Coco Collection has announced a series of activities with freediving world record champion Herbert Nitsch to mark World Oceans Day.

In an announcement, Coco Collection said Tuesday that Herbert will be in Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu and Coco Bodu Hithi for World Oceans Day, which falls on June 8. During Herbert’s time at the resorts, he will conduct a programme that takes guests through interactive talks and practical sessions, it added.

The programme starts with a talk, titled The Deepest Man on Earth, sharing Herbert’s story about freediving as a discipline and hobby. He is able to relate how freediving can be enjoyed by anyone of any age as he touches on his passion to conserve the seven seas.

Day two will see Herbert take guests through a multimedia talk on efficiently preparing the body to freedive at shallow depths, followed by a hands-on in-water session. A screening of Back from the Abyss, the award-winning documentary about his world record dive and the aftermath of decompression sickness and the unbelievable way back to freediving again, will follow on the same evening.

The final day of the programme takes guests through freediving with marine life, a multimedia talk together with the marine biologist on the island to touch on marine life and ocean preservation, highlighting some more advanced freediving tips. After the talk, Herbert and the resident marine biologist will take guests out on a dive in deeper waters.

The final bit of the programme ends with a screening of The Last Frontier, a documentary broadcasted in over a dozen countries about Herbert, his freediving competitions and the adaptation of the body to severe depths.

During one of the days at Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu, Herbert will be joined by school children from the nearby local island of Thulhaadhoo, ready to pick up some first hand tips on freediving. Over at Coco Bodu Hithi, a group of seasoned Maldivian freedivers will gather for a day to join Herbert for a talk and a dive, sharing the Maldivian side of freediving with him.

“The Maldives is an amazing place and I am very excited to be coming back; this time to collaborate with a renowned local brand for World Oceans Day, a cause close to my heart. I am eager to explore the vibrant life around both islands, and what I am most looking forward is to share my journey with guests and join them in the water to test their limits. Another interesting aspect of this visit will be the day spent with some local free diving enthusiasts, definitely a highlight I am going to enjoy!” Herbert was quoted in the announcement as saying.

An Austrian individual, Herbert is the current freediving world record holder and The Deepest Man on Earth, a prestigious title that was given to him when he set the world record for freediving at an incredible depth of 702 feet in 2007 and 830.8 feet in 2012. Self-taught, Herbert is a pioneer in terms of developing his own techniques over the years and has set a total of 33 freediving world records so far.

The Ocean Project has announced “Our Oceans, Our Future” as the theme for this year’s World Oceans Day.

Coco Collection’s portfolio comprises three distinct brands; Coco Resorts and Retreats, Coco Palm and Coco Privé. The Coco Resorts and Retreats includes the luxury resort of Coco Bodu Hithi Maldives, while the Coco Palm brand features the environmentally conscious escape of Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu Maldives and Coco Privé consists of the private Coco Privé Private Island Maldives.

Coco Bodu Hithi and Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu are both members of Preferred Hotels and Resorts, representing the finest and most diverse global portfolio of independent hotel and resort experiences.

Photo courtesy: ©herbertnitsch.com