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Club Med Turks and Caicos

Hosts Deep Diving & Endurance World Champion Tanya Streeter

An American athlete will discover her ultimate abilities on August 17th, 2002

Club Med, the world's leading provider of active lifestyle vacations, will host Tanya Streeter, World Champion Freediver, on July 25th  through August 21st at Club Med Turkoise, Turks and Caicos. This 29-year-old world class athlete with exceptional aquatic abilities aims to prove that she can go deeper than ever before using her strong psychological, physical and physiological endurance capabilities. Currently holding multiple World Records and having previously surpassed her male competitors, Tanya will discover new depths of herself and her sport in the crystal blue Turks and Caicos waters off Club Med by pursuing a record depth of 140m/460ft in the No Limits category. 

“Hosting this fabulous champion is a natural part of Club Med's ongoing mission to be the leader in active lifestyle vacations,” says John Vanderslice, President and CEO Club Med Americas.  “Club Med is known for having the most innovative sports and activities at our many Villages -- including freediving!  With her strong characteristics and Club Med spirit, we are proud to host Tanya at Turkoise, Turks and Caicos so she can excel in her sport of freediving.”

John Skippings, Director of Tourism in the Turks and Caicos Islands comments,  “The Turks and Caicos is known for excellent and award-winning diving and we are pleased to be supporting Tanya to make such a world class achievement in our world class destination.”

Acknowledging the adversities of diving so deep, Streeter reminds us “There is no such thing as courage without fear” and rationalizes the inherent risks of freediving, disciplining herself with the motivation and intelligence of an elite athlete. She is a strong leader and prophesizes the safety of her sport, which consists of four categories:

Constant Ballast: Diver must descend and ascend completely unassisted. The diver may wear weight but whatever is taken down must be returned to the surface.  Streeter dives with little weight (1kg/2 pounds). This is the truest form of Freediving and the most respected category amongst freedivers as a result of the physical exertion on the body.  She currently holds the World Record at 70m/230ft.

Free Immersion: The diver must descend and ascend by pulling on a rope. Weight may be worn, but this too is a constant weight category, so they diver must return with the weight.  No fins may be worn.  Streeter currently holds the World Record at 70m/230ft.

Variable Ballast: The diver descends on a weighted sled (the sled may be up to a third of their body weight) and returns to the surface under his or her own power, either kicking and/or pulling on a rope.  Streeter has been to 106m/348ft in this category, unofficially surpassing the current World Record.

No Limits: The diver descends on a weighted sled and returns to the surface using a lift bag, which is inflated by the diver at depth (upon arrival at depth, the diver must disconnect the lift-bag portion of the sled from the weighted part and inflate the lift-bag by opening a tank valve).  This is the deepest category of Freediving and Streeter previously held this World Record at 113m/370ft

At Club Med Turkoise, Turks and Caicos where scuba diving is the prominent activity in water and the trapeze is the sport to do above sea level, Tanya Streeter will perform training dives throughout her stay and on August 17th she will aim for the new World Record of 140m/460ft.

Tanya Streeter’s Objectives :

To progress deeper and deeper during training for the World Record attempt under the watchful eyes of technical Trimix divers who will use some of the most up-to-date closed circuit rebreather equipment to enable them to go as deep as her.  A deep video team will also document her training dives and record attempt as part of a scientific documentary that will be viewed around the world later this year.  Freediving’s governing body A.I.D.A (Association International pour le development d’Apnea) will send two of their best International Judges to the record attempt to verify that it has been carried out per their strict regulations. 

To submit to an International Olympic Committee standard banned/controlled substance test as the final step to validating the record.  An environmentalist at heart, Streeter will also use this event to promote The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (for whom she is a spokesperson) and The Coral Reef Alliance, (with whom she shares strong beliefs about the importance of protecting global reefs).  “The greatest gift that I have in achieving Freediving World Records, is a platform to promote good ocean ethics, and in doing so, to give back to the environment that has given me so much,” says Tanya Streeter.

Club Med Turkoise, Turks and Caicos is known for its wide array of sports, will have many activities to offer Tanya in celebration of her excellence and hard work. From sumptuous buffets, nightly entertainment, sailing, and pure relaxation amongst other activities, Club Med believes that Tanya will opt for the trapeze once again after trying it for the first time during Club Med’s Scuba Bash earlier in June at Turkoise, Turks and Caicos. “Club Med have supported freediving for some years through athlete endorsement and the hosting of international competitions, and as a freediver I am grateful for their assistance in promoting the sport that I am passionate about because that kind of exposure ultimately helps freedivers to do what they love,” says Tanya Streeter, “ I am really looking forward to doing this record attempt at Turkoise in the Turks and Caicos Islands because everything the team will need for our success will be right there for us  - great facilities, beautiful water and a warm, friendly atmosphere.  Not to mention all the other great activities we can do to add variety to our days!”

Born in the Cayman Islands, Tanya Streeter was educated in one of the most prominent girl’s schools in Great Britain. She discovered the love of Freediving in late 1997 when accompanying male friends who were spearfishing and complimented on her natural ability. After twice beating men’s world records in two Freediving disciplines, Streeter began to investigate the science behind the sport and was determined to train herself physically and mentally to continuously prove the natural aquatic abilities of mankind.  Sponsored by Redbull, a powerful brand in energy drinks and The Turks and Caicos Islands Tourist Board, Streeter will show all of us her strength of mind and body at Club Med Turkoise, Turks and Caicos.

Tanya Streeter who was inducted in the Women’s Hall of Fame in March 2000 has been called the “strongest woman freediver in the world” by friend, Club Med Pro Team Member, and Italian freediving superstar, Umberto Pelizzari. Streeter is determined and believes that there are no barriers to prevent women diving deeper than men. With her slogan “Redefine Your Limits”, she also advocates inspiration to follow your dreams and  to persevere in whatever goals you want to achieve.  Tanya Streeter, along with loving husband and supportive Manager, Paul Streeter, now lives in Austin, Texas but will always have her heart and soul rooted deeply in the ocean.

About Turks and Caicos

The 40 islands of the Turks and Caicos, of which eight are inhabited are renowned for their award-winning beaches, diving, fishing and array of first-class resorts and spas. There are 3 daily 75 minute flights from Miami, weekly flights from New York, 1 weekly flight from Boston and a 4 times a week flight with US Airways direct from Charlotte which starts November 2.  Turks and Caicos Tourist Board website is www.turksandcaicostourism.com

About Club Med

Club Med, pioneer of the all-inclusive concept in the 1950s, is today the global leader in active lifestyle vacations and hosts over two million guests annually.

Club Med currently operates in 40 countries with 150 locations, including 120 Club Med villages.  In a world of cookie cutter resorts and plastic luxury, Club Med villages remain true to the genuine warmth and camaraderie that inspired their creations.  Club Med villages invite Gracious Members to participate in a variety of recreational activities in a vibrant social atmosphere.

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