Q What is the most memorable moment of your freediving life to date?
A There are a few. It's hard to narrow it down to one experience. My first four-minute static (that was a really long time ago, but it was when I started to realise anything is possible), getting a world record and being published in the Guinness Book of Records, standing on the top of the podium at a world championships, diving with humpback whales in Tonga, diving with sea lions in the Galapagos and seeing the people I've coached improve in their technique and start breaking personal, national and world records.
Q Why do you do what you do?
A Freediving is about balance. It balances the physical with the psychological. You have to be fit and have good technique so that your body burns less oxygen for maximum output, but you also have to be calm when under pressure and when your body is essentially going into shock.
Freediving teaches you about your body as you have a heightened sensitivity of what is going on, both physically and emotionally.
You learn to meditate, to let go of the little stuff and concentrate on the bigger picture. As a sport, I like how progress is easily measurable and goals can be achieved. Results are based around time, distance or depth. I also like the social aspect and camaraderie.
As everyone has such different abilities, and because you cannot dive alone due to safety protocols, divers tend to compete more against themselves than others and are supportive of each other.
I've done so many long dives now that I know the different phases of struggle and how to relax through them with a level of acceptance.
The body is an amazing organism full of in-built mechanisms for your survival, and it definitely lets you know that you're doing something with a level of risk. But it makes you strong and and the ``hurt'' isn't real pain; it disappears as soon as you breathe again.
Q What is your earliest water or swimming-related memory?
A Playing with plastic toys in the bath. I think I liked bubbles.
Q What did you want to be when you were growing up?
A I always wanted to be an architect until about a year before university, when I didn't know what to do. But I went and studied architecture and now work as a registered architect.
It's a good broad career. Freediving is my hobby. I've thought about making a business out of it, but it's still really a fringe sport.
Q What is your most embarrassing moment?
A I'm not that easily embarrassed, but my suit split along the bum while diving in the Bahamas and I didn't notice. Another time I vomited - thanks to nervousness - about one minute before a competition static dive.
The officials were murmuring about whether or not I'd still dive, but I did and set a national record. It did taste a bit funny though.
Q Who would play you in the film of your life?
A Nicole Kidman. I aspire to have hair more like hers and less like a shaggy mop. Admittedly, she probably has a full-time hair stylist.
Q What is your guiltiest pleasure?
A Pinot noir and dark chocolate, preferably together. Good antioxidants and tasty. Luckily, in small quantities they do not adversely affect my diving (the following day). I honestly believe they have the potential to improve it.
Q What would be your dream trip?
A High on my list at the moment is diving with whale sharks in the Philippines. I'd like to spend a couple of weeks there with some of the other Kiwi freediving ladies. I think we'd have a blast.
Q Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?
A I thought about this question for a while. There are awesome people with loads of knowledge and experience who would be great to spend some time with - David Attenborough springs to mind - but I came back to Miranda Hart, Rebel Wilson and a small group of my closest girlfriends. Did I mention pinot noir? I reckon we'd laugh until our bellies hurt. It's good to not to take life too seriously all the time.
Q What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
A My partner and I have been house shopping in Queenstown for a year and a-half. I'd love to arrive at an auction with no other bidders.
But seriously, I'm ready to empty my stuff out of boxes, start some renovations that would make a house into our home. and set up a vegie garden that doesn't involve a whole lot of buckets. Plus I'd like to host that dinner party.
Q What keeps you awake at night?
A Freediving has given me the skills of good breathing, ability to let go of stress and relax, so not much bothers me enough to keep me up.
The worst things are sugar after 7pm, dehydration and using my laptop right before bed. Normally I'm pretty tired after full and busy days. I find it hard to sit still and if I do, my partner comes up with other ways to wear me out during the day like walking up big hills or cycle touring.
Q What song would you like played at your funeral?
A I really don't care.
I'll be dead.
Footnote: Kathryn Nevatt was voted the world's best female freediver in 2008 and runner-up in 2011. The 37-year-old architect, who took up the sport 12 years ago, is a former world champion in the static apnea discipline - where the diver lies face down on the surface of the water and holds their breath - and is a former world record-holder in the dynamic without fins event. She has held many national and Oceania records in all six freediving disciplines, and has taken part in international open water depth competitions. She has a breath, and has dived to a depth of 65 metres. She founded the Queenstown Freediving Club a year ago after moving to the Wakatipu.
