what is freediving?
One breath only
Freediving means going beneath the surface of the water on a breath hold. It encompasses recreational freediving, spearfishing and competition/sport diving. It can be done by anyone with a decent level of health and fitness, who is able to swim unassisted.
In order to progress as a freediver, you train a combination of mental resilience, technical skills and self-awareness.
By training our mind and body, we can optimise relaxation for successful dives.
There are several disciplines.
In open water, and in the pool.
Free Immersion (FIM)
This discipline sees a freediver descend and ascend to depth by pulling along a vertical rope, without the use of fins to propel them.
Constant Weight (CWT)
Using fins or a monofin, this is the most common discipline for recreational and competitive freediving. The freediver wears weights to descend and may not drop them to ascend.
Constant Weight, No Fins (CNF)
Considered the most challenging discipline, here a freediver must descend and ascend without any equipment, using a modified breaststroke technique.
Dynamic Apnea (DYN)
Measured in distance rather than depth, in DYN a freediver is weighted to midwater, and using bi-fins (DYNB) or monofin (DYN).
Dynamic No Fins (DNF)
The most physically demanding of the pool disciplines, DNF is distance without fins.
Variable Weight (VWT)
Less common and not included in competition diving, in this discipline freedivers descend on a weighted sled or cable, and pull or swim back up.
Static Apnea (STA)
This is a static measure of breathhold time, and is a stationary dive, testing mental strength and relaxation.
No Limits (NLT)
Again, freedivers use a weighted sled to descend and a balloon to ascend using a lift bag. It’s considered risky.