What is Freediving
Freediving is a wonderful blend of sport and recreation where you dive underwater and come back up on just one breath. It’s all about relaxation and controlling your breath to make each dive longer and deeper.
Picture yourself exploring the ocean’s depths without heavy equipment. Freediving is the most natural and peaceful way to experience the underwater world, letting you experience the beauty and calm of the sea with minimal impact on the environment.
What makes freediving truly special is the sense of tranquility it brings. It’s a perfect way to escape of everyday life and find a serene, underwater peace.
Freediving as a sport
Key Techniques:​
- Breath-Hold :
Freedivers hold their breath for the entire duration of the dive, which can vary from a few seconds to several minutes, depending on experience and training.
​- Techniques and Training:
Freedivers use specific techniques to maximize their breath-hold capacity and enhance their underwater performance. This includes methods for efficient breathing, relaxation and equalization (adjusting pressure in the ears and sinuses).
​- Equalization:​​
Frenzel Maneuver: The maneuver can be challenging to master because it requires precise muscle awareness and control. Some individuals manage to perform it naturally.
Valsalva Maneuver: The maneuver is relatively simple to master - just blowing against a pinched nose - it’s not ideal for freediving. This technique relies on the use of breathing muscles and becomes ineffective beyond certain depths. In contrast, the Frenzel maneuver, which engages smaller, non-breathing muscle groups, offers a more controlled and efficient method for equalization.
​​- Safety Protocols
- Buddy System
Always dive with a partner who can assist in case of an emergency. The buddy system is crucial for ensuring safety during training and recreational dives.
- Pre-Dive Preparation
Proper training, including practicing breath-hold techniques, equalization, and safety procedures, is essential. Divers should also conduct thorough risk assessments and be aware of their physical limits.
- Recovery Procedures
After a dive, proper recovery techniques include slow ascent, adequate surface breathing, and monitoring for symptoms of hypoxia or hypercapnia. ​
Freediving Equipment
Gears:
- Mask Low-volume to reduce air space and improve comfort.
- Snorkels is used for surface breathing and easy transitions to diving.
- Long fins, flexible fins are designed to provide efficient propulsion with minimal effort. The choice of fins, plastic , fiberglass or carbon impact directly your performance.
- Wetsuits provide thermal protection and buoyancy. Freediving-specific wetsuits are often streamlined to reduce drag and improve hydrodynamics.
Physical and Mental Benefits:
Freediving can improve lung capacity, cardiovascular health, and mental focus. The practice of deep, controlled breathing and relaxation techniques also contributes to overall well-being.
Freediving is both an individual pursuit and a competitive sport, offering a unique way to explore and appreciate the underwater world.
​​- Freediving encompasses several disciplines:
POOL
​- DYNB (with bi-fins) or DYN ( with monofin) Dynamic with fins is performed under the surface of water in a pool. Freedivers dive horizontally for distance on a single breath
​- DNF (Dynamic No-Fins), the freediver is performed under the surface of water in a pool. Freedivers dive horizontally for distance on a single breath without fins, using only arm strokes and frog kicks.​​
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- STAT : the freediver is floating face down and hold the breath for as long as possible. This is the only discipline where performance is measured by duration.
OPEN WATER
- CWT The freediver descends and ascends with the use monofin without pulling the rope, only a single hold of the rope is allowed in order to turn and stop the descent and start the ascent.
- CWTB, The freediver descends and ascends with the use bi-fins without pulling the rope, only a single hold of the rope is allowed in order to turn and stop the descent and start the ascent.
- CNF The freediver descends and ascends underwater using a breastroke and kick stroke without the use of propulsion equipment and without pulling on the rope.
- FIM, the freediver descends and ascends underwater pulling the rope to descend and ascend .
