H2O Team Maribor – a look back

• H2O team as PDM section
• H2O team Independent association
• History of sporting success

The beginnings of the H2O Team Maribor date back to 1975, when the sport of scuba diving began to develop within the framework of the Maribor Diving Association (PDM) through some of its still active members. Most of the founding members of the PDM were active in the Celje association, which was part of the EMO Celje factory, before the founding of the association. The first beginnings were in the framework of PK Kovinar from Maribor.

The initiators and founders are most often mentioned as Andrej Mulej and Vlado Regoršek, who, with the help of their friends, gathered 32 Maribor citizens, supporters of the sport, who were also the first members of the association, at the founding meeting of the association. In March 1977, the association became independent, registered and started to operate as the Maribor Diving Association, with its headquarters in the premises of the Pristan swimming pool.

Alongside the tank divers, who were very few at first, the first members were also underwater hunters, former swimmers, in short, athletes. Since its foundation, it has been primarily a sports association. The older members of the association also participated in a sporting spirit, attending training and recreation sessions twice a week in Pristan, and taking part in sports competitions (the Styrian championships: underwater hunting, fin swimming, orienteering and long-distance swimming on the Mura River). In 1977, the year of its foundation, we organised the Yugoslav National Fin Swimming Championships, which was the first time that computer data processing was introduced. The Association has continued to follow its founding goals and has continued to organise competitions at national, republican and regional level. The competitions were also social and sporting.

The first president of the association was Andrej Mulej, who in his enthusiasm turned his own flat into the association’s office. He involved all his relatives in the activities of the Society and was the main driving force. The younger ones did not call him ata Mulej for nothing. During his presidency, the association flourished and soon surpassed most of the associations in Slovenia and Yugoslavia in terms of activity and membership. We had practically everything, we were among the first and among the best in everything, both in the sporting field (swimming with fins, spearfishing) and in the professional diving field (we had the first diving equipment service in Yugoslavia, we participated in the establishment of JUSMER – Yugoslavian Diving Centre for the Medicine of Mating, we organised the first course for Independent Divers (P3), which until then could only be organised by the republican diving federation, etc.)….since 1980 we also had a computerised membership and data on members’ activities). After ten years, Andrei Mule grew tired of this hard work, much of it done alone and with the help of his family. He has devoted himself more to diving activities, service, education, rescue…

In 1987, Miro Jelenkovič took over as President. However, its action was more short-lived. Busy work, car accident, family, …. were the reason why he could not do the job as he wanted and as the members expected him to do it.

Thus, in 1989, the presidency was taken over by Vojko Lah Nuni, who has been the grey eminence of the association since its foundation, always standing by the side of everything that was happening, initiating many activities and steering between the rocks of contradictions and different interests that arise in such an association. As an architect, he was also the creator of the Society’s visual identity. Indeed, Nuni led the Society in its most difficult times, when it was growing from small to quite large, both in terms of the number of members and the scope of its activities. As a person with experience in managing economic entities, he has also been able to solve the various problems that are typical of such collectives. He raised funds, demonstrated the Society’s activities to the public, presented to the municipal men the importance of the Society for the environment in which we operate, and in the field of sport, he was able to present the strength and greatness of the results of the athletes.

In short, during his presidency, the association flourished, both in the field of professional staff (instructors, teachers, coaches), sport (we had the best competitors, national representatives in both fin swimming and spearfishing), professional work (we had the biggest, best diving equipment service in Slovenia, Yugoslavia), we started to organise big national and interstate competitions, recreational divers also found their interest in the association (regular recreation in the pool, two vans for transporting equipment and people, lots of equipment, the possibility to work in the association and thus to get the possibility of cheaper, free diving).

H2O Team as a PDM section

In 1998, Nuni also acquired its first premises in the Bakery, which were furnished by the members. In the years 1994-1996, certain disagreements emerged, which led to a tendency to work in a different way and to secede. Nuni and some other members of the IO at the time managed to prevent these intentions. This led to the creation of the H2O Team, which became a section within the PDM, specialising mainly in breath-hold diving. In 2001, Nuni and some other members of the IO handed over their work and responsibilities to younger members.

