Last weekend you broke three world records in freediving, and became the first woman to dive 90m in a single breath. What inspired you?

I came to Dahab in Egypt about three years ago and wanted to stay here, so I set up a yoga holiday business. A few freedivers started coming to my yoga sessions and suggested that I give it a try.

A rapid rise to the top?

No, because I didn’t do anything about it for a year. I had a huge respect for the sport but it seemed a crazy, scary thing to do.

So what changed your mind?

Dahab was bombed in April last year. Two of my close friends were hurt. I took six weeks off with posttraumatic stress and depression. Then I thought I’d have to start doing something. I did my first freediving course and absolutely loved it.

What hooked you?

I find it very calming.

Bit of a jump from swallow dives to competition?

Within a couple of months I was diving to about 40 or 50m, and my trainer said I should contact the British Freediving Association. A couple of days later I started feeling sick. I’d contracted hepatitis A from something that I had eaten.

Laid low for long?

I was out of the water for seven months. I had low energy. I started again in March when I did a week’s training and gentle dives.

And you won medals?

I entered to see how competitions worked and broke the national record on one of my first dives.

Were you expecting to get the hat-trick last weekend?

I wasn’t even going to go for the third record because I had had only four hours’ sleep the night before. Then I thought I might as well see what happens. It was a very relaxed dive, a lovely way to finish.

What was diving to 90m without oxygen like?

It was a massive dive. It took 3 minutes and 46 seconds, and it was a huge relief when I came out of the water.

Are you ever scared you won’t make it back in time?

Fear never really comes into it. I do a lot of preparation beforehand. As I train I gradually increase my depth. The last thing you want to do is to panic down there.

Ever worry about the long-term effects?

No, it is actually quite a safe sport. It is only dangerous if you don’t hydrate your body and feed yourself enough. Taking repeated dives can take its toll, but I’m careful to give my body time to recover.

How can you hold your breath for so long?

I am a yoga teacher and I do breathing and mediation exercises – that makes the difference. I meditate twice a day; when I wake up and before each dive.

Pump any iron?

I’m a qualified aerobics and fitness instructor but I haven’t done that for about five years. I don’t go to the gym because diving takes up most of my time. I like to go swimming, and I walk my dogs whenever I can.

Is it common for freedivers to practise yoga?

The top three all do.

How does it help?

Your body needs to be flexible because the pressure is immense. If you can get your rib cage relaxed it can compress more, making your lungs smaller and smaller.

Is it harder to hold your breath in those conditions?

Holding your breath is about willpower. When I’m in the water I train my mind so that I don’t feel like I need to breathe. I can hold my breath for 5 minutes 4 seconds.

How much pressure would your lungs have been under when you dived to 90m?

My lungs would have been a tenth of their normal size. A bit scary, because I don’t feel anything.

What are the other effects?

Blood shift, when blood draws itself into the core of your body, your brain and the vital organs. The peripheral blood vessels empty out and hands and feet feel very heavy.

What do you think about in the murky depths?

I try to keep my arms and legs relaxed and enjoy falling through the water. Diving in the UK in July, the water was very cold and I started thinking about how I’d train for water that cold. I imagined sitting in the frozen food section in Sainsbury’s in my bikini.

Any winning food stuffs?

Eating liquorice just before a dive is said to keep the blood pumping to the right places.

What’s next for you?

It’d be great to win a gold medal at the world freediving championships next week. I would love to be the first woman to reach 100m in a single dive.

To follow Sara’s progress, visit www.saracampbell.com

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