Behind The Mask With Adam Sellars: What Freediving Taught Him About Facing Fear
At The Pressure Project, we’re led by someone who truly embodies what we stand for. Adam Sellars, our owner & director, is not only one of the deepest freedivers in the world but also a mindfulness and mental resilience coach. Adam has represented Australia in freediving championships and worked with top athletes and professionals to help them overcome mental blocks. His journey, both as an athlete and a teacher, is all about mastering fear and pressure—whether it’s underwater or in everyday life. Now, through The Pressure Project, Adam shares these transformative skills with our community, empowering people to face their own challenges head-on.
“Freediving isn’t just about holding your breath underwater—it’s about facing fear, embracing the pressure, and learning to stay calm in the most challenging moments. What I’ve learned from freediving is that the mind is our greatest tool, and when we learn to master it, we can overcome anything—both in the ocean and in life.”
— Adam Sellars, Founder & Owner of The Pressure Project
The Athlete’s Pressure
Before Adam Sellars discovered the world of freediving, he grappled with significant mental health challenges.
Growing up, Adam competed in various sports and excelled physically, but when it came to performing under pressure, he often felt paralyzed.
“I felt like I was standing in my own way,” Adam recalls. “On game day, I would crumble, and the skills that felt effortless in training would escape me when they mattered most. That inability to handle pressure eventually carried over into my personal and work life. Over time, the accumulation of stress and anxiety became overwhelming, leading to debilitating mental ill health.”
The turning point came during a dark moment when Adam realized he had to take control of his mental state.
“I remember sitting in the doctor’s office, being offered medication that would ‘even things out.’ Something about that moment struck me deeply. I realized that if my mind had created this problem, surely it could help me fix it. I threw the pills in the bin and made a bold decision: I was going to find another way.”
Shortly after, Adam was introduced to spearfishing. A friend invited him out to the ocean, where he had his first glimpse of what would later become his lifeline.
“For the first time in ages, I felt like myself again. It wasn’t about the fish—I was terrible at spearfishing—but there was something magical about being underwater. Even with the fear of the unknown, for those two hours, I found a kind of peace I hadn’t experienced in years.”
Discovering Freediving: A Path To Clarity
Adam’s first proper experience with freediving came when he enrolled in a Level 1 course in Bali. What began as a curious exploration quickly turned into a transformative journey.
“They started talking about yoga, meditation, and going within,” Adam says with a laugh. “At first, I thought I’d walked into the wrong course. But as I sank into the experience, I realized this was exactly what I needed. It was like someone had handed me the missing pieces of a puzzle I didn’t even know I was trying to solve.”
Despite his initial skepticism, Adam embraced the practices of mindfulness and meditation. Through freediving, he learned to quiet the noise in his mind and access a stillness that felt both foreign and profoundly healing.
“In depths, it’s silent—not just the ocean, but my thoughts too. For the first time, the pressure I carried with me above the surface melted away. I didn’t want to come back up.”
That moment of peace became the foundation for The Pressure Project. Adam wanted to help others experience the transformative power of the ocean and discover their own inner strength.
Embracing The Brain’s Limits
One of the most significant lessons Adam Sellars learned through his journey into freediving is that our mental barriers often outweigh our physical ones.
“In freediving, your brain is the first thing that tells you to quit. It says, ‘You can’t go deeper,’ even when your body has so much more to give. Once you realize that, you start to see how this plays out in every part of life. So much of what holds us back is self-imposed.”
Freediving challenged Adam to push past those limits, teaching him that fear is often just a signal, not a stop sign.
“The fight-or-flight response is something we all experience, but freediving helps you train your brain to react differently. Instead of panicking, you learn to stay calm, breathe deeply, and trust your body.”
Research supports this, showing how breathwork and mindfulness can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing stress and promoting a sense of control (Zaccaro et al., 2018). These skills have become central to Adam’s teaching, both in freediving and in his workshops on mental resilience.
Freediving As A Metaphor For Life
For Adam, freediving is more than a sport—it’s a metaphor for overcoming life’s greatest challenges.
“Every dive is like facing a fear,” Adam explains. “You’re descending into the unknown, confronting discomfort, and trusting yourself to handle whatever comes your way. It’s exactly like navigating challenges on land.”
Adam recalls a pivotal moment during his journey as a business owner:
“There was a time when I felt completely overwhelmed by everything it took to run The Pressure Project. But I thought about what freediving had taught me—one breath at a time, one step at a time. Just like in the water, I had to stay calm and trust the process. That perspective has gotten me through countless challenges.”
How Adam Shares His Journey
Today, Adam channels his personal experiences into teaching others. As a PADI Freediving Instructor Trainer, he helps students navigate their own journeys, blending freediving techniques with mindfulness, yoga, and breathwork.
“Freediving isn’t just about going deeper; it’s about discovering more about yourself. The lessons you learn in the water can change how you handle pressure, stress, and fear in everyday life.”
Through The Pressure Project’s courses, retreats, workshops, and public speaking, Adam inspires a growing community to embrace their own potential and explore the depths—both within and without.
Upcoming Opportunities
- Free Online Course for Beginner Freedivers: If you’re new to freediving or want to explore this incredible sport, sign up for Adam’s free online course. It’s a fantastic way to build foundational skills and gain confidence in your abilities. This course introduces the foundational skills of freediving and mental resilience.
- Retreats & Courses: Explore the transformative power of freediving in stunning locations like Bali, the Maldives, Mount Gambier, and Lady Elliot Island in 2025.
Stay tuned for announcements about specific dates and locations for upcoming workshops where Adam will share his insights on overcoming challenges and embracing personal growth through freediving.
Conclusion: The Power Of Letting Go
Adam’s journey from darkness to depth is a testament to the human spirit’s capacity for transformation. By embracing the pressure and letting go of fear, he has not only redefined his own limits but also inspired countless others to do the same.
If you’re ready to face your own challenges and discover what lies beneath the surface, join us at The Pressure Project. Together, we’ll dive into a new way of living—one breath at a time.
References
Zaccaro, A., Piarulli, A., Laurino, M., Garbella, E., Menicucci, D., Neri, F., & Gemignani, A. (2018). How breath-control can change your life: A systematic review on psycho-physiological correlates of slow breathing. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. https://10.3389/fnhum.2018.00353.org/
Plan your Freediving adventure today! Book a freediving course with Adam and our expert guides at The Pressure Project and discover how freediving can have an impact on your life.
