British freediving athlete Becky Zak didn’t originally set out to become a competitor or an instructor. Like many divers, her journey began with simple curiosity and a love for being in the water. While travelling in Mexico’s cenotes in Quintana Roo, she became fascinated by the graceful freedivers gliding past. Fascinated, she decided she would sign up for a course. Only to discover that freediving wasn’t quite as easy as they made it look! After struggling with equalisation and even failing her first freediving course, Becky refused to give up. Through determination, coaching, and plenty of practice, she eventually mastered the technique that had once held her back.
That breakthrough sparked a passion that would shape the next chapter of her life. It took her to the World Championships where she represented Team GB last year. From training trips and international travel to teaching students of her own, Becky’s path in freediving has been transformative. We reached out to Becky to ask more about her journey so far, and find out about what’s coming next.
How Becky Zak Got Into Freediving and Being an Instructor
Four years ago, Becky visited Quintana Roo, Mexico, and immediately fell in love with swimming through the famous cenotes. She dived as deep as her ears would allow. Intrigued by the mysterious long fins of a freediver she met, she decided to give the sport a try. While she loved it right away, she struggled heavily with equalization (EQ). Undeterred by a failed SSI 1 course, she turned to a coach and YouTube tutorials to master the Frenzel technique. Once she finally cracked it, she was completely hooked.
She went on to complete her SSI 2 certification and squeezed in training whenever possible. After moving to Texas, she spent her summer weekends diving in Lake Travis. She even managed to shoe-horn freediving into her normal vacations abroad. Following a couple of years of independent, “rogue” diving, she decided she needed more formal direction and traveled to Dominica to cross over to AIDA 4.
Becoming an instructor was never her original plan. When organizing a trip to Bonaire, her goal was simply to book some depth sessions. However, realizing an instructor course cost about the same, she made a last-minute decision to just go for it.
The course was intense, challenging, and deeply inspiring. Armed with her new certification, she returned home to Austin, bought student equipment, and leaned on her professional background in social media marketing and video production to create her own promotional materials. She started teaching on weekends whenever she could, and has found sharing her passion for the water to be incredibly rewarding.
What Becky Enjoys About the Ocean and Freediving
For Becky, being underwater feels like flying. It brings her a profound sense of calm and freedom, allowing her to enter a world few get to experience. She loves freediving for its incredible community, the deep connection to nature, and the opportunities to travel. Beyond that, the discipline and self-awareness she’s cultivated — especially learning how to control her reactions to stress and discomfort — have seamlessly translated into her everyday life.
Becky’s Competitions and Achievements in 2025
The year 2025 proved to be unexpectedly busy. Encouraged by her British freediving friends to push past her imposter syndrome, Becky entered competitions she didn’t entirely feel ready for. Working alongside her incredible coach, Sanda Delija, she finally learned how to train productively toward specific goals. Though she had only started taking longer training trips in late 2024, her rapid progression fueled her excitement.
In the spring, she competed in Dominica with Blue Element. While initially intimidated by the immensely talented divers around her, she achieved a massive milestone: hitting 70 meters in bi-fins exactly four years to the day after her first SSI class. After a year of struggling with short trips, a lack of direction, and constantly chasing personal bests, this breakthrough was incredibly validating.
Urged on once again by her friends, she joined them for the CMAS World Championship. This is a goal she had quietly dreamed of but never truly expected to reach so quickly. Having only participated in a beginner-friendly competition in Mexico prior to this, stepping onto the “scary” world stage felt like a whirlwind. Training was daunting; surrounded by the sport’s greats, Becky had to adjust to the colder waters of the Mediterranean, which was a shock to the system. At the time, she felt her competition dives were shallow, but with perspective and reassurance from her coach and fellow divers, she walked away incredibly proud of her World Championship debut.
She closed out the year with one last competition in Dominica in November. Although her training window was shorter than usual, she arrived much more comfortable and confident. The event went remarkably well, culminating in a “pinch-me” moment when she secured an overall bronze medal — an achievement she never thought possible for herself. To top off a stellar year, Becky landed a sponsorship with 2971, wrapping up 2025 decked out in the UK’s sleekest freediving gear.
How Becky Juggles a Full-Time Career, Instructing, Training and Competing
Juggling it all comes with some difficulty! Becky has to stay incredibly organized and focused — meaning no naps after competition dives, just straight to her laptop. When she is home in Austin for a few months at a time, she works remotely while training in the pool and gym, and teaching on weekends. Thanks to her knack for time management and efficiency, this routine is manageable.
She considers herself lucky to work remotely for a highly supportive company, Create Creatine. They understand that her training is essentially like hitting the gym before work, just in the water. In fact, Becky often feels more focused at work during training trips. With fewer distractions and her restless energy burned off early, she sits down at her computer ready to tackle the day.
While she still loves teaching, it has taken a back seat recently. Because she is often traveling for training and competitions during Austin’s peak lake season, she can’t prioritize instructing as much as she used to. Moving into 2026, her new goal is to pivot toward 1-on-1 coaching rather than full courses, which will be much easier to manage alongside her busy schedule.
Becky Zak’s Favorite Place to Train
When it comes to diving conditions, Becky considers Dominica 100% unbeatable. What with the added bonus of fast internet for her remote work. She also loves the vibe and amenities of Kalamata, Dahab, and Kas. Because of the favorable time zones in those locations, she is able to dive and rest before clocking in for her workday.
Becky’s Advice For Beginner Freedivers
Becky highly recommends signing up for a formal course, whether on vacation or locally, to learn the basics and vital safety protocols before investing in equipment. Ahead of the course, she suggests checking out Instagram or YouTube tutorials on equalization and breath-hold tables. She also points beginners to the “Freediving” Facebook group — a resource she relied on heavily when she first started researching gear, instructors, and travel options — and notes that tools like ChatGPT can be surprisingly helpful for newcomers today.
Becky Zak’s Diving Plans and Goals for 2026
Becky Zak kicked off 2026 with a three-week training trip to Dominica. Having mostly trained straight into competitions recently, she has thoroughly enjoyed the chance to dive without the pressure of an impending event.
Looking ahead, her calendar is packed. She plans to compete in Dominica in May, followed by the CMAS World Championship in Roatan. By late summer, she hopes to train in Kas, which would allow her to catch up with her best friend who lives nearby. She is also planning a trip to the Maldives with Allie Riley from Blue Element to finally enjoy some vibrant marine life instead of strictly line diving. If she isn’t feeling too burnt out by the end of the year, she plans to wrap up the season at the November competition in Dominica.
Make sure to follow Becky’s training journey on Instagram. We can’t wait to see what 2026 brings for her!
