Welcome to S.A.Elia Free Diving School. Our school is a member of the FDI and our Instructor Soteris Elia, is a qualified instructor, by the FDI (Free Diving Institute).
"Join the art of free diving!"
It is my pleasure to introduce to you Mr. Soteris Elia and share with you some of his background history.
Mr. Elia was born on February 5th , 1970 in the now occupied town of Famagusta. After the Turkish invasion his parents moved the family to Kakopetria.
Soteris spent his summers by the sea in Limassol and Protaras where he soon discovered the underwater world and bought his first underwater equipment – a mask, a snorkel and fins.
In 1986 Soteris moved to Larnaca where he finished school, completed his military service and went on to study accounting and economics. In this time he also received NAUI’s scuba diver certificate.
In 1992, Soteris began his career in the Insurance Industry, a profession which continues until today. He soon distinguished himself in this field and was awarded as Top Agent, Life Underwriter Training Council, Certified Financial Advisor to name but a few.
During the same year Soteris married Andry Serghiou and the birth of their two boys Antoni and Christo soon followed.
In 1993, Soteris received PADI's scuba diver certificate. From 1996 he concentrated mainly on free-diving activities and spear-fishing until the free-divers club organized the 1st. Pancyprian static and dynamic apnea competition in Larnaca where he ranked 2nd. in dynamic with fins at 80 meters.
That was just the beginning for Soteris becoming more involved in the athletic part of freediving, and participating in competitions in both Cyprus and Greece where he
received the following Pancyprian distinctions :
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3rd in speargun shooting 2003
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2nd in speargun shooting 2004
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1st in speargun shooting 2004
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2nd dynamic with fins apnea 2006
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2nd dynamic apnea no fins 2007
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2nd in constant weight 2008 -46
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1st in DNF (Dynamic No Fins) and NEW National Record, 81m on 2009
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2nd DYN (Dynamic with fins) 112 m 2009
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1st in DYN on 2010 110m
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1st DNF 81m on 2010
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2nd DYN with 120m on AIDA Spring Games 2011
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1st DNF and NEW NAtional Record, 84m, on AIDA Spring Games 2011
Soteris attended a variety of schools and seminars on competitive freediving and apnea as well as safety seminars on first aid, breathing techniques, monofin amongst others.
In 2009 he graduated from the Instructor School with FDI in Athens.
Parallel to his professional career, and athletic interests, Soteris is also :
- Member of the 1st AIDA Cyprus 2005 and member until today
- Volunteer rescue member of USAR01 Larnaka since 2005
- He attented seminars to England in 2007 for EU flood command and to Geneva in 2009 on modern earthquake rescue and tactics. As volunteer he and his team served Pancyprian in floods, forest fires, storms and rescues.
- Member of the local committee of Insurance agents
- Member of the committee of Larnaka Vespa Lambretta
- Member of the Humane Society International
