The word “freediving” can elicit different emotions– from fear and anxiety to excitement and intrigue. For many, freediving means discovering a special connection with marine life and a haunting but peaceful underwater silence. If you’ve ever wanted to connect with the ocean in a unique and challenging way, this sport might be for you.
Freediving is a competitive sport, but for recreational freedivers, it can also be a meditative practice, a hobby, or a way to appreciate the magnificence of our oceans. It allows participants to engage with the ocean in a truly special way that traditional scuba diving simply cannot offer.
By removing the gear associated with traditional scuba diving, there is nothing separating you and the deep blue. This experience can lead to some pretty amazing realizations about our place on this big blue Earth and our relationship with the natural environment as humans.
So what is freediving exactly?
Well, it’s essentially what it sounds like– freediving is the practice of underwater diving without any breathing apparatus or machinery. Freedivers rely solely on holding their breath and use no scuba gear or breathing tubes to help them enter the depths of the ocean. For most freedivers, diving involves pushing your body to its breath-holding limits while seeking your personal maximum depth under the sea. Divers take “one deep breath” and become one with the ocean as they dive as deep and as long as possible without oxygen.
Many freedivers report forging a closer and more intimate relationship with their bodies after practicing for a while because of the demand and control you must have over your breath. Even more difficult, you must be able to calm your mind as well. Relaxation and remaining calm are some of the most important (and challenging) parts of easing into a freediving experience.
Competitive Freediving
There are four main types of freediving: constant weight, variable weight, free immersion, and no limit freediving. Free immersion is the best way for beginners to learn and involves pulling yourself down and up with a rope. The absolute best way to learn how to free dive is with the help of a qualified instructor through the form of a course or training session. Free immersion diving allows beginners to practice their bodily equalization skills, and with the help of a professional, can be a great way to enter the world of freediving. At almost every famous dive spot in the world, you can find an accredited and reputable freediving teacher or course (to help you dip your toes into the sport)!
Variable weight and constant weight freediving are competitive forms that use added weights and various fins to aid the swimmer. Competitors test their limits by comparing how deep they can go, as well as how long they can stay underwater. Swimmers from many different countries compete for world records in-depth and time spent underwater in different categories.
No limit freediving is the most dangerous and headline-making form of the sport. No limit freedivers use a weight to see just how deep they can submerge themselves underwater, while a buoyancy device is used to help the swimmer return to the top. Despite the dangers, no limit freediving was the form that popularized the sport and pioneered the practice into the mainstream. As freediving has gained more participants around the world, safer methods like variable and constant weight freediving have become more popular.
Ever heard of the Mammalian Dive Reflex?
Famous among freediving communities, this reflex is what makes staying underwater for a longer period of time possible. The mammalian dive reflex refers to the idea that our homeostatic impulses become overridden heard underwater. Our bodies find a way to stay underwater by using the oxygen already in their system to survive. This reflex is something that all mammals have in order to conserve energy and stay alive underwater.
Your body will start respiring anaerobically and will do things like slow your heart rate down to preserve oxygen. Appreciating and mastering control of your mammalian dive reflex can help you to become a better freediver– it’s something that all of us have, but few of us take advantage of training.
Practice Makes Perfect
If you’re interested in freediving, there are exercises you can start doing at home to prepare and practice for your first dive!
The first and most obvious exercise is to measure how long you can hold your breath. Relax and take slow, calm breaths for a few minutes before holding your breath. Try distracting yourself and remaining as calm as possible while you’re not breathing. This first amount of time can act as a baseline for your practice, as you try and increase it the overtime!
Yoga, stretching, and general fitness practices are also great preparation for your first freedive. Staying in good shape and maintaining a high level of physical fitness will help you to be better at freediving once you get in the water. Yoga exercises can help you foster a connection between your mind and body, increase your bodily awareness, and assist you with breath-work. Freediving is referred to by some as an aquatic mindfulness practice, meaning that mental control is super important.
Safety First
Especially when starting out as a freediving beginner, you should always be working with an instructor or experienced friend. Never swim alone and never freedive without a buddy who is trained in emergency procedures. For your own safety, it’s a good idea to freedive as part of a supportive club, group, or course.
Pool training may be a great way to start out– try swimming and reducing the number of breaths between strokes. Of course, practicing your skills should always be done in a safe environment and should be stopped immediately if you feel lightheaded. Freediving is a rewarding but challenging sport that requires skill, practice, and expertise because of the dangers to your body that are involved. Do your research first, and you’re sure to have a better experience!
Conserving Our Seas
It’s no secret that our oceans are in danger because of human activity. The balance of entire marine ecosystems is threatened by the rise in global temperatures caused by climate change. This can already be seen in the massive coral reef die-outs and bleachings during the past five years. When freediving, you’ll be able to experience and witness firsthand the impact that humans are having on ocean life. By viewing the trash and plastic pollution right alongside magnificent whales, dolphins, and manta rays, you may be confronted with a newfound concern for these animals.
For those who truly want to immerse themselves underwater, freediving also means facing the depressing reality of ocean degradation. Divers are often hyper-aware of how we negatively impact the sea and usually take on leading roles in conservation efforts. If you’ve been looking to connect with the ocean in an entirely new way, and are prepared to face these realities, freediving may be for you. Ocean appreciation and conservation go hand in hand, and they may just become your newest passion.