Iztok Pohorec was elected President in the 2001 Assembly elections. With this AGM and elections, the association decided to take a slightly different path, one that promoted sporting activities less. It has focused mainly on diving with autonomous equipment and recreational diving. The H2O Team Section has reorganised and unified its interests during this time, membership has increased and the Section has been relatively involved in the Society’s processes and co-decision making.

The H2O team has become increasingly active and visible in Slovenia. In 2004, we organised the first official competition in Slovenia and in 2005 the first official national championship. The correctness of the orientation of the work with young people was also demonstrated here, as our members (Mitja Štampfer, Jure Daić, Sandi Bitenc, Jure Kompan and Primož Šauperl) won almost all the titles of national champions and national record holders at the competition. In August 2005, our team took part in the 1st Swiss International Olympic Games in Switzerland. AIDA World Breathing Diving Championships. In March 2006, we organised the MAD CUP, which later became synonymous with top-organised pool diving competitions in apnea.

We have also been active in the field of information and education. On 10.5.2005 we launched the website www.h2oteam.com, for which Sandi Bitenc was the main contributor. Shortly afterwards (16.7.2005) the diving forum was published. Together with the new website, they have become one of the most visited websites in Slovenia, especially for their expert articles on spearfishing and lime fishing. During this time, leading members also publish professional articles in nautical and sports magazines. In 2005, the first courses were held, led by Jure Daić and Sandi Bitenc. Hunters have also been active, with twice-yearly spearfishing weeks, where most of the active members gather.

Until 2006, the H2O Team section was part of the PDM, during which time its activities have expanded and deepened to such an extent that the idea of creating a specialised scuba diving association for competitive scuba diving and spearfishing has finally come to fruition.

Author.

H2O Team becomes an independent association

Due to the rapid development of free diving and the desire for more serious sporting activities and systematic planning of the association’s activities, as well as due to conflicts between certain international diving federations, on 19.4.2006 the H2O Team section became independent and registered as the independent Sports Association H2O Team. Aleš Novak was the first President of the Association, the other founding members and members of the Executive Board were Jure Daić, Sandi Bitenc, Andrej Furman and the Business Secretary Mihela Gostenčnik.

In August 2006, in cooperation with the Forma fitness centre, we carried out the high-profile 2901 project, when participants climbed the highest point in Slovenia, cycled to the sea and dived to the deepest point of our sea in one day.

This year we have been awarded the AIDA Swimming Pool World Championships 2007. Aleš Novak, Sandi Bitenc and Jure Daić were the driving force of the association at that time. The competitors have consistently achieved impressive results, several national championships and national records in various disciplines. The AIDA World Championships in 2007, with 140 competitors from 28 countries, are certainly the highlight of the Association’s organisational efforts.

In 2008 we prepare and publish the Society’s calendar, for which the photographs were contributed by one of the best underwater photographers in our country, the now sadly deceased Dejan Šarman, who for some time was also the head of the Society’s section for diving with autonomous equipment. We organise several eco-actions, Help the Drava, and MAD CUP becomes a traditional event. The spearfishing section has also been active throughout the years, organising weekends or short spearfishing holidays in the Adriatic, with Andrej Furman and Aleš Novak as writers, and later increasingly also Jure Daić. We usually have spearfishing weeks in spring and autumn. The association has protected many sporting and entertainment events taking place on the River Drava.

Throughout this time, we have regularly organised recreational and training sessions for our members in the pool, which take place twice a week, occasionally as serious training sessions, led by competitors Jure Daić and Jure Kompan. Regular club meetings with varied thematic content are organised at the home of member Primož Šauperl in Bezena near Rusa, and in cooperation with ZIPS we organise screenings of films with underwater themes.

Over the years, scuba diving has become an increasingly popular sport throughout Slovenia. The H2O team has been promoting the sport all along. After Jureto Daić’s successes at the 2009 World Championships in the Bahamas and the first Slovenian dive deeper than 100m, all Slovenian media reported on Jureto’s achievements.

In recent years, training and courses have been held in several areas, in particular in snorkelling and spearfishing. The training was started by Jure Daić and Sandi Bitenc, who retired from the active work of the association in 2008. At the beginning of 2011, Jure Daić became President.

