What does it take to dive more than 70 meters beneath the surface on a single breath?In this episode, we sit down with Salma Shaker, one of Saudi Arabia’s leading freedivers, whose journey has taken her from the crystal-clear waters of the Red Sea to the world’s most prestigious freediving competitions.
Salma shares the mindset required to push the limits of human performance, explaining why freediving is far more about mental strength than physical ability. She opens up about overcoming fear, dealing with grief, building discipline, and the life lessons she’s learned from spending countless hours beneath the surface.
We also explore the remarkable underwater world of the Red Sea, the future of freediving in Saudi Arabia, shark misconceptions, marine conservation, and Salma’s work with Red Sea Global and Coralium to help protect one of the planet’s most extraordinary marine ecosystems.
0:00 Intro
2:46 What a 70-Meter Dive Really Feels Like
4:57 Growing Up on the Red Sea
7:08 How Salma Discovered Freediving
9:11 Friendship, Rivalry & Miriam’s Influence
10:48 Why Freediving Became an Obsession
12:25 The Journey from 20 to 70 Meters
17:07 Training, Breathwork & Mental Preparation
21:51 Managing Fear and Anxiety Underwater
24:44 How the Ocean Changed Her Life
27:35 Knowing Your Limits: Awareness & Self-Control
32:42 The Incident That Changed Everything
38:44 Grief, Family & Finding Perspective
43:05 The Future of Freediving in Saudi Arabia
47:27 What Makes the Red Sea So Special
56:38 Red Sea Global, Coralium & Marine Conservation
1:04:44 IWC Minutes
1:07:21 Shark Encounters & Ocean Myths
1:15:56 The Hardest Part: Going Down or Coming Back Up?
1:22:55 Control, Patience, Courage & Knowing Your Limits
1:24:37 Final Reflections