Jacques Mayol
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Posted by Gus Leous in Journal section |
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Jacques Mayol, holder of a dozen world breath-hold diving records, was the first man to descend to 100 meters (330 feet), a feat he accomplished in 1976. He followed this with yet another record breaking drop to 105 meters (346 feet) at the age of 56.
Jacques born in 1927, died in Italy in December 2001 bringing to an end a life-long passion for diving and becoming one with nature and the sea. He split his life between Italy, the West Indies on the island of South Caicos and Japan. He also collaborated in the writing and production of many documentary films. His physical performance was enhanced by his knowledge and practice of Yoga, other oriental disciplines and his study of philosophies. Jacques Mayol's life was the subject of Luc Besson's film The Big Blue (Le Grand Bleu).
In that film, actor Jean-Marc Barr's character was based upon Jacques superb physical performance in deep breath-hold diving and his remarkable bond with dolphins.
Jacques Mayol was born in Shanghai in 1927. His parents work in China and often take their son to the sea shore where he uses every minute to explore what will become his second home. Mayol’s true love for the sea was born in 1955 when he works in Florida. In the Miami aquarium he has the opportunity to meet Clown - a young female dolphin. It is the dolphins that become the foundation of the whole life philosophy of Jacques Mayol. The dolphin who helps Mayol to completely shape it is Jojo. Mayol meets the dolphin by accident while hunting lobsters on Caicos Island during the 60’s. The diver names it after the curious Merou from Cousteau’s movie “The world of Silence”. Later Mayol manages to film the combined dive of human and dolphin to -60 meters. In 1983 the diver publishes his cult book “Homo Delphinus”.
But what turns Jacques Mayol into a role model for all freedivers is not his ability to communicate with the dolphins, but his sports career. The first apnea diving record Mayol sets in 1966 - 60 meters. From this moment on begins the legendary rivalry with Enzo Majorca. Both divers take turns in setting new world records but in 1976 Mayol did the impossible and crossed the ultimate limit of -100 meters. The bar has been set “too high” and the record remains unbeaten for 7 years. In 1983 at the age of 56 Mayol dives to the fantastic -105 meters.
During the whole of his active career the dolphin man assists the first steps of the underwater medicine. He is convinced that all mammals may reduce their heartbeat rate when diving. Mayol proves it during on of his greatest dives - his heart slows up from 70 to 20 beats per minute - just as it happens with the dolphins.
Jacques Mayol’s life and his rivalry with Enzo Majorca inspired the French director Luc Besson for the creation of “The Big Blue”. The semi-biogralphic movie with the participation of Jean Reno and Jean-Marc Barr was released in 1988 and immediately turned into a cult movie for all freedivers.
After setting his last record Mayol resigned to the Island of Elba. There he continues his work and swims every day. He often makes unassisted dives to -40 - 50 meters. On the island begins his friendship with the future record-breaker Umberto Pelizzari.
Despite that Mayol meets difficulties in accepting his slow departure from the freediving world. The dolphin man often suffers heavy depressions and even seeks professional help. But apparently without much success…
On December 22nd, 2001 Jacques Mayol takes his own life. His last will is for his body to be cremated and the ashes spread over the Sea.
The death of Jacques Mayol closes a great page in the history book of Freediving.
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