Getting Started With Recreational Freediving: Easy Tips For Beginners

Freediving isn’t complicated, although things do get technical for those who decide to compete. Getting started is easy, and it’s something just about anyone can do. All you need is some basic equipment, a place to practice, a partner, and some knowledge of basic techniques.

Basic Requirements

You need very little to start practicing freediving, particularly in terms of equipment:

Equipment: Specialized fins, a flexible snorkel, and a close-fitting mask are required for going deep, but those who just want to practice can get away with using a basic snorkel set or a dive mask, snorkel, and scuba fins.
A place to practice: You can practice in a pool, a lake, or the ocean. Look for an area with clear water and calm conditions. It needs to be a place where you feel safe and comfortable, as you will need to relax while practicing.
A buddy: You can practice holding your breath in the bathtub without a buddy, but anytime you go into deeper water, you need someone with you in case of emergency. A scuba buddy who can share air with you if needed is the ideal practice buddy.

Basic Freediving Procedures

Like scuba diving, freediving has some basic procedures to follow. If you are already a scuba diver, you’ll find that there are many similarities.

Equalizing: As you move into deeper water, the airspaces inside your equipment and body are subject to increasing pressure that causes air’s volume to decrease, creating a painful, dangerous vacuum. Equalize during descent only, and do it preventatively before you notice any discomfort. If you start to feel pain, you need to ascend. Besides equalizing your middle ear, you will need to equalize your mask by blowing small amounts of air into it through your nose as you descend. This prevents mask squeeze, which is uncomfortable, and which can damage the eyes.
Ventilation: In apnea diving, ventilation refers to the act of supplying the body with as much oxygen as possible before beginning to descend. You’ll find a number of resources available for improving ventilation, including techniques for increasing lung capacity, purging carbon dioxide, and achieving optimal breath-up intervals.
Relaxation and Breath-up: Total relaxation prior to diving is a must: This ensures that your muscles have all the oxygen they need before you start your dive. Begin by achieving your body’s resting heart rate, then floating on the water’s surface while resting for several minutes before starting your dive. Take slow, deep breaths during the breath-up, and ensure that you exhale completely after each and every breath. While professional freedivers practice different breath-up rituals, the general rule is that you should relax and breath-up for twice as much time as that of your planned dive.
Hyperventilation: Beginning freedivers should hyperventilate for no longer than about ten seconds to purge the body of excessive CO2. Excessive hyperventilation can cause shallow water blackout, which can result in serious injury or death.
Deep Breath and Dive: A final deep breath and an immediate dive should follow the hyperventilation interval. Your capabilities greatly depend on your athletic conditioning and your psychological state. Take baby steps to ensure your safety as you begin freediving, and you’ll find it enjoyable rather than stressful.

Conditioning the mind and body are important aspects of freediving. Keep working on your technique and use as many resources as you can. Practice resisting the urge to breathe as frequently as possible, even if you do so while not submerged. If you are having fun and want to get better at freediving, consider taking a course – you’ll find these are increasing in popularity and are available in many places.

Finally, keep in mind that although the dangers associated with freediving are manageable, they are real. Always use sound judgment and know your own limitations to provide yourself with the greatest possible margin of safety.