Thanks to the excellent organisation by hosts from Pakoštane - Dino Maksan and diving clubs Geronimo - Zagreb and 2Dive – Zadar, the first diving competition by the name of Pakoštane Deep Challenge 2012 was held in practically ideal circumstances...

Thanks to the excellent organisation by hosts from Pakoštane - Dino Maksan and diving clubs Geronimo - Zagreb and 2Dive – Zadar, the first diving competition by the name of Pakoštane Deep Challenge 2012 was held in practically ideal circumstances. This event is, in fact, the Croatian Open Championship in Freediving held in three deep diving disciplines. The competitors’ excellent results were delightful as they proved that the first kittens aren’t thrown in the water, as a proverb from this part of the world says! Vedrana Vidović’s 52 metres are a vivid testament of that fact, and so are Božidar Petani’s 73 metres in the Constant Weight category, that is, a dive following a guide line rope and using fins.

- We have successfully accomplished all the things we have announced – said the new National Champion Vedrana, the member of the Split Sport Anglers Club, obviously happy about yet another gold medal around her neck. This is the 36 year old apnea diver’s third title any she likes to emphasise how her plan is to professionally compete until she turns 55 and engage in recreational diving from then on.

- This has been the easiest 52 metres of my life. I have finally perfected the compensation - she comments on the National Championship title, adding that her old dream will once again not come true. That dream is going to the Freediving World Championship held this September in Nice.

- I cannot go on account of my work and I was so looking forward to competing with the world elite. However, I’m sure our colours will be marvellously defended by our three musketeers: Veljano Zanki, Goran Čolak and Božidar Petani – says Vedrana.

The last mentioned confirmed his status in the national team with his dive in Pakoštane, also winning the National Championship medal. His 73 metres are a marvellous result and a proof of excellent fitness.

- Titles have been won and awards in the form of diving equipment suitable for this lovely sport distributed! With regard to numbers, nine apnea divers performed and they dived in depths near the Island of Gangarol, under the patronage of the International Association for Development of Apnea (AIDA = Association Internationale pour le Développement de l’Apnée) and its Croatian branch AIDA-hr. The competition was held in three disciplines: CWT, CNF and FIM in female and male categories – we were told officially by Dino Maksan, who particularly pointed out to the youngest diver, Roko Gracin, an 18 year old member of Geronimo.

The people of Pakoštane also got involved in the contest organisation so a system for descending to depths aided by a rope was installed without major problems.

- Calm sea added to the overall excellent atmosphere so all dives were performed while there were no currents – wraps up Dino, whose thoughts are already focused on organising another Deep Challenge after the competition’s very successful first edition.