Deep Water | Tortoise Investigates podcast

Deep Water | Tortoise Investigates

Three years ago travel writer Lydia Gard discovered freediving almost by accident. It’s an extreme and beautiful sport defined by one simple objective: to dive as deep as you can on one single breath. Record holders are now routinely diving to more than 120 metres, pushing the sport and their bodies to find out what’s humanly possible. Through her coach, Lydia was drawn into a small but fanatical community of competition athletes all united in their drive for depth, and that’s where she stumbled on a darker side of the sport. Rumours swirled that a group of top divers were doping to get deeper, faster. As the community began to turn on each other over the allegations, one prominent diver decided to take the law into his own hands. A secret sting operation was meant to put an end to the problem by bringing the alleged dopers out of the dark, and into the light. But the issue hasn't gone away. And now, a lot of people who’ve been too scared to speak up, are ready to talk. Episodes 1-4 are available to listen now. Subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to binge listen to the entire series today. Subscribe to [The Observer ] (https://observer.co.uk/) today and get access to: ---Our podcasts before anyone else ---A daily edition, curated by our editors 7 days a week ---Puzzles from the inventors of the cryptic crossword ---Recipes for every occasion ---Free tickets to join Observer events in our newsroom or online Click [here] (https://open.acast.com/networks/61ba16ddafe1fc001a418e0d/shows/61ba18761a8cbe923a3cf195/observer.co.uk/subscribe) to subscribe today for just £1 for your first month. Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Three years ago travel writer Lydia Gard discovered freediving almost by accident. It’s an extreme and beautiful sport defined by one simple objective: to dive as deep as you can on one single breath. Record holders are now routinely diving to more than 120 metres, pushing the sport and their bodies to find out what’s humanly possible. Through her coach, Lydia was drawn into a small but fanatical community of competition athletes all united in their drive for depth, and that’s where she stumbled on a darker side of the sport. Rumours swirled that a group of top divers were doping to get deeper, faster. As the community began to turn on each other over the allegations, one prominent diver decided to take the law into his own hands. A secret sting operation was meant to put an end to the problem by bringing the alleged dopers out of the dark, and into the light. But the issue hasn't gone away. And now, a lot of people who’ve been too scared to speak up, are ready to talk. Episodes 1-4 are available to listen now. Subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to binge listen to the entire series today. Subscribe to [The Observer ] (https://observer.co.uk/) today and get access to: ---Our podcasts before anyone else ---A daily edition, curated by our editors 7 days a week ---Puzzles from the inventors of the cryptic crossword ---Recipes for every occasion ---Free tickets to join Observer events in our newsroom or online Click [here] (https://open.acast.com/networks/61ba16ddafe1fc001a418e0d/shows/61ba18761a8cbe923a3cf195/observer.co.uk/subscribe) to subscribe today for just £1 for your first month. Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

 

#107

Click Bait | Deep Water Ep5

An anti-doping officer tells Lydia that drugs are only considered a problem in freediving ... more

09 Dec 2025

29 MINS

29:14

09 Dec 2025


#106

Don’t hold your breath | Deep Water Ep4

The CEO of the United States Anti-Doping Agency – and the man who caught Lance Armstrong –... more

02 Dec 2025

26 MINS

26:44

02 Dec 2025


#105

In the bag | Deep Water Ep3

Vertical Blue, 2023, the moment the doping scandal erupts. The competition organiser, Will... more

25 Nov 2025

30 MINS

30:42

25 Nov 2025


#104

Fair Play | Deep Water Ep2

Lydia travels to Kalamata, Greece, a renowned freediving spot to investigate the doping al... more

18 Nov 2025

25 MINS

25:41

18 Nov 2025


#103

Depth Wish | Deep Water Ep1

Three years ago, travel writer Lydia Gard discovered freediving. An extreme and beautiful ... more

18 Nov 2025

25 MINS

25:52

18 Nov 2025


#102

Introducing ... Deep Water

Three years ago travel writer Lydia Gard discovered freediving almost by accident. It’s an... more

11 Nov 2025

04 MINS

04:11

11 Nov 2025


#101

Myths and monsters | The Lab Detective Ep4

Rachel Sylvester travels to Greece to investigate whether genetic science could change the... more

