The undertaking was joined by Vitomir Maričić, a fellow free diver, setting together a new record in tandem free diving under the ice by passing 50 metres
When she sets her mind to something, she does it, although being constantly called to her senses. But Split native Lidija Lijić Vulić did not give up, diving under the ice this Friday in the Austrian lake Weissensee and setting a new record in free diving, Jutarnji List reported on March 5, 2017.
All this for the Guinness Book of World Records which will record an incredible 123 metres instead of the previous 120 metres in the category of free diving under ice of 30 centimetres of thickness. Diving into the darkness at +2 Celsius water while it is -2 Celsius outside, may seem incredible. For Lidija it was like saying “hello.”
“It was great, a truly good feeling, and I had some sun during the dive, so it wasn’t totally dark or as cold as I thought it would be. Besides, I was warmed by 5 millimetres of neoprene… The ambience is wonderful down there.”
“It’s hard to explain such a dive to people, but I must say it wasn’t hazardous at all due to the great attention to my safety of the entire Nemo Adria Rescue Team. My dive was accompanied by two divers with underwater scooters, and every 30 metres there was a hole in the ice, just in case.”
“The risk was truly reduced to a minimum, just so all who tried to talk me out of this should know,” says Lidija laughing after her arrival to Split. She adds she is somewhat tired, but thrilled with the interest of the public for this feat and free diving is again in the centre of attention.
The ice lake dive was part of the project “Arctic Breath,” announced for the 1st but delayed due to snowfall. The project was envisioned to surpass several existing Guinness records in free diving under ice at the familiar location of Weissensee in Austria, but also to set a new record.
Together with Lidija, the undertaking was joined by Vitomir Maričić, a fellow free diver who attempted to break the male record in the same category of 153 metres, but failed. But, together they set a new record in tandem free diving under the ice by passing 50 metres.
“This is something completely new. We dive together and follow a rope to pass as much horizontal distance under the ice. It was interesting,” said Lidija who prepared for the Austrian frozen lake for six months.
“We practiced under the ice at Jarun lake in Zagreb and for the Austrian lake we prepared the day before, on location. Physically the undertaking wasn’t demanding as much as it was psychologically, as we wondered how we would face the low degree temperatures, darkness and claustrophobia, but the sun came out and shone light on my path,” says the versatile woman, holder of multiple world records in free diving, free diving instructor, architect, mountaineer and pilot.
“I need some sleep now and then we’ll see. In June there is the European Championship in Italy, so I have to train. I can’t wait for the summer as I love our sea and its blue colour!”
