In Focus: Meet Salma Shaker, Saudi Arabia’s record-breaking freediver

Saudi freediver Salma Shaker | Photo Credit: Daan Verhoeven Growing up in the coastal city of Jeddah, Salma Shaker developed an early and enduring connection with the ocean. divers. and “I grew up in a family of ocean lovers I must have been a month or two when my parents introduced me to the Red Sea,” she mentions. What started as a hobby and some relaxing time with the fish soon blossomed into a passionate affair with freediving. Latest updates suggest that, “When I found freediving, everything changed. I had never known passion. But when I dived for the first time, I felt something and realised ‘is that what people feel when they say they are passionate?’ It was a really nice feeling.” Salma Shaker is currently the deepest Arab woman in history, a prestigious title in the world of freediving. | Photo Credit: Daan Verhoeven In 2019 Salma broke Nada Alrasheed’s record to become the deepest Saudi Woman Freediver. During that historic moment, she spent two minutes and 20 seconds 70 metres under the Red Sea on a single breath. Latest updates suggest that, So, how does it feel to be that deep in the ocean? New information indicates that, the world becomes very quiet., “At that depth Sound fades, movement slows and everything feels intimate and internal. of course, but it’s the good kind of pressure., There’s pressure It’s as if the ocean is giving you a major hug. It reminds you how small you are and genuinely humbles you,” she replies Shaker holds the record for the Deepest Arab Woman | Photo Credit: Daan Verhoeven Breaking stereotypesSalma’s presence on the world stage adds more than just metres to a scoreboard; it dismantles the stereotypes about the participation of women from the Middle East in high-stakes sport. But Salma belongs to a new generation of athletes who are rewriting history with sheer grit. She has become a living example of how the cultural landscape in her country is opening up. New information indicates that, Freediving is classified as an extreme sport | Photo Credit: Daan Verhoeven “So much has changed in Saudi in the last five-seven years. I wish people understood that Saudi Arabia is full of layered, curious, driven people who are deeply connected to Nature and sport. Women are being empowered to excel in sports. Latest updates suggest that, It’s amazing to see this change, especially when you are a part of it,” she mentions.Deeper meaningFreediving is a sport of brutal physiological demands. the lungs are compressed to a fraction of their size, and the heart rate slows to a crawl., At 70 metres into the ocean In that state freedivers must battle their body’s urge to breathe. But Salma rejects this theory. In a recent development, “You can’t fight the body; you have to listen to it and train alongside it,” she explains. In a recent development, “I’ve learned that panic comes from resisting sensations. According to recent reports, When you accept them, they soften.” The ocean reminds you how small you are and genuinely humbles you believes Shaker | Photo Credit: Daan Verhoeven While Salma speaks of the ocean with a sense of wonder, she is under no illusion about the dangers it could pose. “Freediving is an extreme sport, and while you can get injured doing anything incorrectly, the stakes here are higher because we are in an environment we don’t fully control. The first rule is to stay humble; you can never be arrogant with the ocean. you don’t do it., If there is even a one percent risk another time.” Last year, Shaker competed at Vertical Blue in the Bahamas, often referred to as the Wimbledon of Freediving | Photo Credit: Daan Verhoeven Last year, Salma competed at Vertical Blue in the Bahamas, often referred to as the Wimbledon of freediving., I always tell myself: there will always be another dive she is looking for a different kind of depth., But for now “It’s not only about metres anymore. I want to be a mentor for young talent and build a sustainable freediving culture in the region. the goal has shifted from personal records to a broader legacy., Maybe even begin holding competitions here for free divers from across the world.”For Salma She is now making space for others to follow her into the blue. 2026 11:33 am IST, Published - May 09