Host Samuel Axel talks to freediving instructor, coach and expat Karsten Mohr – live from the Canary Island of El Hierro. What follows is much more than a conversation about diving. It is an invitation to radical honesty, to reconnect with oneself – and to the question of what constitutes a truly good life.
The interview was conducted in English and published on Samuel Axel’s YouTube channel under the title “Deep Meditation through Freediving” on December 11, 2024.
(Here is an AI-generated summary of the English interview)
“Freediving is like a mirror of the soul” – A conversation about stillness, closeness to nature and transformation
From brand manager to man of the sea
Karsten Mohr explains how, after many years in the sporting goods industry, he felt the call of the deep – first metaphorically, then very practically. When his wife bought a piece of land on El Hierro, the door to a life in harmony with nature, permaculture and the sea opened for him. Instead of measuring success in numbers, he began to measure success in terms of inner peace and genuine transformation – in himself and in his students.
Apnea diving as an inner school
For Karsten, freediving is not a performance show, but a catalyst. “Only those who are completely with themselves can dive well,” he says. Because thoughts consume oxygen – and restlessness is immediately apparent in the water. If you don’t really let go, you’ll reach the surface faster than planned. This is why Karsten combines techniques from meditation, somatic coaching and breathwork with the practice of freediving – not to improve performance, but to raise awareness.
Life in transition: agriculture, coaching, community
Karsten also talks about his vision of an alternative status symbol: instead of yachts and houses, he would rather cultivate a piece of land, provide ecological education and show young people new perspectives. Together with his wife, he lives this idea – between coaching sessions via Zoom and manual work on their finca. The motto: high-tech meets high-touch.
Depth as a mirror of the psyche
Particularly impressive: Karsten’s view of the connection between body and mind. For him, water is not spiritual per se – but it mercilessly shows us how we are positioned internally. Every thought, every unconscious pattern is reflected in the depths. For him, this makes apnoea diving probably the most direct form of self-knowledge.
Conclusion: From A to B – no matter how deep
Whether top manager or beginner – Karsten accompanies people on their way from A to B. Whether 5 meters deep or 45 – the inner transformation is what counts. What counts in the end is the sparkle in your eyes after the dive, after the coaching, after the first real contact with yourself.
Podcast recommendation:
Anyone interested in personal development, being close to nature, alternative lifestyles or the meditative power of apnoea diving should listen to this episode.