Herbert Nitsch
Austria
Austrian freediver Herbert Nitsch dove to 253.2 meters off Santorini, Greece, in June 2012, setting the No Limits freediving world record. The No Limits category allows a weighted sled for descent and a buoyancy device for ascent, representing the most extreme discipline in freediving. However, Nitsch suffered a decompression accident during ascent, sustaining brain damage that required months of rehabilitation. AIDA has since discontinued official recognition of the No Limits category due to safety concerns.