Freediving Club - Who's Who

Freediving Club Greece has brought together world class Freediving Athletes and Watermen from around the globe each offering their expertise in specially adapted courses and training events.

Stavros Kastrinakis

AIDA International Master Freediving Instructor

AIDA International Judge

AIDA International Education Officer

Professional Lifeguard, DAN Life Support /O2 Provider

Stavros is one of the top Greek freedivers with experience in International and World Level competitions. He has set 9 Greek National records in most depth disciplines (CNF, FIM, NLT, VAR) and has been a member of the Greek National Freediving team in 2005 and 2007 (also captain of the team). Since 2007 he has been a member of the AIDA International Education Committee and in 2009 was elected to be the next Education Officer of AIDA International. During the last 3 years he has been heavily involved in organizing depth and pool competitions in Greece and abroad and has been involved in developing freediving safety standards. He has trained and been responsible for the safety teams at the 2008 AIDA Team World Championships in Egypt and the 2009 AIDA Pool World Championships in Denmark. He and Panagiota Balanou also created the AIDA Competition Safety Diver Course in 2007.

Stavros is one of the most active AIDA Master Instructors in the world organizing more than 25 courses during 2009. When not in the water teaching freediving Stavros can be found in the water training on his sleds or doing UW photography/video or spearfishing.

In Freediving Club Greece Stavros is responsible for AIDA 1*, 2*, 3* και 4* Freediving Courses and organizes all training events.

Panagiota Balanou

Orthopedic Surgeon

AIDA International B Judge

AIDA International Instructor

Yoga Siromani (Instructor)

Panagiota has been the Greek Freediving Champion for a number of years holding 6 National Records in Depth and Pool disciplines. She is an orthopedic surgeon having also done a specialty course in hyperbaric medicine. She has extensive judging experience in World Record Attempts and International Competitions. For 2010 Panagiota has been elected to be the president of AIDA Hellas.

Besides competitive Freediving Panagiota is a keen underwater photographer and Yoga instructor.

In Freediving Club Greece Panagiota is responsible for the Yoga and Relaxation courses and is involved in teaching the freediving courses of all levels.

William Winram

Pan American Record Holder

No Fins Specialist (Dynamic No Fins & Constant Weight No Fins)

Osteopath

William has walked parallel paths with Stavros ever since they met in 2005. They have dived together in several locations around the world and has helped with many of the world class events organized by Freediving Club during the last two years.

With his strong swimming background and expertise in Freediving training he is our training expert and no fins specialist.

In Freediving Club Greece William is responsible for dedicated No-Fins Courses and Special Expeditions and Projects.

Peter Pedersen

Former Dynamic Apnea World Record Holder

2006 AIDA World Champion (Team)

Peter Pedersen is one of the top freedivers of all times in Dynamic Apnea. He was the first man to reach the 200m barrier in dynamic apnea and is widely recognized as an authority in matters of technique and training with a monofin.

Besides Freediving Peter works in Denmark organizing seminars and workshops on setting goals and managing stress.

In Freediving Club Greece Peter is responsible for the Monofin Technique Courses.

Fred Buyle

AIDA International Instructor Trainer

CMAS Instructor Trainer

Fred Buyle is one of the best known freedivers in the world with many top placements and records in World Championships and International Events. In the past he has held two fresh water world records. During the last 5 years Fred has shifted his focus to Underwater Photography and in this capacity has been involved in many marine life research and conservation projects around the world.

Fred’s current passion is shark research and conservation and has been traveling the world photographing and videoing these amazing creatures. Through the experience he has gained interacting with sharks the idea was born to organize guided expeditions designed to allow freedivers to interact with sharks in their natural environment and gain a better understanding of these marine predators - more information on these expeditions will be available shortly.

In Freediving Club Greece Fred is responsible for the Freediving Instructor Courses and the Underwater Photography Courses.