 Mayol (left) in 1989. | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | French |
| Born | (1927-04-01)1 April 1927 |
| Died | 22 December 2001(2001-12-22) (aged 74) Capoliveri, Italy |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Freediving |
Jacques Mayol (1 April 1927 – 22 December 2001) was a French diver and the holder of many world records infree diving.[1] The 1988 filmThe Big Blue, directed byLuc Besson, was inspired by his life story and that of his friend,Enzo Maiorca. Mayol was one of the screenwriters and authored the bookHomo Delphinus: the Dolphin Within Man of his philosophy about theaquatic origins of humans.
Jacques Mayol was a French national born inShanghai, China. Mayol spent his summer holidays inKaratsu (Japan) every year as a child. When he was 7, he would skin dive with his older brother in seas aroundNanatsugama [jp] (Karatsu, Japan), where he saw a dolphin for the first time. Mayol described the fateful encounter in his book, "Homo Delphinus: The Dolphin Within Man".[2]
On 23 November 1976, at 49, he became the first free diver to descend to 100 metres (330 ft),[3][4] and when he was 56 he managed to descend to 105 metres (344 ft). During the scientific research phase of his career, Mayol tried to answer the question of whether man had a hidden aquatic potential that could be evoked by rigorous physiological and psychological training.
Mayol's lifelong passion for diving was based on his love for the ocean, his personal philosophy, and his desire to explore his own limits. During his lifetime, he helped introduce the then-elitist sport of free-diving into the mainstream. His diving philosophy was to reach a state of mind based on relaxation andyoga breathing, with which he could accomplishapnea.[5] He also contributed to technological advances in the field of free-diving, particularly improving assemblies used byno-limits divers. He was also instrumental in the development ofscuba diving'soctopus regulator, which was invented by Dave Woodward at UNEXSO in 1965 or 1966. Woodward believed that having safety divers carry two second stages would be a safer and more practical approach thanbuddy breathing in the event of an emergency.[6]
Mayol was already an experiencedfree diver when he met the SicilianEnzo Maiorca, who was the first person to dive below 50 metres (160 ft). Mayol reached 60 metres (200 ft) depth.[7] A friendship, as well as rivalry, between the two men ensued. Their most famous records were set in the no-limits category, in which divers are permitted to use weighted sleds to descend and air balloons for a speedy ascent. Between 1966 and 1983, Mayol was the no-limits world champion eight times. In 1981 he set a world record of 61 metres (200 ft) in the constant weight discipline, using fins. In 1976, Mayol broke the 100 metres (330 ft) barrier with a no-limits 101 metres (331 ft) dive off Elba, Italy.[7] Tests showed that during this dive hisheart beat decreased from 60 to 27 beats/min, an aspect of themammalian diving reflex, areflex more evident inwhales,seals, anddolphins. Mayol's last deep dive followed in 1983 when he reached the depth of 105 metres (344 ft), at the age of 56.[7]
Mayol's fascination withdolphins started in 1955 when he was working as a commercial diver at an aquarium inMiami, Florida.[7] There he met a female dolphin called Clown and formed a close bond with her. Imitating Clown, he learned how to hold his breath longer and how to behave and integrate himself underwater. It is the dolphins that became the foundation of Mayol's life philosophy of "Homo Delphinus".[5]
Throughout his bookL'Homo Delphinus[5] (2000 published in English asHomo Delphinus: The Dolphin within Man by Idelson Gnocchi Publishers Ltd.) Mayol expounds his theories about man's relationship with the sea, and explores theaquatic ape hypothesis of human origins. He felt man could reawaken his dormant mental and spiritual faculties and the physiological mechanisms from the depths of his psyche and genetic make-up to develop the potential of his aquatic origins, to become aHomo delphinus.
Jacques Mayol predicted that within a couple of generations, some people would be able to dive to 300 metres (980 ft) and hold their breath for up to ten minutes. Today the no-limits record stands at 253 m (Herbert Nitsch, June 2012). Serbian Branko Petrović holds the record forStatic Apnea at 11 minutes and 54 seconds (October 2014).[8] Croatian Budimir Šobat holds the record for static apnea on pure oxygen at 24 minutes 37 second (27 March 2021).[9]
The filmThe Big Blue, directed byLuc Besson in 1988, was inspired by his life story and the life story of the Italian diverEnzo Maiorca and their friendship. Mayol was one of thescreenwriters.
Mayol was the subject of the 2017 documentary filmDolphin Man (L'Homme dauphin, sur les traces de Jacques Mayol), directed byLefteris Charitos.[10]
On 22 December 2001 Mayol committed suicide by hanging himself at his villa inElba,Italy, after struggling with depression.[1] He was 74 years old. His ashes were spread over theTuscany coast.[1] Friends have erected a monument to him in the sea southeast of Elba at 16 metres (52 ft) depth.[citation needed]
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