2nd Annual Mediterranean Freediving Meeting and Competition
Friday June 12, 2009
Sougia, Crete has been chosen as the site of the 2nd Annual Mediterranean Freediving Competition. Freedivers from around the world will be descending on this picturesque seaside village in the south of Crete to compete for a potential world title. Extensive training will be offered before the event, which features some of the world's best-known trainers and divers.
The meeting will be held between June 22nd and July 5th, 2009, with record competitions on June 29th and July 5th. Participants can train for one or two weeks and can optionally compete for world or country records. Training and participation fees are listed here and to this non-diver, look remarkably reasonable. Those interested in competing for records will have to pay additional drug testing fees; this is not required for those simply training. Local seaside hotel rooms in Sougia will be available from 35 Euro per night for a single room and from Euro 23 if shared, though rooms may be getting scarce at this point.
Part of me is happy to hear that Sougia is hosting an event like this. The other part of me is cringing at the thought of hundreds of visitors all descending on that little town that I love so much. I can picture them fumbling around the ruins in Lissos and spray painting their names on the Roman crypts. I hope it wasn’t like that. Do you have any news on how the event went? I’ve been trying to get in touch with a friend there named Joseph (he manages the Café Lotos in Sougia) to ask him about it, but I haven’t has any success. It’s been almost two years since I was last there, so I don’t know if he’s even still there.
By the way, I’ve been reading your stuff on Greek travel and hoping to put together another trip. I was especially encouraged to read that the inter-island air travel picture is improving. Please keep the information coming.
Thanks,
Chris