Kathryn Nevatt - freediver

17/06/2026

It's been a hectic couple of weeks commencing with the wonderful Wellington winter champs marking it's 20th anniversary since I organised the first one back in 2006! It's always a great get together with old friends and a bit confronting about how long several of us have been doing this now! I didn't achieve what I set out to do, but respectable results of 153m dynamic no fins, 7:33 static followed up with 176m dynamic bi-fins shortly after. Thanks to Amy for coaching and great to see her progressing with a couple of very respectable PBs. Also really fab to see so many new divers having a go and new people having a go at organising.

This was followed up with a quick trip to see my folks and then a work trip to Auckland, with photographer Simon Devitt shooting some recent work, a little swim modeling on top of the world resulting in mild hypothermia, last minute musical ticket and a book launch; Cape to Bluff which features one of my jobs "farm house" by Anna-Marie Chin Architects.

16/05/2026

Guinness world record holders!

Portraits by EYXL.com.au

16/05/2026

In November I popped over to Sydney for a "fun" freediving challenge with some Aussie friends. I was one of nine elite freedivers who took part in a 24-hour underwater relay. We swam single 25m lengths, sprinting underwater on a single breath, without fins, doing underwater breaststroke, one at a time in a perpetual relay for 24 hours. We swam 98.02km at the Tattersalls Club pool, raising funds for the Rainbow Club who run fun swim clubs for kids with disabilities.

This week, our record was verified as a new Guinness world record!

Thanks to the big volunteer team who helped us achieve this record, and big congratulations to the other divers in the team.

It was a really physically and mentally tough 24 hours, but it was great to work together towards a challenging goal, well outside my comfort zone - I really love to sleep and glide out in my dives. We all survived (no one had to pull out!), giving our all right to the end with no injuries beyond red eyes, fatigue and some effects of chlorine exposure. And we far exceeded our own expectations as to how far we thought we could go in the 24 hours.

Thanks to everyone who donated. If you'd like to throw a bit of money towards the Rainbow Club it's never too late, I'm sure they would really appreciate the ongoing support. https://www.myrainbowclub.org.au/donate/
Did you know that drowning is one of the leading causes of death for people with Autism spectrum disorder and an Autistic child is 160 times more likely to drown compared other children. This is why it is so important that everyone has the opportunity to learn to swim in a safe and fun environment. Plus being in, on or near the water is proven to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, creating a calm and meditative space where we can recenter and reconnect with ourselves.

Guinness World Records
https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/426482-greatest-distance-relay-underwater-swimming-in-24-hours-with-breath-held-team

The team:
Michaela Werner (Australia)
Jarrod Briffa (Australia)
Kathryn Nevatt (New Zealand)
Matej Majling (Slovakia)
Ethan Ruixing Wang (China)
Bill Cotis (Australia)
Adam Bryant (Australia)
Jack Hatfield (Australia)
Daron Joseph (Australia)

Freediving New Zealand
Queenstown Freediving Club, New Zealand
Australian Freediving Association

15/04/2026

09/03/2026

The Queenstown Freediving Club, New Zealand is running a Club Induction next week on Tuesday evening to welcome new members to the club.

More info in the event:
https://www.facebook.com/share/1E2U9TSd1E/

Send a message to learn more

04/02/2026

So I know most people published their year summary posts about a month ago, but it's taken me a while to settle and process things. I always aim pretty high which makes satisfaction hard to achieve, and it's a slippery slide in just one direction when you've spent many years at the very top of your game. Anyway, on paper I had a pretty successful year and still aiming for more for the year to come. Here's my summary:

4th overall woman at the AIDA freediving pool world champs in Wakayama, Japan.

Static apnea - new national record at 7:49, 4th in the 2025 world rankings and 10th in the all-time world rankings, 5th place at the world champs (with a lesser time), and wild card place for this year's world champs.

Dynamic bifins - new continental record and 2x national records, 201m.

Dynamic (monofin) - new continental and national record, 211m.

5th in the overall pool (combined total of 4x pool events) world rankings for 2025.

NZ National Champion

I took part in my first CMAS competition (Australian Nationals), and while I can't claim NZ records as we don't have a national to verify them I set 4x NZ competition bests. I was also the overall winner of this competition.

I took part in a Guinness world record attempt, 24-hour underwater relay in Sydney in November where we swam fast laps, no-fins underwater. We reached 98km. This is still in the verification process with Guinness, but it felt like quite an achievement for me (I'm a bit slow and really like sleep), plus it was fun to be part of a bigger team in what is usually a very individual/personal sport.

Couldn't have done it without my dive buddies at the Queenstown Freediving Club, New Zealand who showed up so I could train. Thanks team! Also thanks to everyone who supported with donations or by joining in on a course.

Firecrest Systems
Seaquel Wetsuits
QLDC Sport & Recreation
AIDA International


Photo by EYXL.com.au

07/12/2025

24 hours of this!
3918 laps / 98.028km
9 freedivers
Raising funds for the Rainbow Club

07/12/2025

Mountain Scene this week:

05/12/2025

Check out these beautiful diptych portraits of the team, by Eric Yip, taken at the end of our 24-hour underwater relay. They really capture the fatigue, the pain of the gear imprinted on the face and the chlorine burns! The sound track would be a dry hacking cough mixed together with a few tears of joy!

EYXL.com.au

Tattersalls