Career
The dive also marked the inauguration of the Big Blue Games, a free diving competition to be held annually in Spetses, Greece, with the cooperation of the Mayor of Spetses and with the participation of free diving champions from all over the world. This specific dive and some of its circumstances has been the basis of the movie The Freediver. Danai Varveri a student at the University of Thessaloniki, became interested in free diving when she joined BIOS, a Greek, non-profit underwater conservation organization, which was founded in 1995, by Alkiviades David, President and Chief Executive Officer of CommerceKey.com Incorporated. and Kostas Thoctarides, a professional wreck diver, represents Greece at the Washington District of Columbia based Center Foreign Marine Conservation.
On October 4, 1999 the 20-year-old physical education student, succeeded in her dramatic attempt to dive 40 meters (132 feet) below the surface of the sea, and return safely.
The event was planned to help raise awareness of underwater contamination as part of a larger seabed cleanup project conducted by the Greek, non-profit underwater conservation organization, BIOS. Since May of 1999, Varveri had actively participated in various BIOS organized underwater cleanup projects, which often involve as many as 170 divers at one time. The dive, was captured using underwater video cameras and can be viewed via streaming video by visiting Scubaman.
Six years later Danai, now married and has a two-year-old daughter, picked up diving once more. Currently Danai resides in Veria.
Natural Weight (Nature Apnea), -40m, Spetses, Greece, 1999
The 2004 movie The Freediver, directed by Alki David, was based somewhat on Danai"s story.
Camilla Rutherford was cast in the role of Danai Varveri.
