What To Wear When Freediving

One of the beautiful things about freediving is that you can do it whenever and wherever you want, just so long as you are in deep enough water to facilitate an actual dive (as opposed to just holding your breath at the bottom of a baby pool). However, like most athletic activities, there is equipment available that can enhance your performance as a freediver. In this article, we will examine the types of clothing you can wear to get the most out of your freedives in order to maximize your overall experience.

Casual Freediving

Casual freediving isn’t necessarily an official term but we use it to describe any form of impromptu freedive. If you have ever jumped off of a fishing boat or a kayak that you had taken a few hundred yards off the coast, odds are you have probably engaged in your own casual freedive. Perhaps you notice some coral living on the rocks beneath you or maybe there was some beautiful wildlife swimming down below. Whatever the reason, you decided to get a closer look and dove down to investigate.

If you were wearing a typical bathing suit, you probably felt like there was no hindrance on your swimming abilities at all. You make your dive below the surface of the water, you saw what you wanted to see and then you came back up. This sort of casual freedive is simple and enjoyable and for people who are just satisfying a little bit of their curious nature, a regular bathing suit is just fine for freediving. If you aren’t planning on making freediving a frequent activity, there is no sense in going out and purchasing expensive equipment. It literally costs nothing to dive into the water.

Performance Freediving

If you plan on making freediving a frequent hobby then you are going to want to invest in some performance gear to help you get the most out of your dives. The name of the game is reaching your depths and maximizing your explorations for each individual dive. Freediving will be less enjoyable if you aren’t able to reach the areas of the water you are aiming for.

Compression Clothing – One key aspect of maximizing your performance when swimming to depths within the water is limiting the amount of resistance or drag on your body. Loose or baggy clothing can act as a sort of parachute that can create resistance as you swim against the water. This is why you are going to want to invest in some good compression clothing that will adhere tightly to your body.

When it comes to style, there are a variety of garments that you can select to cover yourself. You could wear anything from a speedo and a short sleeve rash guard to a full body skin or wetsuit. Either way, as long as you are taking steps to minimize the amount of drag that you are creating in the water, you will see an increase in your ability to make deeper dives and cover greater distance while swimming underwater.

Another benefit of taking a full-body approach to your clothing while freediving is the added warmth that comes with this technology. Wetsuits are often designed to contain body heat while operating in cold water. If you plan on freediving, you need to be prepared for abrupt temperature changes that can chill your skin and become rather uncomfortable. A good wetsuit will help to keep you warm while freediving and, ultimately, you will be able to diver longer.

Footwear – The feet are often overlooked when considering gear to wear while freediving. Many people struggle to decide whether or not to bring flippers but that is usually where it ends. However, one thing to consider bringing while freediving is a pair of quality water shoes. These are usually constructed from some sort of breathable mesh or net cloth which allows for quick drying of the feet after you exit the water which will cut down on the risk of athlete’s foot. More importantly, though is what they offer freedivers while wearing them in the water.

Freediving offers a variety of risks to divers, not the least of which is the risk sharp objects that are found on the ocean floor. If you have ever been diving around coral or rock formations or even sunken structures, you have probably seen your fair share of things that can cut or puncture your skin. Since your feet are constantly kicking to propel you through the water while diving, they run a greater risk of becoming injured while diving near other objects. This is why you want to take extra precautions to protect them while freediving.

Gloves- You may not think about it but a good set of dive gloves can be one of the most important things you bring on your freediving expedition. If you plan on observing sunken structures or rock formations by touching them, you will want to protect your hands from cutting cut by sharp edges. A good pair of dive gloves can also be beneficial to offering gripping ability on wet surfaces such as your boat or slippery rocks.

Headwear – A good diving hood can be a great addition to your freediving experience. Many diving hoods are made of heat-retaining material that can aid in preventing the rapid dissipating of your body heat through your cranium. Additionally, the hood can provide a means of keeping longer hair from getting in the way or even causing unwanted drag while diving. Furthermore, if you find yourself in a situation where you need to refrain from getting your hair wet while diving (maybe you are meeting someone for dinner shortly after), a diving hood will prevent unwanted moisture from reaching your hair.

Recommended Purchases

The following are some examples of clothing options you can wear for freediving. These you be considered as potential purchases for any serious freediver.

Hood – Coreskin Wetsuit Dive Hood (Amazon ASIN: B0793SDXGB)

This dive hood is perfect for sealing out water and sealing in body heat when diving in cold temperatures. The high-quality elastic material provides a snug yet comfortable fit that will keep water out and wick it away quickly when drying off. The Lycra material offers enough stretch to allow divers with long hair to comfortably up within the hood while diving..

Gloves – Neo Sport Neoprene Wetsuit Gloves (Amazon ASIN: B07CRX6PVC)

These gloves are great for diving because the neoprene material they are constructed from offers thermal protection but also has enough flexibility that they allow divers to maintain dexterity. The palm and fingertips are textured to allow for gripping of wet objects and surfaces. Also, the gloves come with an elastic closure to seal in the heat and seal out the water.

Shoes – NeoSport Neoprene Water Sock (Amazon ASIN: B010Q82EYK, Item Model Number: SS20N-10)

These are available in high top or low top design. They are perfect for keeping your feet warm while diving and preventing abrasion. If you are planning on freediving in areas that have rough rocks or coral nearby, these are perfect for protecting your feet.

Shirts – Scubapro UPF 50 Long Sleeve Rash Gard for men (Amazon ASIN: B074J7YW8K) and CharmLeaks Long Sleeve Rash Gaurd for women (Amazon ASIN: B074716MQK)

These two items offer a comfortable means of protection agains abrasion from underwater sand and sharp objects. They are both stylish and function as a means of protection agains the harmful UV rays from the sun.

Wetsuits – O’Neill Men’s Reactor Wetsuit (Amazon ASIN: B0787LHGF7) and O’Neill Women’s Reactor Wetsuit (Amazon ASIN: B0787P43QK)

Go big or go home. There is no better way to offer full-body protection for freediving than with a full wetsuit. Lined with neoprene, these suits will offer the utmost protection against the elements and allow for a safe and enjoyable freediving expereience.