What Equipment Is Needed For Freediving
This article explores all the equipment you will need to successfully freedive. We look at the essentials and handy luxury devices.
The beautiful thing about freediving is that it can be done at any moment of your choosing while out in the water. Just hold your breath and make the plunge. If all you want to do is make a brief exploration of the area beneath the waves then you really don’t need anything to get started. However, for people who freedive regularly, there are tools and equipment that can enhance your freediving experience. In this article, we will discuss the different types of equipment that you can bring to make the most out of your freediving experience.
This article will focus on tools and equipment to bring with you when freediving. For more information on what type of clothing to wear while freediving, be sure to check out our article HERE.
The Basics
Face Mask – A must-have item for any freediver is a comfortable facemask that covers the diver’s nostrils. The whole point of freediving is the observation of the underwater world and a big part of the observation is visibility. You will need to see what is around you when you are diving. You will want to try a few face masks out before committing to one in order to find a model that is most comfortable. This device will be on your head and pressing against your face for long periods of time so finding a comfortable model is highly important.
Additionally, when you are freediving, your head will turn every which way and at times you may even be inverted. You will want to keep water from rushing into your nostrils which could irritate your nasal passages. This is why it is always recommended to purchase a face mask that covers your eyes and nose and not just a pair of goggles.
Fins – While not as essential to freediving as a face mask, a good set of fins can greatly enhance your freediving experience. Long dive fins help propel the diver through the water at a greater rate in comparison simply kicking your feet. Whenever you are freediving, you will want to maximize each individual dive in every way possible. You will want to see as much as you can and explore aw wide of an area as possible. Diving fins help divers cover the most area possible while navigating underwater. This is why a good pair of fins should be on the shopping list of any true freediving fanatic.
Useful Equipment
Knife – A good diving knife can be a valuable instrument when freediving in the ocean and inland bodies of water alike. Often times, divers come across rocks or debris that the need to move or cut through to investigate certain underwater areas. These knives frequently come with a variety of features that make them handy for cutting ropes and lines and chipping away at things while diving. If you plan on incorporating any sort of fishing into your freediving trip, you may need a diving knife nearby to cut fishing lines and to pry our hooks. A knife could also be a lifesaver if you find yourself in the unlikely circumstance where you have to defend yourself against a shark or other aquatic predator.
Watch – Dive watches do a lot more than just keeping time. Depending on the model of dive watch you choose, these handy devices can offer a diver a multitude of information to help keep the diver informed about their dives. Dive watches can monitor everything from the depth of the diver, dive time, and water temperature. This information can be essential when making decisions about how long to stay submerged and gauging rest periods while at the water surface.
Dive watches also serve as navigation devices, which can be a helpful tool if you get disoriented while underwater. They can also monitor your ascent and descent rate, which is helpful when considering physiological stresses that can result in decompression sickness.
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For more information on how to ascend and descend safely while freediving, see our article HERE:
Flashlight – A smart thing that all divers should consider, freediving or otherwise, is a diving flashlight. Of course, they are useful for exploring underwater crevices and areas with limited light. However, diving flashlights can be useful safety devices that can offer lifesaving assistance in extreme circumstances. These flashlights are built to withstand deep water pressure and the bulbs are designed to project light that can pierce through the murky darkness. This can be imperative when signaling for help or general assistance from your diving partner.
Underwater Noise Maker – Another helpful device to have on hand while freediving is a signal device or noisemaker. By shaking these little gizmos, you can create a sound that can pierce through the water and signal your dive buddy.
Helpful Accessories
This section is geared more toward devices that enhance the fun and overall experience of freediving.
Camera – There are a variety of options for underwater cameras to take with you on your freediving expedition. When you are experiencing a new underwater world or a new dive site for the first time, there is no end to the wonder and beauty you might encounter. With that in mind, there is a high probability that you will want to commemorate your dives with photos and videos. You will thank yourself later for bringing a camera along to document your experiences.
Diving Stick – Also referred to as a pointer stick or tickle stick, a dive stick is a long rod that can be used to safely examine wildlife or move rocks and debris without having to touch these things directly. Usually constructed of some resilient metal like stainless steel, these sticks vary in length and they can come in quite handy when freediving. Many forms of aquatic life will hide from divers. A dive stick can be used to safely move rocks or probe holes and hiding places to uncover any number of water-dwelling animals.
Glow Sticks – For divers that don’t have a good diving flashlight readily available or for people who just don’t want to mess with a flashlight at all, glow sticks can be a cheap and convenient alternative. Although they don’t offer the same degree of brightness that a diving flashlight may offer, they still can help light those hard-to-see areas. They can also help your diving partners see you through the water, which can help to monitor you for signs of distress.
Mask with camera and flashlight mount- These days, diving masks come with a wide range of features and accessories. Some of which are mounting capabilities for a light or a camera. No longer do you need to commit your hands to dealing with these devices. You can actually attach them to your facemask so four camera records everything that you look at and your light illuminates the direction in which your head is pointing.
Freediving can be impromptu and random but sometimes your more rewarding dives will come with a little bit of planning and preparation. We aren’t saying that an arsenal of equipment is necessary for successful freediving. All we are saying is that some of this equipment can drastically enhance your diving experience. Plan according and pack the items that you will actually use and you will definitely have an exciting freediving experience.