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On June 30th 2005, extreme freediver Patrick Musimu became the first man to reach the incredible depth of 209.6 metres in a single breath.
This was an "Ultimate Dive" challenge he had imagined in 2003 and for which he had undertaken a special training programme and developed a discipline entirely directed towards the single-minded pursuit of a dream: pushing the limits of human performance.
In June 2005, in three weeks and just 10 dives, Patrick Musimu fulfilled this dream by descending to 100, 136, 151, 170 and 185 metres, before finally crossing the ultimate 200-metre barrier and bettering the existing record by 40 metres. His approach challenged many commonly held beliefs about �no limit� diving, the most extreme category in freediving.
Jaeger-LeCoultre is delighted to present an exceptional freediving sportsman whose feats express a philosophy based on surpassing himself, and an inner quest, while firmly grounded on a patient mastery of his mental and physical aptitudes.
He shares with Jaeger-LeCoultre an indomitable determination and an incredible ability to marvel at the world around him and within him.
Off the coast of Manado Bay in Indonesia, this champion gave a unique demonstration that brilliantly accompanied the new records set by Master Compressor Diving watches.
Patrick wears a Master Compressor Diving Chronograph of which he says: �With the Master Compressor Diving Chronograph on my wrist, I feel a sense of complete harmony. Far more than a mere time indicator, this watch moulds itself to my skin to become One with the aquatic element. While the functions and reliability of this watch make it a faithful daily partner, the spirit of innovation it reflects make it a truly exceptional product imbued with true values.
INNER DEPTHS
The first freediver to have crossed the 200-metre barrier, Patrick Musimu uses a specific technique that consists in equalising the inner and outer pressure on this eardrum as soon as he reaches a depth of 50 metres. He fills the inner ear cavity with water by allowing it to enter via the sinuses.
This method enables him to withstand the incredible 21 kg pressure that is exercised on every square centimetre of his body at a depth of 200 metres.
Even though Patrick likes to say there is no absolute, the impossible remains his ultimate reference. His favourite spot is Abu Ramada, in Egypt.
Among the inhabitants of the underwater world, he admits to having a preference for the ray manta, a peaceful and gigantic fish that can measure a full 8 metres wide and weigh three tons. And his worst memory is also a terrifying encounter with another respectably sized animal, when he met a shark while freediving 70 metres below the surface.
More than ever at times like this, mental strength makes all the difference.
THE UNDERWATER YOGI
Contrary to traditional divers, Patrick Musimu prefers to prepare for his feats on dry land, generally in a gym rooms. He has developed a specific training mode based on his own training in osteopathy and physiotherapy. His mastery of the martial arts has enriched his knowledge of how the human body works. In addition to the standard work on controlling his pulse rate and perfecting his own special technique of flooding the middle ear, his training also gives priority to furthering self-knowledge by controlling and extending his mental abilities. As a sportsman so atypical that he does not even define himself as such, he dreams of setting new rules so as to give a new face to freediving. This would involve taking this discipline beyond a mere obsession with ever greater depths, to the point where it becomes an instrument for self-discovery in complete safety, through intimate contact with the magic of the sea.
THE ULTIMATE DIVE
Patrick Musimu has been involved in many sports and many activities.
Once, during a boxing match, he received a brutal punch to the nose that distorted his nasal wall. This apparently minor accident was to have some unexpected consequences.
After leaving Brussels with his partner to become a driving instructor in the Dutch West Indies, he realised he would need an operation to enable him to do his job properly. It was then that he discovered freediving, while reading a newspaper in his hospital bed in Bonaire, and this revelation was soon to become an overwhelming passion.
The more he progressed, the more he realised that the fact of surpassing himself and pushing back his limits was leading him towards a personal quest and questions that he would never have imagined.
From that point on, this discipline became far more than a mere sport, but instead a genuine inner path towards an encounter with himself and with the sea.
MENTAL COACHING
Patrick Musimu currently defines himself as a freediver and a sports consultant who practises mental coaching.
The sport in which he excels has become a life philosophy that has revealed to him his true self. It takes just a moment to change the course of a human destiny.
In discovering the sea through freediving, the martial arts expert regained contact with simplicity and understood his path. He has adopted the motto expressed by Confucius �I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand� and he experiences this progression the deeper he goes.
During a freedive, he feels his mind becoming detached from his body. As he merges into the maritime world, he separates from the predetermined idea he has of himself. He becomes something �other�, while remaining intensely himself.
For him, nothing is absolute, and barriers are mere mental hypotheses. Little by little, his mind gains the conviction that there are no limits.
In this quest, �no limit� diving becomes his instrument, which he plays like a virtuoso in the silent world of great depths.
DIVER'S PORTRAIT
Name
Patrick Musimu
Age
36 years old
Nationality
Belgian
Profession
Sports consultant & Mental coaching specialist
Marital Status
Engaged, father of a young daughter
When did you begin working with Jaeger-LeCoultre?
June 2007
When did you start your present activity, what is your professional profile?
May 1999
Which fish do you like best?
The ray manta
Which sea or ocean do you prefer?
The Red Sea
What sort of books do you prefer?
Tai-Pan, by James Clavell
Which weather or weather suits you?
Sun, sun, sun
Which watch model do you prefer?
Master Compressor Diving Chronograph
Which watches have you worn before?
A digital watch
What is your relationship with time, are you generally late or just in time?
Early
How would you define precision?
Synonymous with excellence
Could you be a watchmaker?
I don�t think so; it�s a meticulous task and I�m rather impatient by nature
Which drink do you prefer?
champagne
Which values do you share with Jaeger-LeCoultre?
innovation, excellence, professionnalism, determination
Did you know Jaeger-LeCoultre before?
Yes
How many dives have you already made?
I�ve lost count
Your best dive spot?
Abu Ramada (Egypt)
Life Philosophy?
Nothing is absolute. Redefine concepts, redefine yourself. Barriers are in your mind. Accept no limits
Favourite Motto or quote
I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand (Confucius)
Your best experience at sea?
Dissociating body and mind during my freediving experiences
Worst experience at sea?
A close encounter with a shark during a freedive at 70 metres below the surface
How different are Jaeger-LeCoultre�s models from other watches?
A peerless watch movement. A pioneer ahead of its time
Do you like cats?
Yes, I love their suppleness and agility.
What languages do you speak?
French, English, Dutch
What is your relationship with time?
I do my best not to be constantly chasing it.
What do you think of precision?
It is synonymous with perfection
Do you like mechanical things?
Yes
Is your watch, behind, forward, or on time?
On time!
Which is your favourite sailor or navigator?
Leonardo da Vinci (because his ideas continue to travel on the waves of time)
What is your favourite boat?
Yacht
Best Film?
Gladiator
What were you doing 20 years ago?
I was revising for my exams
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