Well-known on the North Coast and around the world as a South African freediving and breathhold champion and ocean conservationist, One Breath Beth, Beth Neale, goes by a couple of other names as well these days, including filmmaker and mom.
It was the very first day of filming the first season of their television series, Freediving Diaries, when Beth and her fiancé Miles discovered she was pregnant.
About to cross the border into Mozambique where they would spend the next eight weeks in a high malaria risk area, going out on boats daily, freediving and filming with all sorts of ocean creatures, Beth was understandably a little apprehensive.
“I reached out to other mothers who had done freediving while pregnant,” says Beth, a master free dive instructor herself. “After consulting with them, and based on my own extensive knowledge and experience, I decided to go for it.” And how glad she is that she did.
Beth’s beautiful baby girl Neve, now 14 months old, was born two months after Season 1 of Freediving Diaries aired on television. Before she was born, though, she had already been freediving with whale sharks, tiger sharks, whales, dolphins and even the rare and elusive dugong … all while safely tucked away in her mom’s tummy.
A four-times SA freediving champion, Beth is also a fervent ocean conservationist. She has taught children and adults freediving and ocean conservation, both locally and overseas.
The freediving couple met in Bermuda. Miles, who is from Canada and has a background in finance, had never been freediving when they first met. Now, though, he is a self-taught, highly skilled cameraman and incredible free diver. Together he and Beth make magic happen underwater.
It was when the Covid pandemic hit that they really moved their focus towards film. The response has been incredible. With more than 145 000 Instagram followers and the second season of their series about to start filming, it seems the public love being given a peek into this incredible underwater playground.
“Film allowed us to let people into the underwater world that we love, which was especially sought after when everyone was locked down and stuck at home,” says Beth. “Now we are using film to inspire people in a positive way, rather than focus on the ‘doom and gloom’ around the many challenges facing the health of our oceans. We believe that a positive influence can have a far greater effect than getting ‘bogged down’ by all the negatives. Ultimately, we want to show people how beautiful and how accessible the ocean is.”
As one of the fastest-growing water sports, Beth is thrilled to see so many more people exploring the ocean underwater. Freediving, she says, is not the ‘extreme sport’ it’s often perceived to be. “Anyone can free dive. It’s just about going underwater on one breath. This doesn’t mean you have to go very deep or hold your breath for a very long time.”
Beth also loves seeing families freediving together. Her own little mini-mermaid, currently does swim lessons at Swim Baby KZN in Ballito.
“The owner, Lisa, is amazing. She just ‘gets it’, and understands that babies can safely and naturally go underwater, as long as you learn the correct way to go about it. The greatest gift for me is seeing my little Neve able to go underwater.”
One of Beth’s most memorable freediving moments was while filming the last episode of their series in Sodwana (her favourite spot to dive in South Africa). “This gorgeous, marine protected area is a sanctuary for ragged tooth sharks and the pregnant raggies go there to gestate. I was able to swim with the pregnant sharks while pregnant myself and it was just the most incredibly special experience that I will never forget.”
The future looks bright for beautiful Beth and her lovely family. Not only are they about to start filming Season 2 of their series, but Beth is also in the process of launching a sustainable, recycled ‘mommy and me’ swimwear range, which she says is aimed at moms who don’t necessarily want to wear a bikini and are looking for something beautiful, fashionable and comfortable that they can share with their little ones. On the topic of ocean conservation, Beth says, “I think the positive side of the recent flooding is that it has opened people’s eyes up to what has been happening, and made them conscious of the impact our actions have on the ocean. People are seeing it now and can’t just turn away.”
Her biggest encouragement to people, though, especially those who live on the coast, is to get out and experience the ocean for themselves. “This is your blue backyard, after all. You don’t have to free dive to enjoy it. The North Coast in particular has so many amazing tidal pools and you don’t even need a mask and snorkel. Just go for a swim, pop your head under and take a look. Walk on the rocks at low tide and look in the rock pools – there is a whole eco-system right there, just waiting for you to explore! It will blow your mind.”
Details: Season 2 of Freediving Diaries is set to air on People’s Weather (DStv Channel 180) early next year. In the meantime, follow Beth and Miles at @onebreathbeth, @freedivingcouple
Text: LEAH SHONE | Photographs: CHRIS ALLAN | Hair & makeup: GINA RODRIGUES
