It is a performance like never before; a team of freediving enthusiasts are exploring the depths of Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo in a coordinated freediving session with several participants pushing their limits in apnea by holding their breath under water for as long as three minutes.
NoTanx™ Freedive Club, a group of freedivers co-founded by freediving experts Marcus Greatwood and Andy Laurie, is showcasing their skills at Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo from May 6 to 8 at 4pm, 6pm, 8pm and 10pm daily.
The half-hour shows will feature eight participants and highlight two key aspects of apnea and freediving. The first is a demonstration that even beginners can take to freediving and develop their skills making the sport potentially accessible for anyone. The team performing at Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo includes a Freediving World Champion, an international stuntman and a piano technician, among others, presenting an eclectic participant profile.
The second is the expert skills inculcated through the NoTanxStyle™ training, described as the ‘complete apnea training system.’ Most of the team members have never dived with sharks before making the performance a novel adventure for them.
Mr Damian Prendergast, General Manager, Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, said: “As part of our commitment to further enhance the visitor experience, Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo has added various initiatives to its portfolio. The NoTanx™ performance is unparalleled in the region as it offers freediving enthusiasts an aquarium environment to display their skills in apnea and freediving. This is their second performance at Dubai Aquarium, following a highly acclaimed debut in 2008.”
NoTanx’s first freediving demonstration at Dubai Aquarium had attracted over 12,000 people over a three-day period. Head of NoTanx Dubai Arnaud Palu said: “The response from the crowd was exceptional and the interaction we established with the audience took us by surprise. For the first time, people could watch freedivers and witness apnea live.”
Freedivers, unlike Scuba divers and snorkelers, spend many hours training to dive for extended periods on just one lungful of air – a state called apnea. “It really is an interactive show,” added Palu. “People will get a chance to ask the divers questions while they are underwater.”
A key leisure attraction at The Dubai Mall, the world’s largest shopping centre, Dubai Aquarium features the world’s largest acrylic viewing panel and a walk-through tunnel. Among the various initiatives at the attraction are the Shark Dive, Cage Experience and Glass-Bottom Boat ride. Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo also features 33,000 aquatic animals.
Underwater Zoo, located on Level 2 above the main aquarium tank, presents the bio-diversity in different ecological zones including Rainforest, Rocky Shore and Living Ocean. Several aquatic animals are featured here including Humbolt Penguins, Caiman Crocodiles, Giant Octopus, Piranhas, Giant Spider Crabs, Water Rats, Giant Catfish, Lion Fish and Dart Frogs.
Other leisure attractions at The Dubai Mall include the Olympic-size Dubai Ice Rink; SEGA Republic, the region’s first SEGA indoor theme park; Reel Cinemas, the 22-screen megaplex; and KidZania®, a unique children’s edutainment concept.
