Story by Kevin Majoros
Networking is often used to enlighten people to fresh ideas and to extend a circle of support. If it is done well, it can open new doors and facilitate a positive exchange of information.
Tara Abrina has leveraged two networks, freediving professionals and marine conservation groups, to raise awareness for coral restoration. As the founder of a marine conservation network called Kapit Sisid, Abrina is helping and empowering Filipinos to protect their marine resources through safe freediving.
Currently pursuing her master’s and working as a research officer at the University of Philippines’ Marine Science Institute, Abrina set the Philippine records for freediving in the Free Immersion discipline in 2015.
The Path to Marine Conservation and Freediving
Abrina grew up in Manila but her parents loved going to the beach. They often made the two hour dive and snorkeling was a favorite activity. Abrina liked diving down as far as she could go.
While attending Ateneo de Manila University she joined ISDA, a student organization that goes skindiving and has ties to the Ateneo Environmental Science Society. As she was earning her AB degree in economics, the group served as her inspiration to pursue marine science.
She was elected as the ISDA training officer and needing to be well equipped, she flew to Panglao Island to attend freediving school.
That led to her becoming one of the first apprentices under Carlo Navarro who is the founder of the SISID Philippine Freedivers Association and the Manumano Freedive Training Center in Anilao, Batangas. Her national record of 33 meters in the Free Immersion (FIM) discipline came in 2015.
“I like to interact with marine life without the bulky gear,” says Abrina. “I had originally thought I would compete for one year, but I found myself hooked after setting my first records. I plan to return to competition after I complete my master’s degree.”
The Economics of Coral and Developing New Technology for Restoration
Abrina’s work as a research officer is focused on coral reefs and the economic values of coral. Those values include tourism and recreation, coastal protection, fisheries and biodiversity.
The UP Marine Science institute has been developing a technology which involves capturing millions of coral larvae when they spawn and transferring them to a degraded reef. They have seen success in the technique from a lab seven hours north of Manila.
During her frequent marine science assignments, Abrina saw an opportunity to mix economics, reef management and freediving together through a network.
Instructing Reef Rangers to Protect their Marine Resources through Safe Freediving
Abrina founded Kapit Sisid two years ago to instruct reef rangers in safe and effective freediving skills with marine conservation knowledge to help preserve coral reefs. In Tagalog, Kapit Sisid means “to dive together”.
The work begins with an initial assessment as to whether the community would benefit from the program. The students include local government employees, residents of remote coastal communities, local students, science teachers, fisherman, boatman, marine scientists and conservationists.
Many of them are already trained in scuba diving and the freediving certification serves as an enhancement to their skills. The benefits for reef management include a reduction in costs and the ability to perform a rapid dive.
“Seeing both sides come together, the freediving community and the marine conservation community, has been very rewarding,” Abrina says. “The fundraising aspect of it encourages people to become invested in the project.”
The Art of Freediving
If you read articles about freediving, you will see words such as Zen, relaxation and peace. What might not be mentioned is the science behind learning the proper techniques for freediving. The mantra at the Manumano Freedive Training Center is “take it in your own time”.
Training can include working on repetitive breath holding and CO2 tolerance tables along with deciding what weight works best around your neck or waist.
Abrina says she has developed a liking for the Constant Weight – No Fins (CNF) discipline and will target that by working on her pool skills when she begins competing again.
That won’t keep her from the ocean that she loves though. When not freediving, she enjoys paddle boarding, surfing and scuba diving. With freediving being both a mental and physical sport, she describes what fills her thoughts when she is diving.
“I don’t really think about anything on the way down except for equalization and body position,” says Abrina. “On the way up, I have developed a habit of thinking about the people I work with and the people that are waiting for me on the surface. I owe my success to the support of my friends.”
Follow Tara Abrina on Instagram at tala.araw
And check out these photos!
Kevin Majoros shares stories on sports, ocean adventuring, and conservation.
He is based in Baltimore/Washington and travels the world as a competitive swimmer.
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This piece was edited and posted onto SEVENSEAS Media by: Giacomo Abrusci