As mentioned in previous blogs, the weather is very much the fourth protagonist (or antagonist) in this project. And for each production, we’ve needed it to show up in very different ways; for sailing, we needed wind, for skiing we needed (good!) snow, and for freediving, we needed good visibility.
3
mins read
Day 0 underwater: freediving in Cape Town
published
December 20, 2022
location
SOUTH AFRICA
discipline
Freediving
Day 0 underwater: freediving in Cape Town
Day 0 underwater: freediving in Cape Town
published
December 20, 2022
location
SOUTH AFRICA
discipline
Freediving
3
mins read
“Don’t let the sharks (nor orcas) fool you – Cape Town has a beauty that rivals anywhere in the world.”
Many things must align to get near-perfect conditions, and for freediving, in Cape Town we needed a solid weather window with minimal wind stirring up the waves and the ocean’s floor. Being so far south, the southern peninsula and the Cape of Good Hope is relentlessly battered by massive Southern Ocean lows. The odds of minimal wind for a few days in winter are stacked against you. Nonetheless, the momentum (and luck) of Ocean Hour Film continued and we were blessed with three consecutive days of great visibility before a massive southwesterly took the cape and shook the waters.
day 0 freedive carousel 1 2
day 0 freedive carousel 1 1
With frigid waters, oceanic predators, and variable conditions, you’re probably wondering why we chose Cape Town as a filming location – surely Tahiti or the Bahamas would be easier than the Deep South. Well, don’t let the sharks (nor orcas) fool you – Cape Town has a beauty that rivals anywhere in the world. With rich biodiversity, playful seals, curious fish, and a long history with The Ocean Race, it made choosing this location a no-brainer.
day 0 freedive carousel 2
The recce for this shoot was rather different than the others because the entire production was under the sea's surface. Fortunately, we had the underwater camera team on this shoot making sure we were efficient with our limited time. Steve Benjamin is not only an expert underwater filmmaker, but he’s also a local guru with better knowledge of the ocean than Cape Town’s streets. Steve began recce for the project as soon as director Dean Leslie briefed him; his hope was to bring the team to some unique spots that would allow us to explore Cape Town’s beautiful waters and check off most of the shot list.
Drag
Monitoring wind and swell, Steve decided to take the production team to two different locations: Hout Bay and Duiker Island along the Atlantic’s seaboard, and Castle Rock in False Bay on Cape Town’s western shores. The call was made to start in the Hout Bay area because it was blowing relentlessly in False Bay, a mere 10 miles away. After two days on the raw Atlantic coastline, we switched over to the bay where the waters had calmed down.
As mentioned in previous blogs, the weather is very much the fourth protagonist (or antagonist) in this project. And for each production, we’ve needed it to show up in very different ways; for sailing, we needed wind, for skiing we needed (good!) snow, and for freediving, we needed good visibility.
No items found.
Many things must align to get near-perfect conditions, and for freediving, in Cape Town we needed a solid weather window with minimal wind stirring up the waves and the ocean’s floor. Being so far south, the southern peninsula and the Cape of Good Hope is relentlessly battered by massive Southern Ocean lows. The odds of minimal wind for a few days in winter are stacked against you. Nonetheless, the momentum (and luck) of Ocean Hour Film continued and we were blessed with three consecutive days of great visibility before a massive southwesterly took the cape and shook the waters.
No items found.
No items found.
No items found.
As mentioned in previous blogs, the weather is very much the fourth protagonist (or antagonist) in this project. And for each production, we’ve needed it to show up in very different ways; for sailing, we needed wind, for skiing we needed (good!) snow, and for freediving, we needed good visibility.
No items found.
Previously unseen
ABOUT THE PROJECT
To highlight the connection between water and sports, we’ve brought together an internationally renowned freediver, a world champion freeskier, and professional offshore sailing team. Like water, these athletes move in unison with their mind, body, and the present moment. Together, these athletes bring to life their fullest expressions– like water, they flow.
ABOUT THE TEAM
We chose athletes who are not only the best at what they do but also align with 11th Hour Racing’s mission to protect and restore the ocean. We hired local storytelling teams who are also some of the best in the world. Each part of the production was carefully considered to come together as one holistic story.