Membership has been relatively high throughout the years, and in 2011 it exceeded 100 members for the first time. During this time, new projects have emerged. A very positive response was received at the first Slovenian deep breathing diving camp called the H2O team training camp, where in August 2011 H2O team members were able to dedicate themselves to safely setting personal depth records. Recreational

Divers have reached previously unimaginable depths, with the deepest going over 50m. The successful camp immediately became a tradition. In July 2012, the Association held for the first time a new traditional H2O Team Robinson camp, where the hunters gathered in the wilderness to feed on the fish they catch themselves and sleep outdoors.

Since 2011, the number of active competitors has increased. Only Jure Daić is left of the old generation that started its competitive apathy in 2005, but many new young talented competitors have emerged. In 2012, H2O team was the first association in Slovenia to introduce criteria for co-financing of competitors, due to the increase in the number of top competitors. A financial prize fund is established each year for this purpose.

Since 2012, the number of members has risen to over 150. We organise regular pool training sessions all over Slovenia, which take place in 8 groups in different cities (4x LJ, MB, Ravne, Ajdovščina and Radovljica). Recreational underwater rugby training, which started in December 2011, became more and more serious and in 2013 we had our first friendly matches with the Austrians. The competition team is getting bigger and bigger, and in 2013 Alenka Artnik and Andrej Ropret stood out for their results. We have already organised 7th national championship and The 8th MAD CUP, still considered one of the best organised international competitions.

Last year, all the traditional camps continued, so we held Training Camp and Robinson’s Camp, as well as a week of spearfishing for 1. May in Murter. We have introduced a new Pool Challenge event where recreational swimmers compete in all three pool disciplines, with only three hours to compete. This event will now take place several times a year. We held a series of eleven free lectures Underwater Experiences on the Breath in various venues across Slovenia and in Zagreb, which were attended by more than 500 people. We already have 11 apnoea groups across Slovenia that do guided pool training. After four years, Jure Daić started to set depth DRs and thus again made the deepest Slovenian dive -106m in the VWT. Unfortunately, due to a technical problem, he failed to set the world record in the scandal pentathlon, where he set a DR of -94m. The event was covered by all Slovenian media and featured on the most watched TV programmes.

Author.

History of sporting success

(only the top three positions, DP, DR and WC titles are listed)

H2O team as PDM section

Year 2004

Serbian Open, Belgrade, 18.12.2004

2nd place Jure Daić DNF 82m

Year 2005

STA national champion Jure Daić
DYN national champion Mitja Štampfer
National champion DNF Mitja Štampfer
overall national champion Sandi Bitenc

MAD CUP 2005, 1. round of DP, Maribor, 11.3.-12.3.2005

1st place ESPECIALLY (Bitenc, Daić, Šauperl and Štampfer)
1st place Mitja Štampfer 110m (DR)
1st place Mitja Štampfer DNF 86m (DR)
2nd place Jure Daić DNF 79m (DR)
2nd place Sandi Bitenc STA 4min 47s
3rd place Jure Daić STA 4min 40s

2nd round of the DP, Koper, 21.5.2005

1st place Mitja Štampfer DNF 90m (DR)
1st place Mitja Štampfer DYN 118m (DR)
2nd place Jure Daić DYN 114m (DR)
2nd place Jure Daić STA 5min 18s
3rd place Primož Šauperl DYN 110m
3rd place Sandi Bitenc DNF 82m

1st AIDA Swimming Pool World Championships, Renens, Switzerland, 24.8.-27.8.2005

8th place Mitja Štampfer DNF 124m (DR)
10th place Mitja Štampfer DYN 150m (DR)
18th place Jure Daić DNF 100m
23rd place Sandi Bitenc DYN 111m

1st Submania Cup, Zagreb, 19.11.2005

1st place Mitja Štampfer TOTAL

1st place Mitja Štampfer DYN 136m
1st place Sandi Bitenc STA 5min 34s
2nd place Sandi Bitenc TOTAL
2nd place Mitja Štampfer STA 5min 26s
2nd place Sandi Bitenc DYN 120m
3rd place Jure Daić TOTAL

