo, the site of ancient, cataclysmic volcanic violence, has become a sanctuary for some of the deepest, calmest freedivers on Earth.

The Apoyo Crater Challenge, hosted by Freediving Nicaragua, offers athletes prime conditions: warm water, no thermocline, no current, and excellent visibility—everything needed to take their diving to the next level. This weeklong freediving event blends a sport some consider extreme with the same stillness found in meditation.

For the past several weeks, athletes have been descending upon Laguna de Apoyo, a lake over 5 km wide and 150 m deep, to train and prepare. Some are here to compete in the four main disciplines of depth freediving. Others are chasing national records. Still more are here to bolster the freediving community, serving as safeties, students, judges, medics, photographers, operators, supporters, cheerleaders, and organizers.

Montserrat Peart ascends from depth with school-owner Thomas Dedes as safety.

I was drawn to the event by my love for the sport, the opportunity to learn, and the challenge of joining the safety team and participating myself. Opportunities abound in this tight-knit community of dedicated athletes and enthusiasts. I’m diving deep into new disciplines, freediving nutrition, performance mindset—and a diverse and inspiring community.

As an observer and participant in this event, here’s what I hope to share with you throughout the week (as long as my energy holds high):

• Behind-the-scenes stories from top athletes around the world

• Breakdowns of the disciplines and the unique Apoyo Crater Challenge point system—where men and women compete in the same category

• Mindset and nutrition tips from the pros

• Highlights from the platform

• Live coverage as the event unfolds

  
  

Freediving, by its very nature, is full of strange paradoxes—a physical sport and a mental journey. The contrast between peaceful stillness and physical effort is on full display here.

Matt Perez breathes up before his dive.

The platform bobs in the center of the lake. A diver prepares to descend, mentally relaxing their body and mind. All the while, we sit in the middle of a crater—an explosive reminder of a violent past—its jungle-coated, mountainous rim encircling us like a crown.

This challenge is just one branch of a larger movement—the community, the training, the locations, and the evolution that freediving is undergoing around the world.

I’m honored to be part of it. And I invite you to follow along as we descend into one of the world’s most dramatic lakes, meet the athletes who have sharpened both body and mind, and explore the unknown together—mind, body, and water.

See you soon!

You can Follow Dan Quinn on Instagram @e.the.real.world