Belgian photographer and Austrian freediver set new record for deepest underwater shoot

Going from Special Forces operator to underwater model photographer, is an unusual, if not, unique career path. Filip Blommaert, however, strives continuously to push boundaries by merging the extreme with the artistic. “Seeking out new challenges is the story of my life”, he says. 

The military diver explains that the idea of breaking the record was born during a recent trip to the Philippines, where he was taking photos with Alessia Zecchini, an Italian freediver who holds the freediving world record for women at 123 metres.

Christin Gerstorfer, whose personal freediving record lies at 65 metres, was also present during the trip and brought up her desire to break a world record. Blommaert said he previously toyed with the idea as well, whether it was the deepest underwater shoot or the coldest under ice, he says he wanted to achieve something extreme.

“Christin and I clicked fairly quickly”, he adds, “we spoke the same language.” 

The photoshoot themed ‘Wings in the Deep’ took place in the city of Warsaw in Poland at Deepspot, Europe’s deepest diving centre. The theme was inspired by the centre’s 45-metre-deep cylindrical shaft that resembles a wind tunnel.

Blommaert describes descending to the bottom of the pool like jumping out of a plane, “you fly to the bottom, you float to the bottom. It’s like a free-fall”. 

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