Tavi Castro is a global name in the fitness world — but that’s only the beginning. From his early years as a professional soccer player to building a global brand in bodybuilding, Tavi is now carving a new path in the world of freediving, cinematic storytelling, and wellness retreats. With over 17 million followers across platforms, collaborations with Mission: Impossible, Warner Bros, and Formula 1, and multiple freediving world records, Tavi has evolved into a modern Renaissance figure — blending athleticism, philosophy, and creative vision.
We sat down with Tavi to discuss breathwork, mental resilience, purpose-driven content, and how he’s redefining what it means to live with depth.
PM: Your career started in professional football, evolved through bodybuilding, and now you’re diving deep into freediving. What inspired this transformation?
TC: Each chapter was a search for something deeper. Football taught me discipline, bodybuilding taught me self-mastery — but freediving showed me who I really am. After experiencing burnout and navigating personal loss, I needed silence. The ocean gave me that. Freediving isn’t just a sport; it’s a return to your true nature. And through it, I found my next mission: helping others reconnect to their breath, body, and purpose.
PM: You’ve broken world records in freediving and reached millions with your cinematic underwater content. What do you hope people take away from your work today?
TC: I want to show people what’s possible when you merge mental mastery with physical performance. Whether it’s diving 100 feet on one breath or guiding people through breathwork, it’s about unlocking your human potential. That’s why I launched Poseidon Ascend — a retreat that brings high performers into nature, into silence, and ultimately into themselves. I don’t just want to inspire people. I want to transform them.
PM: Many know you from social media — 17M+ followers — but few understand the philosophy behind your content. Can you share more about that?
TC: Every reel, every post is a message. Stoicism, breathwork, mythology, trauma — I weave those themes into every story. I’m influenced by Marcus Aurelius as much as I am by Miyamoto Musashi. I’m working on a book called The Deep Dive and a docuseries that blends adventure, personal growth, and cinematic freediving. Social media is my canvas — but the message is always human transformation.
PM: What role does breathwork play in your training and your retreats?
TC: Breathwork saved my life. It helped me manage anxiety, sharpen focus, and push my limits underwater. It’s now the foundation of everything I teach. I created an IM8 Breathwork Masterclass, and it’s something I share with every client, from entrepreneurs to elite athletes. Before you conquer the world, you have to conquer your breath.
PM: You’ve worked with Mission: Impossible, Formula 1, Warner Bros., and Insta360. What do brands see in you that makes these partnerships work?
TC: Authenticity. I only work with brands I actually use and believe in. My community trusts that. Whether it’s showing how I shoot underwater footage for Hollywood or leading retreats with premium partners, my value isn’t just reach — it’s alignment. My lifestyle is performance, nature, and creativity — and that attracts like-minded brands.
PM: You’ve mentioned working on a book and a docu-series. Can you give us a sneak peek?
TC: The book is called The Deep Dive — it’s about facing inner demons, breaking free from digital noise, and remembering who we are through nature and breath. The series, also called Deep Dive, follows me and a small crew on underwater expeditions, but every episode mirrors a personal transformation story — both mine and others’. It’s part philosophy, part action, part spiritual awakening.
PM: What advice would you give to someone trying to reinvent themselves?
TC: Find silence. Learn to sit with yourself. Then listen to what your breath is trying to tell you. We live in a world of noise, dopamine, and distraction. But your next level is always on the other side of discomfort. Start with one breath.
PM: If you had to summarize your life in three words, what would they be?
TC: Breathe. Dive. Transform.
Tavi Castro is more than an icon of the fitness or freediving scene – he is a man of transformation, a seeker, and a creator. His journey has taken him from the stadiums of professional football to the stages of bodybuilding, and now into the silent depths of the ocean. Yet each of these chapters was merely a step on his path toward self-discovery.
In a world dominated by performance, appearance, and constant self-presentation, Tavi stands for something rare: authenticity, awareness, and deep inner work. His freediving world records are not just athletic achievements — they are expressions of his connection to himself and to nature. His social media is not a platform for superficiality — but rather a channel for inspiration, philosophy, and personal transformation.
With Poseidon Ascend , his book project The Deep Dive , and the accompanying documentary series of the same name, he not only shares his own journey — he invites others to rediscover their breath, strength, and sense of purpose.
At the end of this conversation, one thing becomes clear: Tavi lives by the three words he uses to describe his life — Breathe. Dive. Transform. And those who follow him may not only learn to dive deeper — but also to live more consciously.
Tavi, thank you very much for the interview and for your time.
Fotocredits: Tavi Castro
Instagram: @tavicastro
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