Ren Chapman

Ren was raised in Wilmington, NC and alongside Ashley has taught freediving since 2009. From day one he was immersed in coastal living and was fortunate enough to have been raised with his toes in the marsh and estuaries of the area.  He began freedive spearfishing in 2007 and has since made a name for himself in the spearfishing community as a spearfishing instructor, spearing guide, videographer and underground producer of spearfishing videos with Searen Productions.

Ren is also an experienced safety diver for various international freediving competitions including PFI’s Deja Blue. He has acted as Chief of Safety for Suunto’s Vertical Blue, Caribbean Cup, The Big Blue, Deepsea Challenge and even AIDA Individual World Championships.  Ren also boasts the position as coach to his world record holding wife.  In 2014 and again in 2017 Ren assumed his most challenging and rewarding position to date as father to daughter, Ani and son, Cape.  Check out Ani’s first freediving video here: http://vimeo.com/98591873

Ashley Chapman

Ashley is considered one of the Best Freediving Instructors in the world. North Carolina native, Ashley has undoubtedly left her mark on the world of competitive freediving.  She took interest in the sport of freediving in 2008 as a means of spearfishing the North Carolina waters with her husband, Ren.  Years of competitive experience have culminated in 3 world records and 17 national records.

Of her last world record she said,“ I knew I had the dive in me.  I executed the dive twice before in practice with ease. I just needed to get beyond the pressure that comes with announcing a world record and it being the first day of the competition. My greatest strength in training has been my husband Ren who is my safety, my coach, my life partner — he takes care of everything else so I can simply just perform the dives I need to do.

Now a mother of two children, nothing is more exciting to Ashley than having her entire family out on the lines with her.  Chapman says, “I love the opportunity to face my fellow divers with more psychological authority.  My mental state is improved from the trials of motherhood.”