Herbert Nitsch
Herbert Nitsch has been ranked the leading free diver for the last 8 years, establishing 25 free diving World Records. He has the most World Records ever held by a free diver and has won almost all the competitions. He became World Champ ion in November 2007, winning the competition by a clear head. He has held his breath over 9 minutes and holds depth records, descend ing to 120 meters self-propelled and 214 meters (700 feet) with a sled.
Herbert was born April 20, 1970 in Vienna, Austria. In high school he elected to attend the American International School in Vienna rather than the more universally attended Austrian Theresianum. He graduated with the Austrian Matura and the American Diploma. Upon graduation, he fulfilled his mandatory Austrian Army tenure. While in the Army, he started his flying career and shortly after leaving the Army began working for the General Aviation Center at the Vienna International Airport. It was here that he gained his first flight experience, flying sight-seeing and business jet charters. In 1995, he began flying for Tyrolean Airways which became an air wing of Austrian Airlines.
Working full time as a Captain, there is not much time left for his passion in free diving, so he has had to invent some rather unusu al training routines. In 2005, he received a part-time contract with the airline, giving him the opportunity to find out more about the miracle of our body, and he is now sharing his findings of mind and body control in different forums.
