Freediver narrowly misses German record in Starnberger See

Apnoetaucher Minja Marinković aimed to break the German depth record in the Starnberger See, targeting 85 meters. However, the 29-year-old lost consciousness about three meters from the surface during his ascent, disqualifying the attempt.

Marinković shared his experience on Instagram, stating he "blacked out" in the final meters but was quickly helped and regained consciousness. "It just wasn't enough," he wrote.

In the Free Immersion discipline, divers pull themselves down a rope without fins. The descent involves a free fall from about 30 meters. The greatest risk is losing consciousness due to oxygen deprivation. Marinković described the deep dive as a "very peaceful feeling," noting that deep thought is difficult and undesirable due to oxygen consumption.

This is not the first near-miss at this location. In 2018, diver Jens Stötzner also lost consciousness after reaching 81 meters, invalidating his attempt. The German Free Immersion record remains at 80 meters, set in 2011. The international record in the sea is 137 meters.