Melissa receiving the white card for her world record attempt!!
01 May 2021
April 2021 will go down in the history books thanks to Melissa Ponder and Chris Funada. The wunderkinds targeted their sights on setting national United States Freediving (USFF) records as well as CMAS world records, and that’s exactly what they did.
In the crystal clear, chilly yet freshwater cenote of Yum Kin / Leona Vicario, Mexico - organizer Julien Borde collaborated with head of safety Rodrigo Salsas to provide a safe space for the two to achieve their goals. While CMAS has long recognized pool and open water/salt for the primary venues for competitions and records, freshwater records are relatively new to the international underwater federation over the last few years. Along with freshwater, there comes a bit more of a challenge in the effort.
The difference between freshwater and saltwater is “you use less weight in freshwater to reach neutral buoyancy provided that salt water is more dense and heavier, besides the obvious that you have freshness in the mouth and don’t need to rinse the gear” according to Alexey Molchanov, multi world record holder and co-founder of Molchanovs Freediving company.
Along with CMAS, the USFF just started to recognize freshwater records in 2021 at the urging of Chris Funada. “It was an easy decision to add this venue to the records provided that there are many different bodies and conditions of water. You have salt, fresh, warm, cold, clear, murky, low and high altitude with each of them affording varying degrees of challenges on the mind and body” stated Jeremy Stephan, President of the US Freediving Federation.
On behalf of the US Freediving Federation, please consider the following new records being added to the books and history in the sport of freediving - not only on a national but a world level as well.
CMAS WORLD RECORD - 1st world record for US in history of CMAS
VARIABLE WEIGHT WITH FIN - 70 METERS, FRESHWATER, April 14th 2021, Yum Kin Cenote
USFF NATIONAL RECORD
CONSTANT WEIGHT NO FINS - 38 METERS, FRESHWATER, April 12th 2021, Yum Kin Cenote
USFF NATIONAL RECORD
VARIABLE WEIGHT NO FINS - 75 METERS, FRESHWATER, April 14th 2021, Yum Kin Cenote
USFF NATIONAL RECORD
CONSTANT WEIGHT WITH FIN - 60 METERS, FRESHWATER, April 12th 2021, Yum Kin Cenote
What makes this world record by Melissa Ponder so special is that this is the 1st world record held by an American in the history of CMAS. With the launch of the US Freediving Federation in 2018, the momentum in the United States around freediving has been growing. “We are very proud of Melissa and congratulate her on the effort. It is a day for the history books and a well deserved record” stated Jeremy Stephan.
“I came up from my dive all smiles and completed the surface protocol within seconds, but waiting to see that official white card from the judges was the longest 30 seconds of my life; I think I held my breath all over again. Once the white card was raised in the air, I was met with the most satisfying feeling. It meant that all of the time spent training was now validated into something empirical—a world record—and it feels very rewarding to have my hard work pay off in such a ratified way. I still can’t believe that I achieved this world record. It is an honor and I am humbled” stated Melissa Ponder when asked about her attempt.
Melissa descending into the depths of Yum Kin Cenote on the Vogel Dive Research Sled!
With the growth in the USA, watch out for Melissa and Chris as they work to put their mark on the freediving community. Additionally, the USFF will be holding its 2nd Hawaii Cup of Freediving in Kona, Hawaii on October 22 - 24th. Pack your bags and come to the Big Island with much Aloha and dolphins frolicking in the surf.
JOIN US IN CONGRATULATING BOTH MELISSA AND CHRIS ON JOBS WELL DONE!!!
Melissa, Chris and the safety team celebrating the historical records event!!
About the Cenote Yum Kin
A cenote is a freshwater source located in the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico.
Cenotes are the surface openings of the enormous underground freshwater systems found in the region. Cenotes range in depth and structure depending upon their location and manner in which they were formed. Cenote Yum Kin is located inland from the caribbean coast in the township of Leona Vicario. Approximately 1.5 hrs drive from both Cancun and Playa Del Carmen. Cenote Yum Kin has a maximum depth of 85m. Due to the easy access to a deep diving location cenote Yum Kin is a popular freedive training site for many schools and individuals located in the region.