Yasemin Dalkılıç

Level: Master Instructor

Work Area: worldwide

Freediving Accomplishments: 6 World Records in 4 different categories. First female diver to break the 100 meter barrier in the Limited Variable Ballast category, the 120 meter barrier in the Unlimited Variable Ballast category and to set an official record in the Unassisted Constant Ballast category.

Teaching Experience: Has been teaching freediving since 2001, with a total of over 20 courses and 140 students.

Bio Info: Yasemin was born on May 2nd, 1979, in Ankara, the capital city of Turkey, more than 600 miles/800 kilometers from the sea. It was only during the summer holidays that she would get a chance to indulge her passion for the underwater world, and she made good use of that limited time. At age 14, she was already a member of the national Monofin swimming team, setting several Turkish records, while also establishing herself as the best freediver in her country. In 1998, she competed in the AIDA second World Cup in Italy, taking first place among the women. A year later, in 1999, in her quest for improvement, Yasemin contacted Rudi Castineyra, the trainer who had just guided champions Ravelo and Streeter to several world records. As it turns out, Rudi had heard about Yasemin and was very impressed with her potential and willing to help her. After 6 months of training over the internet, they met for the first time only a month before she attempted her first world record, at which she succeeded. From that point on, Yasemin and Rudi kept working together and set a total of 6 world records together. Especially important were the 3 records she set in 2000 and 2001 with the support of Quantum Watches, which were broadcasted LIVE on national and international TV, a first for any female freediver. Yasemin started accompanying Rudi on his courses around the world, and by 2001, she had already obtained her instructor license. During 2002 and the early part of 2003, Yasemin went through a difficult time in her career, when she failed several record attempts inexplicably, only to find out later on that her drop in performance was due to a tumor in her pancreas, which had to be operated in June 2003, and from which she is recovering quite well. Yasemin is also a mathematics students at the Middle-East Technical University and an accomplished musician, having signed a contract to compose and perform several soundtracks for television programs. Yasemin's biggest concern in freediving is that it should be done "for fun and with safety" and these are the ideals she strives to pass onto her students.