(Interview by Darina Chesheva – Cover photo credits Alex St.Jean)
Enchante Gallardo is one of the leading names in modern freediving. Starting from her first competitions in 2018, she quickly became one of the deepest women in the world. She holds multiple continental and U.S. national records and has crossed the 100-meter mark in both Free Immersion and Constant Weight. In this interview with Apneapassion Magazine, she talks about her path, training, and mindset.
Darina Chesheva: What first drew you to freediving, and do your remember the exact moment you realized it would become a serious part of your life?
Enchante Gallardo: My relationship with the water began early in life. Growing up in Hawaii, I was always surrounded by the ocean, although a life in the water wasn’t something I inherited through family practice or tradition, it was something I chose. I started with fishing at the river with my grandparents, playing at the beach with my cousins, learning how to surf. Through curiosity I wanted to expand and explore, so I learned how to scuba dive. After completing my divemaster I found freediving, but it almost feels like it found me.
My relationship with the water was steady and constant in my life. I knew from an early age I couldn’t live without it or be away from it for too long. It brought me a sense of peace and calm from the distractions of life on land. It was a place I could go for introspection and connection with the natural world, but also a place I felt free and truly myself. Discovering freediving deepened the relationship with the ocean I had cultivated years ago.
It wasn’t just something I loved and had a deep respect for, but it was a part of who I was and who I am today.
My relationship with freediving made a turn when I took my first course on Oahu, where I discovered freediving as a sport. This was when I realized this was the path I wanted to pursue. There wasn’t a particular “aha” moment, or some kind of epiphany. It was the natural progression of who I had been all along, although I wish I discovered the in depth understanding of what it was much earlier on. The path felt organic, like this was where I was meant to be and what I was meant to do. So, I followed those instincts.
Through taking those steps into trying something new, I realized I was decent at it, but more importantly, I realized I loved the process. It was the journey of discovering untapped potential. Potential I never knew I had. It was the journey of finding out what I was capable of and it became addictive in the best way. Not because of medals or numbers, but because of growth.
Darina Chesheva: Looking back, what was the biggest challenge during your early years in freediving?
Enchante Gallardo: Some of the challenges I faced in my earlier years, were first of all finding ways to dive deep in Hawaii. Sometimes without a boat, having to swim out or kayak in the open ocean along with finding trusted buddies to go with. Then as I progressed, the common theme of equalization made a continuous appearance. The challenge of overcoming equalization barriers if not careful can feed into insecurities and self-doubt, which becomes a mental cycle translating to physical performance. Equalization has improved significantly over the years, but it has been a constant journey in depth progression.
Darina Chesheva: What does a typical training week look like for you when preparing for competition?
Enchante Gallardo: When I am preparing for a competition, my training week becomes much more structured and intentional. I usually train multiple days a week, focusing on quality and consistency. If it’s earlier in the cycle I will focus more on volume, technique, and building strength. As I get closer to the competition I focus on sharpening execution, consistency, relaxation, having the right mindset and less on volume and strength.
My sessions are dedicated to target the specific skills or disciplines I will be competing in. I prioritize those areas and build the rest of my training around that, making sure that each session dive session has a clear purpose.
It is also important to incorporate recovery as an essential part of the training week. That can be lighter sessions, mobility, stretching, and taking time off for full rest and recovery when needed. Having that balance helps to stay physically and mentally prepared while avoiding non-functional overreaching and burnout.
Part of my training is mental preparation which includes visualization, reviewing goals and making small adjustments based on how I am training and progressing. It requires constant evaluation and modification if necessary.
I try to maintain the balance of structured training, recovery and mental focus to optimize performance when it is time to compete.
Darina Chesheva: Which disciplines of freediving do you feel most connected to, and why?
Enchante Gallardo: The disciplines I feel most connected to are Constant Weight (CWT) with the monofin and Free Immersion (FIM).
I love how fluid CWT feels when moving through the water. I can move farther through the water with less effort like a dolphin who wants to play. There is a sense of freedom, playfulness and flow that I can really resonate with.
With FIM, it’s a different kind of connection. I enjoy relaxing into the rhythm of pulling on the line, especially during the ascent. I can close my eyes, focusing on each pull and really feel the water around me.
Both disciplines offer a different and unique experience. Each allows me to feel deeply connected to the water in their own way.
Darina Chesheva: How does your mindset change when preparing for a pool competition compared to a depth competition in the open water?
Enchante Gallardo: The mindset for pool and depth competition is different for each.
In the pool, it’s more about managing discomfort and knowing how far you can push. You always have the option to come up, so it requires a high level of self-awareness, understanding your limits, recognizing signs of hypoxia, knowing when to come up while also trusting you can keep going. This is a skill I am still developing, especially since I spend more of my time training in depth.
