Family holding breath for Kiwi freediver

Hawke's Bay's world record free diver William Trubridge will attempt to break his own record for an unassisted free dive tomorrow morning. Photo / File

Havelock North's Linda Trubridge may find it hard not to hold her breath tomorrow while her son, world record freediver William Trubridge, attempts to break his own record for an unassisted free dive.

Steinlager Pure will broadcast the attempt live from the Caribbean to New Zealand at 8am via the Breakfast show on TV One, as Trubridge tries to beat his unassisted free dive world record of 101 metres.

His mother Linda Trubridge said this would be the first time she and her husband, renowned furniture designer David Trubridge, would be able to watch their son freediving live. Their other son, Sam, would be watching from Wellington and they would watch in their Havelock North home - but it would be a solemn occasion.

"I usually just need to be absolutely quiet and in the same state of deep, meditative peace as he is. Of course, he's half the world away but I feel a connection with him."

Based in the Bahamas, former Havelock North High School student Trubridge is able to hold his breath for eight minutes. He lives near a massive underwater sinkhole called Dean's Blue Hole, a 200 metres-deep cavern that is perfect for freediving.

Mrs Trubridge said her message to her son would be the same as it had been previously: "Stay warm and may the dolphins be with you." He is an advocate for the endangered Maui's dolphin, which is capable of diving to extreme depths.

"I don't ever say 'take care' because it's like a lack of respect for his being the most thorough and careful person in what he does."

The "enormous" anxiety she had experienced during his early dives had waned somewhat, she said.

"I think I'll never stop being anxious about things, but I can embrace what he does and I wouldn't want him to be any other way. I think he's living more fully than anyone I've ever known and I'm so grateful for who he is."

And of course, she was confident he was up to the task. "He's physically able and mentally able."

Upon resurfacing, Trubridge's wife Brittany would assist him through a rigorous surface protocol test, during which he would need to remove his goggles and nose clip and make an "OK" signal within one minute.