05 Aug 2025

34 MINS

34:33

05 Aug 2025


#100

Science versus the law | The Lab Detective Ep3

Scientist Carola Vinuesa and her team test their extraordinary genetic discovery in a cour... more

29 Jul 2025

33 MINS

33:32

29 Jul 2025


#99

The eureka moment | The Lab Detective Ep2

Kathleen Folbigg is just trying to survive. She’s a grieving mother, sentenced to life in ... more

22 Jul 2025

38 MINS

38:29

22 Jul 2025


#98

Three is murder | The Lab Detective Ep1

Journalist Rachel Sylvester investigates the case of 'Australia's worst serial killer'. An... more

22 Jul 2025

40 MINS

40:09

22 Jul 2025


#97

Introducing...The Lab Detective

Introducing...The Lab Detective Kathleen Folbigg experienced unimaginableloss. All four of... more

15 Jul 2025

04 MINS

04:08

15 Jul 2025


#96

An update on the story | Lucky Boy

When Lucky Boy launched back in March, there was an important detail thatdidn't make it in... more

06 Jun 2025

03 MINS

03:06

06 Jun 2025


#95

Lucky Boys | Lucky Boy Ep4

Sally Anne Bowen doesn’t want to speak about her relationship with Gareth, but it turns ou... more

10 Mar 2025

52 MINS

52:00

10 Mar 2025


#94

The school | Lucky Boy Ep3

Chloe hears from a former teacher who seems to support what Gareth believes - that there w... more

04 Mar 2025

41 MINS

41:07

04 Mar 2025


#93

The relationship | Lucky Boy Ep2

Gareth is convinced that his memories are true and that there are plenty of witnesses who ... more

25 Feb 2025

44 MINS

44:47

25 Feb 2025


#92

Gareth | Lucky Boy Ep1

Gareth spent years believing he was a lucky boy. He was the 14-year-old who got the attent... more

25 Feb 2025

37 MINS

37:27

25 Feb 2025


#91

Introducing...Lucky Boy

Gareth’s whole life has been defined by a relationship he had 35 years ago when, as a 14-y... more

25 Feb 2025

03 MINS

03:03

25 Feb 2025


#90

A star is born | Elon's Spies Ep4

When Donald Trump declared victory in the US presidential election, he told an adoring cro... more

12 Nov 2024

29 MINS

29:38

12 Nov 2024


#89

Amber | Elon's Spies Ep3

To his surprise, Alexi finds himself speaking to a local reporter at the Gold Coast Bullet... more

22 Oct 2024

40 MINS

40:34

22 Oct 2024


#88

Horrible human being | Elon's Spies Ep2

When Martin Tripp worked at Tesla, he took the advice of his boss Elon Musk - if you disco... more

15 Oct 2024

37 MINS

37:16

15 Oct 2024


#87

Pedo guy | Elon's Spies Ep1

In 2018, Vernon Unsworth is at the centre of a global news story. He plays a crucial role ... more

08 Oct 2024

38 MINS

38:49

08 Oct 2024


#86

Introducing...Elon's Spies

Elon Musk is one of the most powerful men in the world. He's a billionaire, the founder of... more

01 Oct 2024

02 MINS

02:59

01 Oct 2024


#85

The lawsuit | Master Ep 7

Neil Gaiman faces a lawsuit in the United States. The first woman to come forward and accu... more

14 Sep 2024

28 MINS

28:04

14 Sep 2024


#84

The phone calls | Master Ep 6

A fifth woman comes forward with allegations against the author Neil Gaiman. Reporter: Pau... more

12 Sep 2024

55 MINS

55:25

12 Sep 2024


#83

The NDAs | Master Ep 5

Almost a month since the investigation where two women came forward with allegations that ... more

12 Sep 2024

40 MINS

40:25

12 Sep 2024


#82

The fan | Master Ep 4

The second woman to allege Neil Gaiman sexually assaulted her first met him as an 18-year-... more

12 Sep 2024

42 MINS

42:31

12 Sep 2024


#81

The pond | Master Ep 3

New Zealand police tell the former nanny there isn’t enough evidence to actively pursue he... more

12 Sep 2024

35 MINS

35:08

12 Sep 2024