Year 2006

STA national champion Sandi Bitenc
overall national champion Sandi Bitenc

MAD CUP 2006, 1. round of DP, Maribor, 3.3.-4.3.2006

1st place Sandi Bitenc DYN 154m (DR)
2nd place EXCEPT (Daić, Bitenc and Ternjak)
2nd place Jure Daić TOTAL
2nd place Jure Daić DNF 105m

H2O as an autonomous association

Training for selection to the SLO national team, Žirje, 11.8.-16.8.2006

1st place Jure Daić CWT 58m (unofficial DR)
1st place Jure Daić CNF 42m (unofficial DR)
3rd place Sandi Bitenc CWT 49m

2nd round of the DP, Kranj, 15.9.-16.9.2006

1st place Sandi Bitenc DYN 150m
2nd place Sandi Bitenc DNF 88m
3rd place Jure Daić DYN 121m
3rd place Jure Daić STA 5min 48s
3rd place Jure Kompan DNF 85m

2nd Submania Cup, Zagreb, 11.11.2006

1st place Jure Daić DNF 100m
3rd place Jure Kompan DNF 88m

Year 2007

DYN national champion Mitja Štampfer
National champion DNF Mitja Štampfer
overall national champion Mitja Štampfer

Serbian Open, Belgrade, 17.2.2007

1st place Jure Daić STA 6min 18s
1st place Mitja Štampfer DYN 161m (DR)
1st place Jure Daić DNF 111m
1st place Mitja Štampfer TOTAL
2nd place Jure Daić TOTAL
2nd place Jure Kompan DNF 109m
2nd place EXCEPT (Daić and Štampfer)

MAD CUP 2007, Maribor, 2.3.-3.3.2007

3rd place Mitja Štampfer DNF 139m (DR)

Slovenian Open, Ljubljana, 21.4.-22.4.2007

1st place Mitja Štampfer 164m (DR)
1st place Mitja Štampfer 105m
2nd place Jure Daić STA 6min 5s
3rd place Mitja Štampfer STA 6min 1s
3rd place Jure Daić DYN 116m

3rd AIDA Swimming Pool World Championships, Maribor, 1.7.-7.7.2007

6th place Mitja Štampfer DYN 187m (DR)
10th place Jure Daić STA 6min 46s
15th place Jure Kompan DNF 129m
29th place Jure Kompan 145m

4th AIDA Global SP, Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt 30.10.-3.11.2007

5th place Jure Daić CNF 56m (DR)
20th place Jure Daić CWT 67m (DR)

3rd Submania Cup, Zagreb, 24.11.2007

3rd place EXCEPT (Kompan and Štampfer)
3rd place Jure Kompan TOTAL

3rd place Jure Kompan STA 5min 17s
3rd place Mitja Štampfer DYN 127m

Year 2008

National champion DNF Jure Daić
DYN national champion Mitja Štampfer
national champion TOTAL Jure Daić
SPZ Athlete of the Year 2008 Jure Daić

Serbian Open, Belgrade, 16.2.2008

1st place Jure Daić DYN 150m

Slovenian Open Championship, DP 2008, Kranj, 17.5.-18.5.2008

1st place Mitja Štampfer DYN 162m
2nd place Jure Daić DNF 125m
2nd place Jure Daić STA 6min 9s
2nd place Jure Daić TOTAL
3rd place Mitja Štampfer TOTAL
3rd place Nina Poženel TOTAL

Rab Dive Off 2008, island of Rab, 11.7.-12.7.2008

1st place Jure Daić FIM -70m (DR)
1st place Jure Daić CWT -77m (DR)
1st place Jure Daić TOTAL

Year 2009

SPZ Athlete of the Year 2009 Jure Daić

Serbian Open, Belgrade, 21.2.2009

3rd place Antoni Koderman DNF 109m

Setting the Guinness World Record in 24hr DYN 50m, Maribor, 26.6.-27.6.2009

Sandi Bitenc set the Guinness WR record. In 24 hours, he swam 1022 times the 50m DYN, a total of 51.1km.

