Isabel Sánchez-Arán (IG isa_a_a_pulmon) is a Spanish freediving champion of extraordinary ability, with multiple medals at national level. In the Spanish selection in the CMAS Freediving Outdoor World Championship in Greece, Isabel told us a little about herself and her passion, but also about her life and her expectations for the World Championship.
Apnea Passion: When did your passion for freediving begin and what attracted you to it in the first place?
Isabel Sánchez-Arán: My relationship with water started since I was a child, with my roots in the Almanzora Valley (Almeria), curiously one of the most arid areas of Spain, where I played catching my friends off guard underwater in the pool of my grandparents’ village, beach days in Garrucha and Los Terreros with my family, always splashing in rafts, rivers, ditches… wherever. But I discovered freediving as a discipline later, in Cyprus, and it was like opening a door to another dimension. I was attracted by that feeling of deep calm, of absolute silence, of total connection with the sea and with myself. From the first moment I knew that it was not just a sport, but a way of life.
Apnea Passion: How does freediving influence your daily life? How does it affect your mentality, your habits or your daily routine out of the water?
Isabel Sánchez-Arán: Freediving runs through everything: my work, my family, my leisure time, my lifestyle habits… it is part of my identity. It is something addictive that quenches my thirst for exploration and constant curiosity and helps me to stay in one place. My day to day life is very much marked by breathing, meditation, food and rest. I have learned to value balance and cultivate calm even in the most chaotic moments. That ability to manage pressure and maintain serenity underwater carries over to my life out of the sea: it helps me to be more patient, more aware and make better decisions.
Apnea Passion: What role do competitions play in your apnea career? Beyond records and rankings, what motivates you?
Isabel Sánchez-Arán: Competitions help me stay motivated throughout the year, constantly learning, practicing and perfecting; they are the stage where I put my work to the test. They help me connect with the sport’s elite and keep me up to date, and I can then integrate all this into my training courses. The important thing is not just the result; it’s the process: every training session, every little advance, every dive. The medals are a joy, of course, but what really fills me is to share this path with other people passionate about the sea and see how, together, we make this sport grow.
Apnea Passion: What does it mean for you to represent Spain and what are your feelings and expectations for the next CMAS World Championship?
Isabel Sánchez-Arán: Representing Spain before the world is an immense pride and responsibility. I not only want to give my best in the water, but also to show the passion, perseverance and values that define our national team. The next World Championship in Mytikas is very special for me because I have the goal of reaching the 100 meters, but, beyond the mark, I hope to enjoy every dive and transmit the beauty of the process, whether I am ready to get there or not yet.
Apnea Passion: Could you tell us about the equipment you rely on for training and competitions?
Isabel Sánchez-Arán: I am fortunate to have a very solid environment: my life partner, Mara Torrealba, who is a fundamental pillar, and my colleagues from the Apnea Club La Caretta – Medes Freedivers in L’Estartit, with whom I share training and trust for my safety. The captain of the national team, Natalie Cabanas, and colleagues like Fran Quesada, Alfredo Roën, Luis Fariña, Gemma Vila, Almudena Blanco, Gari Iruretagoiena, even Miguel Lozano in some occasion in which we coexisted in my early years, all those with whom I have shared concentration and have demonstrated the good sense of companionship. In addition, now will also be in my life the Apnea Elx Club, which I have recently co-founded in my hometown – and it is a project that makes me especially excited. They are all spaces and people that motivate me and give me enormous energy. Without this human support, nothing would be possible.
Apnea Passion: Any comments about your non-technical sponsors?
Isabel Sánchez-Arán: I am very grateful for the trust of all the people and entities that support me, both locally and nationally, especially theSpanish Federation of Underwater Activities (FEDAS) and my sponsors NewFish and Bituna. Their support allows me to dedicate myself to training and competing with the necessary tranquility to face challenges as demanding as a World Championship. In addition, I love that it is not only about economic support, but also about sharing values: sustainability, love for the sea and a healthy lifestyle.
