Natalia Molchanova, regarded as world's greatest free diver is feared to be dead after she failed to surface from a dive in the Balearic Sea, near Spain.
The son of the 53-year-old diver, who has previously reached depths of 75 metres on a single breath and could go without air for nine minutes, was diving for fun with three others without fins, on the coast of Formentera, but is yet to surface, the New York Times reported.
As per the reports, Molchanova, who holds 41 world records and is a 23-time world champion, was diving in an area with particularly unpredictable currents.
While the water temperature was about 26 degrees celsius, a layer deep below the surface could have been cooler, and such a contrast could "shock the system.
Fellow divers conducted a search before calling for help when Molchanova didn't turn up, and private boats, the Coast Guard and helicopters joined in the fruitless search that started on Sunday and was resumed Monday morning.
In a statement, her family said Molchanova was doing what she loved and her passion for freediving burned so deep inside of her that she dedicated her life to it.