Rab Dive Off 2009, island of Rab, 3.7.-4.7.2009

1st place Jure Daić CNF -58m ( DR)
1st place Jure Daić CWT -80m (DR)
1st place Jure Daić TOTAL

5. AIDA deep SP, Dean’s Blue Hole, Bahamas, 13.11.-3.12.2009

8th place Jure Daić CWT -90m (DR)
9th place Jure Daić CNF -67m (DR)

DR Setting Competition, Dean’s Blue Hole, Bahamas, 24.11. in 3.12.2009

1st place Jure Daić FIM -85m (DR)
Jure Daić NLT -101m (DR)

Year 2010

SPZ Athlete of the Year 2010 Jure Daić

MAD CUP 2010, DP 2010, Maribor, 5.3.-6.3.2010

2nd place Jure Daić DYN 169m
2nd place EXCEPT (Daić, Kompan and Koderman)
3rd place Jure Daić TOTAL

^3rd Mediterranean Freediving World Cup, Kalamata, Greece, 7.6.-14.6.2010

2nd place Jure Daić CWT -91m (DR)
3rd place jure Daić FIM -86m (DR)
3rd place jure Daić TOTAL

Rab Dive Off 2010, island of Rab, 3.7.-4.7.2010

1st place Jure Daić FIM -82m
1st place Jure Daić TOTAL
2nd place Antonio Koderman CNF -49m

3rd place Jure Daić CWT -60m
3rd place Antonio Koderman FIM -65m

Year 2011

AIDA Rookie of the Year 2011 Antonio Koderman

FDD Mini Comp 2011, Dahab, Egypt, 2.5.-3.5.2011

1st place Jure Daić FIM -75m

Rab Dive Off 2011, island of Rab, 3.7.2011

1st place Antonio Koderman FIM -71m

^4tf Mediterranean Freediving World Cup, Kalamata, Greece, 12.9.-14.9.2011

4th place Antonio Koderman FIM -95m (DR)

6th AIDA Deep Sea SP, Kalamata, Greece, 15.9.-25.9.2011

3rd place Antonio Koderman FIM -105m (DR)

5th place Antonio Koderman CWT -74m (DR)
11th place Jure Daić FIM -85m
25th place Andrej Ropret FIM -65m

DP 2011, Maribor, 26.11.-26.11.2011

2nd place Jure Daić TOTAL
2nd place Jure Daić DNF 130m

2nd place Matej Bergoč DYN 163m
3rd place Maša Šorn DYN 104m (DR)
3rd place Jure Daić DYN 154m
3rd place Jure Daić STA 6min 2s
3rd place Martin Mali DNF 75m

Year 2012

STA national champion Jure Daić
National champion DNF Jure Daić
national champion TOTAL Jure Daić

6th Serbian Open Championship, Belgrade, 18.2.2012

2nd place EQUIPPED (Šorn, Koderman and Mali)
2nd place Antonio Koderman TOTAL
2nd place Martin Mali DNF 80m
3rd place Maša Šorn TOTAL
3rd place Andrej Ropret DYN 165m

Naissub Freediving Cup, Niš, Serbia 8.4.2012

3rd place Maša Šorn DYN 119m (DR)
3rd place Maša Šorn TOTAL

Team Deep Sea World Championships, Nice, France, 8.9.-16.9.2012

5th place team (Daić, Koderman, Jeranko)

Hydro Dynamic 2012, Danube,

Austria, 11.11.2012

2nd place Maša Šorn DNF 93m (DR)

MAD CUP 2012, DP 2012, Maribor, 7.12.-8.12.2012

1st place EXCEPT (Artnik, Daić and Bergoč)
1st place Jure Daić TOTAL
2nd place Alenka Artnik DYN 149m (DR)
2nd place Alenka Artnik DNF 105m (DR)

2nd place Jure Daić DNF 132m
3rd place Alenka Artnik TOTAL
3rd place Andrej Ropret DYN 178m
6th place Maša Šorn DYN 123m (DR)

Year 2013

STA national champion Andrej Ropret

DYN national champion Andrej Ropret
national champion TOTAL Jure Daić
SPZ Sportswoman of the Year 2013 Alenka Artnik

7th Serbian Open Championship, Belgrade, 23.2.2013

1st place EXCEPT (Artnik, Bergoč and Tašič)
2nd place Alenka Artnik DYN 160m (DR)
2nd place Alenka Artnik TOTAL
2nd place Alenka Artnik STA 4min 35s
2nd place Matej Bergoč DYN 181m

