ABOUT US

Hi, I’m Mara Guida, and I want to tell you a little about myself.

I arrived in Lanzarote in 2016 and began my career as a Scuba instructor. I’ve always been fascinated by the sea, but inside me there was also a strong desire to explore the world, and at first, I didn’t think I would settle permanently on the island.

I left Lanzarote, but something kept calling me back: the power of the volcanoes and the Atlantic Ocean. I returned, but I still felt that something was missing. Then, still in Lanzarote, in 2019 I discovered freediving. I took my first course and descended 20 meters on a single breath. That course changed my life and made me stay on the island permanently. It was a true turning point, the choice that made me realize I had found my place among volcanoes, wind, and sea.

Freediving transformed me, inside and out, and supported me during difficult times. We all go through dark periods in life; I remember a time when I felt low and everything seemed to go wrong. But I always looked forward to that moment, that Sunday morning, to dive into freediving: letting go of worries and problems and enjoying the sea with my friends.

Since then, many things have changed. I trained a lot, and over time freediving became a fundamental part of my life, a constant, even as everything around me changed. In 2025, I became the Italian vice-champion in depth freediving and placed fifth at the Freediving World Championships in Mytikas in the monofin discipline, reaching 96 meters. In May of the same year, I achieved another big dream: reaching 101 meters on a single breath in the variable weight discipline.

Today, who am I and what do I do? I am a freediving athlete and part of the Italian national team. I am also a freediving and equalization instructor. When I’m not competing, I love sharing my knowledge of this sport and the sea with students and aspiring freedivers, as it has changed me for the better. I hope freediving can change you too, as it has changed me.

DiveCollege Lanzarote is one of the most popular and organized diving centers in Lanzarote, which recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. Dive College Lanzarote is run by Bart Prinsen, a Dutch instructor who has been practicing this profession for more than thirty-five years. Over the decades he has received countless certificates of excellence and ufficial recognition for his activities in a field that aims to educate and advance awareness of ocean conservation and knowledge.