Diving into life in Shetland

With its crystal-clear waters and rugged coastlines, Shetland is a prime diving destination, home to a hidden realm of marine treasures waiting to be explored.

Anyone wanting a piece of the underwater action will be delighted to hear that Peter Szücs, a dynamic freediving advocate and soon-to-be fully qualified instructor, is stepping forward to share his passion for the sport and the local seas by setting up a freediving club.

Peter left his native Hungary in 2010 after learning about Shetland and wondering if the islands could offer a better life for him and his wife, Rèka.

A motorcycle crash in 2006 had left Peter with serious injuries and greatly reduced mobility. Peter says: “Before [the motorcycle crash] I worked in construction, hanging from ropes, painting high buildings and doing all sorts of extreme sports in my free time.”

As a result of his injuries, Peter needed to drastically change his lifestyle and career and embrace a less “extreme” lifestyle. That didn’t dampen his adventurous spirit and he chose to pursue his Shetland dream.

He vividly remembers arriving in Shetland on Up-Helly-A’ evening (the last Tuesday in January), when close to a thousand torch-bearing guizers parade through the streets of Lerwick and set alight a replica Viking longboat as part of the famous fire festival.

“I didn’t have any English at that time” Peter recalls. “I landed quite late. When I got to Lerwick, I saw so many people dressed up and burning a boat.” He laughs, remembering his utter bemusement. “I was like, where the hell have I ended up?”

Three months later, Rèka followed him, and they started their lives in Shetland.

The plan was to stay for two years, save money and move back to Hungary where they would buy a house and settle down. But the warm Shetland welcome the couple experienced made them rethink their plans.

Almost 15 years later, they are still here, feeling very much at home, and with “deep roots” in the community.

Peter says: “I started off working as a builder. All my clients were so lovely, especially the locals. I just feel so at home here. I have more close friends here than I do in Hungary. That’s what kept me going”.

Seeking a more relaxed lifestyle, Peter quit his building job to pursue a career as a woodwork instructor at the Anderson High School in Lerwick.

In addition, he has established a handmade wooden furniture business. He describes Shetland as a “land of opportunities” and says: “I always thought in Shetland you can do, and you can be, whatever you want”.

Away from work, he loves Shetland's beautiful landscapes and exploring a hidden underwater world.

Peter's foray into freediving began years ago, in the clear quarry lakes of Hungary, his homeland.

From a young age, the freedom and simplicity of moving underwater with just a pair of fins captivated him. "I always loved it”, he says.

"I felt super-powered on the water, like I could just swim endlessly”.

Peter’s passion for diving followed him to Shetland, where he was reintroduced to the sport by Billy Arthur, a seasoned diver who lent him his gear for a spontaneous dive.

This experience reignited Peter's love for freediving and helped to propel him into the heart of the Shetland diving community.

Since settling in Shetland, Peter has become a central figure in local diving circles, with an infectious enthusiasm for the sport. His involvement has culminated in forming a freediving club, an initiative born out of a presentation at the Islesburgh Community Centre in Lerwick that attracted an unexpected crowd.

"It turned out it was a full house event," Peter recalls. “I was just expecting a few of my friends, but about 40-50 people signed up for it.”

The club's formation was driven by a desire to make freediving accessible and safe, emphasising proper training and equipment use.

The exceptional clarity of the local waters and abundant marine life set freediving in Shetland apart. The islands' location at the confluence of the North Sea and Atlantic Ocean creates a challenging and rewarding underwater environment .

"We’re lucky here because we have a really long coastline” Peter explains. “I mean, it's a tiny island, but if you see the coastline, I think you’d need to live at least three lives to be able to dive every spot around Shetland.”

This extensive coastline is dotted with diverse dive sites, from shallow bays perfect for beginners to deeper waters challenging even the most experienced divers.

One of Peter's most memorable free diving moments involved an encounter with a skate, which he recalls with palpable awe.

“We were diving from Billy’s [Billy Arthur’s] boat at the north side of Bressay and, as we were swimming back [to the boat] I saw something from my peripheral vision, and I looked down to see a skate. It was at least two metres tip to tip.

"We didn't touch that majestic animal. We just admired it. It had an alien look to it because of the spots on the side, it looked like a sci-fi starship.”

Peter believes the community aspect of freediving is equally beneficial as the sport itself. It fosters a close-knit community of like-minded individuals who share a love for the sea and an adventurous spirit.

"You meet people who just give energy to you because they're there for that purpose," Peter explains. This social interaction, combined with the physical and mental health benefits contributes to a sense of wellbeing.

Peter is enthusiastic about expanding the club and introducing more people to the joys of freediving. There are plans for training trips abroad, equipment-sharing initiatives, and community-building activities to further cement freediving's place in Shetland’s vibrant leisure scene.

Peter envisions a thriving club and plans a crowdfunding venture to raise money for wetsuits and diving belts. Local businesses are also being approached for sponsorship.

In Shetland, freediving is more than just a sport; it's a way of life that offers a unique blend of tranquillity, community connection and adventure.

As Peter says: “You might never have thought you could have amazing adventures at home. But you can.

"You can literally get up, go in flip flops down to the pier, jump in, and you’ll find yourself in another world.”