3rd place Matej Bergoč TOTAL

Oxygen Free 2013, Niš, Serbia, 7.4.2013

1st place EQUIPPED (Artnik, Tasič and Petek).
2nd place Alenka Artnik DYN 176m (DR)
3rd place Alenka Artnik STA 4 min 23s
3rd place Žan Petek DYN 163m

Vienna Charity Cup 2013, Danube, 5.5.2013

2nd place Matej Bergoč DYN 190m
3rd place Žan Petek TOTAL
3rd place Žan Petek DYN 160m

Brno, 7.6.2013

1st place Andrej Ropret DYN 202m (first 200 of H2O team)
1st place Alenka Artnik DYN 162m

9th AIDA Pool Trials, Belgrade, 21.3. – 30.6.2013

10th place Alenka Artnik DYN 181m (DR)
11th place Alenka Artnik DNF 125m (DR)
10th place Alenka Artnik DYN 179m (DR in qualification)
12th place Andrej Ropret DYN 208m (DR in qualification)
15th place Alenka Artnik DNF 117m (DR in qualification)
31st place Robert Tašič STA 5min 20s
41st place Robert Tašič DYN 138m

9th Submania Apnea Cup 2013, Zagreb, 15.11.-16.11.2013

1st place Alenka Artnik DYN 180m
1st place Alenka Artnik STA 5min 3s
2nd place Matej Bergoč DYN 174m
3rd place Žan Petek DNF 114m

Huddersfield 2013 minicomp, Club Apneists UK, 17.11.2013

2nd place Maša Šorn DYN 151m

MAD CUP 2013, DP 2013, Maribor, 29.11.-30.11.2013

1st place EKIPNO H2O team (Daić, Bergoč and Artnik) 671,8 points
1st place Alenka Artnik TOTAL 199,9 points
1st place Andrej Ropret DYN 192m
1st place Alenka Artnik DYN 154m
1st place Alenka Artnik DNF 125m
1st place Alenka Artnik STA 5min 2s
2nd place DYN Jure Daić 187m
3rd place Jure Daić TOTAL 238,4 points
3rd place Andrej Ropret STA 6min 15s
3rd place Natasha Larissi DNF 57m

Year 2014

8th Serbian Open Championship, Belgrade, 22.2.2014

1st place EKIPNO H2O team (Alenka, Matej, Robert) 437,7 points
1st place Alenka Artnik TOTAL 140,6 points
1st place Alenka Artnik STA 5min 28s
1st place Alenka Artnik DYN 150m
2nd place Matej Bergoč DYN 179m
2nd place Matej Bergoč TOTAL 159,9 points

The Great Northern 2014, Liverpool, 22.3.2014

3rd place Matej Bergoč STA 5min 44s
3rd place Maša Šorn DYN 144m

Oxygen Free Pool Competition, Niš, 29.3.-30.3.2014

1st place EKIPNO H2O Team (Artnik, Bergoč and Tašič) 589,2 points
1st place Alenka Artnik TOTAL 196,90 points
1st place Matej Bergoč TOTAL

211,0 points
1st place Alenka Artnik STA 5min 2s
1st place Alenka Artnik DNF 107m
1st place Matej Bergoč DNF 123m
2nd place Robert Tašič TOTAL 181,3 points
2nd place Alenka Artnik DYN 166m
2nd place Robert Tašič STA 5min 59s
2nd place Matej Bergoč DYN 171m
2nd place Martin Mali DNF 110m (PB)

Setting up DR in VWT, Rogoznica, 4.9.2014

Jure Daić VWT -106m (DR)

Putting the DR in the scandalopetra, Rogoznica, 6.9.2014

Jure Daić skandalopetra -94m (DR)

Hydro Dynamic 2014, Danube, 1.11.2014

1st place Andrej Ropret TOTAL
1st place Andrej Ropret STA 6min 33s
1st place Andrej Ropret DYN 203m

10th Submania Apnea Cup, Zagreb, 28.-29.11.2014

2nd place Matej Bergoč DYN 199m
2nd place Andrej Ropret DNF 134m
2nd place Martin Mali STA 4min 59s (PB)
3rd place Žan Petek STA 4min 13s
3rd place Žan Petek DNF 119m

By Jure D., Martin M.