Prince Albert freediver trained Suicide Squad actors
Kirk Krack has trained six divers who currently hold 20 world records
As a youngster, Kirk Krack — from Prince Albert, Sask. — enjoyed everything about the lakes around the city. He loved being on, in and under the water.
He pursued his passion and now Krack is a world class diving instructor, specializing in freediving.
"I grew up a water enthusiast. [I was] a lifeguard, a swim instructor and when I was 13 my parents bought me scuba diving lessons for my birthday," said Krack, who has coached six world class freedivers who currently hold 20 world records.
His family would sail on Lac La Ronge and Waskesiu Lake during the summer, where he would dive around the lakes.
Back then, and to this day, Krack freedives. This means instead of relying on tanks of oxygen and scuba gear, he opts to hold his breath while plunging underwater for five to eight minutes at a time.
As soon as he graduated from high school, Krack said, he started to make his way to the oceans eventually becoming a diving instructor. That expertise led Krack to movie sets to work with and train actors like Tom Cruise in the Mission Impossible series and even magician David Blaine.
Most recently Krack worked with Margot Robbie in Suicide Squad, training her to do an underwater stunt.
The allure of freediving, he says, is the freedom of it.
He describes scuba diving as "being in your SUV, windows rolled up, air-conditioning and music on and you're going through a drive in the forest."
In comparison, he said, freediving is like "putting on your backpack, lacing up your hiking boots and going for that hike through the forest."
Being in the water on its terms, said Krack, is also part of the appeal. He likes the stillness and connectivity to the environment.