Anna von Boetticher: Breathtaking adventures in Mexico's water world!

Anna von Boetticher: Breathtaking adventures in Mexico's water world!

Anna von Boetticher, the best German free diver, is setting new standards with her impressive achievements in deep apnea diving. She has proven her abilities with 34 German records and a personal low of 81 meters. She also holds her breath for a record-breaking amount of time: six minutes or more. In the new series “Waterwoman” she visits water-shaped regions and explores the diverse relationships that people have with nature. The film impressively shows the way of life of people and the importance of water in different cultures, especially in Mexico.

In Mexico, Anna experiences two adventurous encounters that get her adrenaline pumping. First of all, she dives in Banco Chinchorro, a stunning part of the country where large saltwater crocodiles live. Located in southern Mexico on the border with Belize, this place not only has impressive wildlife, but also an unparalleled ecosystem. Louis Eerenstein, a crocodile expert, leads Anna and other daredevils to make direct eye contact with the impressive predators.

Cenotes and their threats

Another adventure takes Anna to the cenotes on the Yucatán Peninsula, where she dives with experienced cave diver Fred Devos. This area contains the second largest cave system in the world, but is in acute danger. Fred takes Anna to a newly accessible cenote that is in a fragile environment. Despite its beauty, nature in Yucatán is severely endangered by various threats. Construction projects, hotel complexes and the risk of oil and chemical pollution endanger the sensitive ecosystem.

According to Laura Betancur Alarcón, the situation in the region is “critical”. Rethinking rights for nature could have positive effects in this context. She emphasizes the importance of cultural and political changes at the local level to achieve environmental justice. Environmentalists working to preserve these sacred sites often face violence and threats.

Criticism of the overuse of the cenotes

Around Homún, critics raise concerns about the priorities of residents, who often prefer quick money to environmental protection. Some tourist facilities are more like water parks and have been artificially widened and brightly lit to attract hundreds of guests every day. Cenote guides, who remain anonymous, report that visitors often wade through the delicate ecosystem with dirty sneakers. One critic estimates that the cenotes will be severely damaged in seven years at the latest. In order to reduce the burden, he calls for measures such as the use of dry toilets and stricter legal regulations for operators and tourist guides.

These challenges underline the urgency of rethinking and protecting nature in Mexico, while Anna von Boetticher brings the beauty and drama of these unique water worlds to life in her film. It's time to take the environmental movement and the people who support it seriously.

For detailed information about Anna's adventures in Mexico, see rbb online and read about the current environmental challenges in the region Mirror.