In depth, the mindset shifts more towards relaxation and trusting your training. You have your depth announced, so once you make it down, there is no other option but to come back up. Therefore, the focus is on staying calm, relaxed and efficient, conserving energy and avoiding unnecessary tension. Relaxation plays a huge role, not just mentally but physically, especially for equalization and efficient oxygen consumption.
So, while pool training challenges you to stay calm and push through discomfort, depth diving is more about letting go, trusting your preparation, and maintaining relaxation and efficiency throughout the dive.
Darina Chesheva: What are the most important qualities a freediver must develop to reach an elite level?
Enchante Gallardo: One of the most important qualities for any elite athlete, especially in freediving, is mindset and mental fortitude. You have to develop a strong belief in your ability to reach the goals you set for yourself, even when progress can feel slow or challenging.
Patience and perseverance are also essential. Freediving is a sport that demands respect for the process. Progress often comes in small increments, so staying consistent throughout the journey is key.
Self-awareness is also big. Staying calm under pressure and being in tune with your body. Understanding your limits and listening to your body. Knowing when to push and when to step back is what can allow you to grow and perform safely and sustainably at an elite level.
Darina Chesheva: How do you maintain balance between intense training and everyday life?
Enchante Gallardo: Balancing intense training with everyday life is something that requires constant adjustment. As life evolves, so do the ways we manage our time and priorities. For me, having a family adds another important layer. So, it’s about being intentional and flexible. One of the key things I’ve learned over the years is the importance of setting clear goals. Knowing what I am training for helps me create structure and prioritize effectively, whether that is family, work, or training. With that structure in place, I can plan my training around my home life as much as possible.
That being said, flexibility is essential. There are times when I need to adjust or reprogram my training schedule to accommodate family commitments like my kids’ sports, school events, or other responsibilities. I also recognize that taking time away from intense training when needed is important for maintaining long-term balance and avoiding burn-out.
When I am preparing for competition, my training naturally takes priority, and I organize other aspects of my life around that period. But outside of those times, I aim to integrate training into my daily life in a way that supports both my performance and my role at home.
Ultimately, having a supportive family makes a huge difference, and I try to be just as supportive and present in return.
Darina Chesheva: How do you see the sport evolving in the next decade?
Enchante Gallardo: I think freediving is going to evolve in a few interesting ways in the next decade.
The sport of freediving has become much more accessible on a global scale. There has already been a surge in interest and participation both recreationally and competitively. People are engaging for exploration, mental and physical wellness, and to feel connected to the water. You see the duality of people diving as a lifestyle and for the experience and then you have those who are engaging for performance and optimization, pushing the bar of human potential.
I think we will see more and more athletes pushing performance, diving deeper, refining techniques, and becoming more efficient. I think because of that there is going to be a bigger focus on safety, with better systems and protocols in place to mitigate potential risks. So, as we continue to push limits, the development of safety systems too must also evolve.
Technology too is starting to play a bigger role in the way that we train and perform. We have more access to data monitoring and systems that can modify the way we prepare and progress tailored to our individual lives and needs, including nutrition and overall wellness, hopefully in a safer and more efficient way.
Darina Chesheva: You’ve shared that even though you feel very comfortable in the ocean, your first competition made you feel uneasy and you even considered not competing. What advice would you give to beginner freedivers who experience similar competition anxiety, and what strategies can help them overcome.
Enchante Gallardo: It is natural to feel anxiety or nervousness in a competition setting, especially if it is your first one. Even being comfortable in the ocean, competition brings on a different kind of pressure, especially in a new environment, and managing your own expectations.
One of the biggest shifts was learning how to reframe my mindset and how I managed my nerves and doubts. Instead of seeing it as something negative, it just means that I really care about what I am doing, and that I am fortunate for the opportunity to do something I love and chase my goals. I learned how to enjoy the process of discovering my potential, and that takes going outside of your comfort zone. To discover untapped potential.
What is important is trusting the journey, trust in the process, and stick with it.
My advice would be to focus on the process rather than the outcome. The outcome is the product of the everything you experienced to get there. Treat your competition dive like a training dive, stick to your routine, trust your preparation. Visualization is a powerful tool to mentally prepare, making the dive feel more familiar and help minimize anxiety or uncertainty.
Give yourself permission to have the experience without putting too much pressure on the result. It is an opportunity to have an experience, to learn and grow.
Over time, the nerves and anxiety don’t necessarily disappear, but it becomes something you understand and can work with rather than something that holds you back. Don’t forget to enjoy the process.
