Freediving has reached new depths in the Maldives archipelago.

The NEYVAA 2 event held on October 1st has officially broken the Guinness world record for the highest number of people performing static apnea simultaneously. The event was held at the Villa Resorts Maldives properties in addition to other resorts across the Maldives to commemorate the Golden Year of the Maldives tourism industry. The participants held their breath underwater for a record breaking two minutes, with a total of 460 people taking part in the first of its kind event. Static apnea is a freediving discipline in which a person holds their breath underwater for as long as possible while floating on the surface of the water.

Freedive Maldives in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism aimed to raise awareness of the impact of climate change by conducting a freediving world record event while promoting the Maldives as a prevalent destination for the adventurous sport. NEYVAA, which translates to breath in the local Dhivehi language, consequently embodies a new breath towards raising awareness on the importance of preserving the Maldives environment and supporting environmental sustainability. Moreover, the official poster for the event depicted the vital importance of advocating for the fragile environment for future generations.

The president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih attended the Gala dinner on 31st October to officially present the Guinness World Record award. Following months of preparation and training by Freedive Maldives and also diveOceanus at the Villa Resorts properties leading up to the big day, it was a memorable moment for all who have been involved in the record breaking event, when the Guinness World Record award was presented.

Following the successful event, Villa Resorts have now introduced Freediving lessons at all of the Maldives resorts. Guests can discover one of the most immersive ways to experience the underwater world, guided by an experienced team of freediving instructors.