All freedivers should be aware of and mitigate against surface blackouts. With good technique and regular practice you can reduce your risk but never eliminate it. Always follow the safety rules on not diving alone and make sure you are accompanied by an experienced diving buddy who knows how to handle freediving blackouts. Freedivers may …
If you want to freedive for longer, you should train and practice apnea thoroughly, develop an effective breath-up routine, keep your muscles strong and supple, learn to stay calm at depth, and wear a wetsuit that keeps you warm, comfortable and mobile in the water. Freediving is a physically and mentally demanding sport, where each …
Monofins are better for competitive freedivers and probably essential for winning freediving competitions or setting records in certain disciplines. They can make any diver faster and more powerful in the water. This major advantage may be offset by the disadvantages in terms of greater difficulty of use compared to bifins, and lack of maneuverability in …
Freediving wetsuits are generally in two pieces because this best suits a large number of freedivers. The best way to find your own preferred wetsuit style is to try out a few different options and see what works for you. Freedivers often prefer to wear two piece wetsuits for reasons including flexibility and ease of …
There are plenty of options for freediving in a wetsuit and you should have no problem finding the one which suits you best. You can dive in a wetsuit. Many freedivers prefer to wear a wetsuit in the water in order to stay warm, protect their skin from sun or underwater hazards, or to make …
A low volume mask is the best choice for freediving, making it easier to equalize and therefore facilitating deeper, longer dives. If you already have a higher volume mask (e.g. from scuba diving), you can use this for freediving, but it could affect your comfort or performance. Whatever mask you choose, it’s important that you …
You can freedive without a mask, although it’s safer and more comfortable to choose a well-fitting low-volume freediving mask. You should never freedive with swimming goggles, or you could suffer damage to the blood vessels in and around your eyes. As an adult, you will not be able to see underwater without a mask as …
Freediving without a wetsuit is common and preferred by some freedivers. Others always use a wetsuit, particularly in colder waters or during longer diving sessions where core body temperature could drop after prolonged exposure. If choosing a wetsuit, make sure you have something that fits well, suits your freediving plans and allows you to breath …
Freediving without a snorkel is both possible and preferred by some freedivers as a purer form of freediving experience. Snorkels are very much an optional piece of freediving equipment and the simplest snorkel can be the best if you want to avoid extra weight, bulk and drag. A snorkel is a completely optional piece of …
If your lungs hurt after freediving it’s important to find out why. If your lungs feel uncomfortable after practicing apnea exercises in or out of the water, but you have no other symptoms, take a rest, and try again another day. As you become stronger and more experienced, this discomfort may lessen. If your lungs …
