Freediving, or breath-hold diving, is a type of free diving. Unlike Scuba Diving, where a diver dives with a cylinder of compressed air, in freediving one dives without any additional equipment.
This water sport is very popular, but it also stirs up some controversy. Many wonder whether diving to great depths on held breath is healthy.
What should you know before you start your freediving adventure?
Who can practice freediving (diving on held breath)?
Freediving is a water sport available to virtually everyone. If you don’t have serious respiratory or blood pressure health problems, can swim and feel comfortable in the water, this is the sport for you.
During the freediving course you are under the constant supervision of an instructor, which ensures safety, and the first immersions take place only after learning the theoretical part that includes learning breath-holding and relaxation techniques.
The impact of apnea diving on the psyche
Freediving is a real competitor to traditional diving, as it is not only an exciting water sport, but also a great way to improve one’s mental state and calm down.
Diving on held breath, without additional ballast, gives a unique sense of freedom. Observing the underwater world and communing with nature in this unusual way allows you to forget the stresses of everyday life and learn to enjoy the moment.
Although freediving is always practiced with a partner, it is a moment when you are left alone with your thoughts and can feel truly free and light. It allows you to practice your ability to handle stressful situations and concentrate.
Learning how to breathe and relax, which is part of freediving, is valuable knowledge that can help maintain mental balance on a daily basis as well.
Does freediving diving have a positive effect on physical health?
Freediving, like any sport, has a positive effect on a person’s physical health and fitness. Regular practice of freediving improves the efficiency of all systems in the human body, especially the nervous system.
When you immerse yourself in water, the body goes into what is called a diving response. The heart slows down a bit, and blood is redirected to the most important organs in the body.
This natural mechanism helps regulate the nervous system and bring a deep feeling of peace and tranquility.
In addition, diving to greater depths allows you to burn calories and model your figure. All parts of the body and muscles are involved in diving, which promotes building a slender figure and strong muscles while relieving stress on the spine, joints and tendons.
For this reason, it is a safe sport for those dealing with back pain or other osteoarticular conditions.
How to start the adventure of freediving? What equipment will you need for your first dive?
Freediving is a sport that requires proper preparation, so it is strongly discouraged to try it on your own. The best way to start your freediving adventure is to enroll in a course taught by experienced, certified instructors.
The basis of the training is learning the theory of freediving, which includes mastering proper breathing techniques, the basics of water safety, and swimming and diving techniques with and without fins.
The mode of study depends on the type of diving school. There are currently four freediving teaching schools in the world:
- AIDA – Association Internationale Pour Le Developpement De L’apnee,
- CMAS – Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques,
- PADI – the professional association of diving instructors,
- SSI – Scuba Schools International.
So it’s a good idea to start learning with a basic scuba diving course under the supervision of an instructor. During the training you will learn the basics of the sport and see if it’s something for you.
To practice freediving, you need not only knowledge, but also equipment. The basic equipment of a diver is a mask, fins, wetsuit and snorkel. Weights are also sometimes needed, and neoprene socks and gloves for cold water immersion.
The mask provides adequate space between the eyes and the water. This protects them from irritation and allows you to dive freely with your eyes open. A special nosepiece in the mask allows the pressure around the eyes to be equalized against the pressure at the depth of immersion.
Flippers make it easier to descend to the desired depth, as they provide stronger leg movements and faster and freer swimming. They should be selected for rigidity and size. Well-fitting fins do not bounce off or otherwise interfere with the diver.
For beginner freedivers who want to move under the surface of the water, soft fins are recommended, as they are more comfortable. On the other hand, for greater depths and professional freediving, hard models will prove better.
A snorkel is a common element in freediving and traditional diving. But in freediving it is used only at the initial stage. It is used for breathing between dives and protecting the respiratory tract from water. With a snorkel, you can lie on the surface of the water and breathe freely without lifting your head.
The suit protects the body from excessive temperature drops. You can choose between “dry” (non-permeable) and “wet” (permeable) suits. Under the wetsuit, you no longer need to put on additional clothing, except for a bathing suit.
Dry suits are used when water temperatures are low, below 15 degrees Celsius. In addition, warmer clothing should be worn under them. In this way, the body does not lose heat.
Why start a Deepspot pool diving adventure and become a freediver?
Freediving diving courses at Deepspot are an excellent choice for anyone who wants to learn to dive or become qualified for professional freediving in closed and open waters.
Practical classes are held in safe conditions, usually in a pool located at Deepspot dive center and under the guidance of instructors. The pace of the classes is adjusted individually.
Our staff is made up of experienced, professional instructors, with the welfare of the students above all else in mind. Patience, forbearance and support guarantee a pleasant atmosphere, which is crucial especially at the initial stage.
World records in depth freediving diving
Freediving is a sport that has held world records for depth and longest breath-holding underwater. An example is Matthew Malina.
He is the first Pole in the history of freediving to become a world champion. He won the title on June 25, 2015 at the 2015 Individual AIDA Pool World Championships in Belgrade in the DNF competition with a score of 214 meters.
In 2019 at the CMAS Freediving Indoor European Championship in Istanbul in the DYN competition, he achieved a distance of 316 meters and thus set a new world record. You can read more about the record holders here: https://www.deepspot.com/pl/rekordzisci-freedivingu-rekordy-polski-i-swiata-w-freedivingu/.
