What Is Freediving

Freediving actually can be referenced by a number of different terms. Sometimes referred to as breath-hold diving or skin diving, freediving is basically a form of underwater diving in which the diver swims unassisted by any mechanical means. This means that the diver will be unaided by an air tank or any equipment that is designed to assist the diver with descending and ascending.

Freediving can be very liberating in comparison to other forms of diving. Divers often appreciate the impromptu nature of this form of diving. Unlike scuba diving, there is no preparatory equipment maintenance required for the dive. A person can simply swim out to a location with the desired water depth and begin diving. If you find yourself out on a boat or resting on a surfboard in between waves, you can take a few minutes to freedive to explore the local aquatic life.

Although freediving can be an enjoyable experience, it can also be extremely challenging. Freediving effectively requires a great deal of stamina and an ability to hold one’s breath for an extended period of time. Think about the last time you performed any sort of long-distance swimming. Try to recall just how fatigued you were at the end of the swim. Now imagine that same swim only this time you are holding your breath. This is why freediving takes practice to become proficient at. Without a certain degree of athleticism, it can be difficult for a person to dive deep enough and stay under long enough to truly enjoy the experience.

Freediving can be used for a variety of purpose. As we have mentioned already, it can be done recreationally. A person can feel as though they are flying as the float around an aquatic wonderland. It can also be done as a means of catching food. Many who spearfish or collect lobsters and other aquatic food sources will often do so by using a form of freediving. There are also various forms of competitive freediving in which people can test their skills against one another.

The defining characteristic of freediving is the absence of any sort of breathing apparatus. Divers will use a held breath while descending to the desired depth. However, it is possible to use some other forms of equipment and still be considered a freediver. For one thing, a person will almost always equip themselves with a mask of some sort to enable their vision under water. Without this, it can be difficult to see what you are doing underwater and the overall experience will be generally less enjoyable. Additionally, freedivers will often bring some long fins to assist them with propelling themselves through the water. This allows them to cover more ground and see more of their surroundings during one held breath.

Many people gravitate to freediving over other forms of diving due to the minimum technical knowledge required to do it. SCUBA diving, by comparison, requires a certain degree of training to learn how to use the equipment involved with this activity. Even snorkeling can take some time to get accustomed to breathing through the snorkel while gliding through the water. Freediving, by comparison, is relatively simple. Anyone who has ever held their breath and dove to any depth in a body of water, be it an ocean or a swimming pool, has engaged in freediving. The challenge of freediving comes from developing your ability to hold your breath for long periods of time while physically exerting yourself. As CO2 builds up in the body, your ability to stay underwater is diminished. This is where proper training will come into play.

What Are The Different Types Of Freediving

Casual/Recreational Freediving – As the name implies, casual freediving is the act of going out to a body of water (either freshwater or saltwater) and embarking on your own diving expedition. It can be done on the spur of the moment but some preparation and planning can make it much more enjoyable (preparation is recommended for general safety reasons). When you freedive casually, the dives are purely for your own enjoyment. Nothing is expected and, hopefully, you have a fantastic time.

Competitive Freediving – There are actually competitive forms of freediving for divers who are seeking more than just a leisurely dip below the waves. There are various forms of competitive freediving but most of them center around breath hold durations and varying degrees of depth reached by the competing divers. Depending on the type of competition, these dives can be performed in saltwater, freshwater, or even a pool. Divers compete to see who can hold their breath the longest and/or dive the deepest.

What Are The Different Forms Of Competitive Freediving

Depth Freedives – Divers that compete in this form of freediving will strap on a set of fins or what is referred to as a monofin (both feet inserted into a single fin) and use their own body strength to propel themselves as deep into the water as they can possibly go and then return to the surface. The use of fins isn’t completely necessary though. There are competitive depth freedives that are performed with nothing more than the diver’s arms and legs. There are even competitive dives where divers pull themselves down a weighted line and back up to the surface again. All of these types of freedives are focused on the depth to which a diver can reach in comparison to the other divers.

Pool Freedives – Since pools lack the depth of their open water counterparts, this type of competitive freediving is centered more around the breath-hold duration and/or horizontal distance traveled. Competitive pool dives can be performed with static breath-holds in which divers compete to simply see who can hold their breath the longest while submerged. They can also compete to see who can travel the longest distance horizontally along the length of the pool on a single breath-hold. These horizontal distances can be done with or without the use of fins.

Sled Freedives – This form of freediving consists of holding onto a weighted sled that runs along a static line into the depths of the water. Divers will descend into the water while the sled drags them down to depths that could not be reached otherwise. Once the maximum depth is reached (depending on the diver’s degree of skill) a lift-bag is inflated (or some sort of lifting device is used) and the diver is returned to the surface.

Regardless of your level of skill or competitive nature, anyone can enjoy freediving. It can be done anytime and any place. Freediving can be both relaxing and exhilarating. Be sure to purse our site for everything you need to know about freediving.