What is Freediving?
Freediving is the practice by which human beings awaken and strengthen innate physiological capabilities, which allow us to safely spend more time underwater, on just one breath. Thanks to the work of many different types of scientists over many years, we are now much closer to understanding the biologial and physiological links between human beings and our ancient seafaring ancestors. Is there a chance that we have somehow retained some our ancestor’s physiologial traits which allowed them to spend much more time under water than we typically do? A study of the mamalian dive relex would seem to suggest that the answer is yes!
Relaxation
Freediving requires efficient management of the body’s oxygen stores while holding one’s breath. Calming the body and mind are essential. When we calm our breathing, heartrate, etc., we decrease our oxygen consumption. If we imagine the difference between an anxious and a calm mind and consider that even thinking consumes oxygen, it’s easy to appreciate how a calm and balanced mind will also help to conserve oxygen. If the mind is anxious, that anxiety will be played out physically in the body. Calm the mind and the body will follow.
Our freediving instructors are qualified yoga teachers. Yoga Nidra, asana, yogic breathing teachniques and other guided meditations are used during our training courses to help students appreciate the importance of relaxation.
Mamalian Dive Reflex
The mammalian dive reflex, diving reflex, diving bradycardia, and the diving response, is a protective, multifaceted physiologic reaction that occurs in mammals, including humans, in response to water submersion. The dive reflex is believed to aid in conserving mammal oxygen stores by initiating several specific physiologic changes during aquatic immersion.
When a human holds their breath and submerges in water, the face and nose become wet, which in turn causes bradycardia, apnea, and increased peripheral vascular resistance; these three main physiologic changes are collectively referred to as the diving reflex. The cause of increased peripheral resistance is thought to redistribute blood to the vital organs while limiting oxygen consumption by nonessential muscle groups. In addition to vascular resistance, bradycardia is initiated to decrease the work of the heart and further limit unnecessary oxygen consumption.
The dive reflex is an innate multi-system physiologic response in all vertebrates that preserves oxygen stores during water immersion.
Equalisation
As Freedivers, we have to manage different types of natural and artificial air spaces, e.g. ears, sinuses, mask and lungs. As we descend, sensations of pressure and discomfort are experienced as the increasing water pressure reduces the volume of these airspaces. If unaddressed, these sensations can result in pain and injury.
Equalisation can be understood as compensating for the increase in pressure experienced in the ears by moving air from either the lungs or the mouth into the eustachian tubes to reduce pressure on the ear drums. This is what is happening when you pinch your nose and “blow”. Everyone is born with the ability to equalise using one of two methods, Valsalva or Frenzel. Unfortunately, only Frenzel works with Freediving. If you use Valsalva instinctively, part of your Freediving journey will be to learn how to migrate from Valsalva to Frenzel equalisation.
Your Inner Frish
“Your Inner Fish” is a book written by Neil Shubin, the paleontologist and professor of anatomy who co-discovered Tiktaalik, the “fish with hands,” in which he tells a “compelling scientific adventure story that will change forever how you understand what it means to be human” (Oliver Sacks).
By examining fossils and DNA, he shows us that our hands actually resemble fish fins, our heads are organized like long-extinct jawless fish, and major parts of our genomes look and function like those of worms and bacteria. Your Inner Fish makes us look at ourselves and our world in an illuminating new light. This is science writing at its finest—enlightening, accessible and told with irresistible enthusiasm.
Mythology
Ireland / Selkie - Also called the seal people, the sea people or the mermaid – a selkie is a marine legend that tells of people who are half fish, and half-human. In the water, they are seals, but on land, they shed their skin and take on human form. And for some reason, they are irresistible to ordinary humans, who are apt to fall in love with the seal people.
Africa / Mami Wata - Traditions on both sides of the Atlantic tell of the spirit abducting her followers or random people whilst they are swimming or boating. She brings them to her paradisiacal realm, which may be underwater, in the spirit world, or both. Should she allow them to leave, the travellers usually return in dry clothing and with a new spiritual understanding reflected in their gaze. These returnees often grow wealthier, more attractive, and more easygoing after the encounter!
Freediving Education
AIDA courses set the standard in international freediving education. The AIDA ladder supports your development as a freediver all the way from beginner to instructor level. You can enter the AIDA education ladder either at the AIDA-1 “Introduction to Freediving” or AIDA-2 “Freediver” level, depending on how comfortable you feel in the water. The AIDA education ladder is about but building your skills for safe controlled freediving.
Everyone can be taught to freedive safely.
Freediving as a sport
AIDA has been organising freediving competitions around the world since 1992, making the sport safer but as competitive as ever. Freediving competitions also bring the community of freedivers together where they can share their knowledge and experience with other likeminded people.
Image: Alexey Molchanov at Vertical Blue © Daan Verhoeven.
Depth Disciplines
Free Immersion (FIM)
The freediver dives under water without the use of propulsion equipment (fins) but uses the rope to pull to descend and ascend. Free immersion is the most relaxing discipline and is used as a training tool to learn equalisaton techniques. Athletes may experience the most enjoyable sensations in FIM because of the speed of the water over the body and the power of each pull on the rope as the only means of propulsion.
Constant Weight (CWT)
The freediver descends and ascends with the use of fins/monofin and/or with the use of his arms. Pulling on the rope or changing his ballast will result in disqualification; only a single hold of the rope is allowed in order to turn and stop the descent and start the ascent. Constant weight is the most widely practiced and known sportive depth discipline of freediving due to the specific fins or monofins used in it. Constant weight is one of the three disciplines included for international team competitions along with Static apnea and Dynamic with fins.
CONSTANT Weight With Bi-Fins (CWTB)
CWTB The new discipline allows the freediver descends and ascends attempting to reach a targeted depth by swimming with Bi-fins and / or their arms. Propulsion aids other than Bi-fins are prohibited
Constant Weight Without Fins (CNF)
The freediver descends and ascends underwater using a variation of breastroke swimming stroke without the use of propulsion equipment and without pulling on the rope. Constant weight without fins is the most difficult sportive depth discipline because it requires the most strength and the diver is unaided by fins . CNF exemplifies perfect coordination between propulsing movments, equalization, technique and buoyancy.
Variable Weight (VWT)
The freediver descends with the help of a ballast weight and ascends using his own power: arms and/or legs, either by pulling or not pulling on the rope. Variable weight is one of the two depth disciplines which employ the use of a sled to descend in the water. With old-style sleds, the athlete descended "head first" as seen in Luc Besson's famous movie "Le Grand Bleu", but new generation sleds are "feet first" which allows for easier equalization for the athlete. Variable weight is only done as a record attempt and is not a competition discipline.
No Limit (NLT)
The freediver descends with the help of a ballast weight and ascends via a method of his choice. No limits is the deepest depth discipline. The athlete descends with a sled and ascends with a balloon, a diving suit ,or a vest with inflatable compartments, or whatever other means. NLT attempts are currently not sanctioned by AIDA International.
Pool Disciplines
Dynamic With Fins (DYN)
DYN is most often a pool discipline in which the freediver travels in a horizontal position underwater attempting to cover the greatest possible distance. Any propulsion aids, other than fins or a monofin and swimming movements with the arms, are prohibited. Dynamic with fins is the most common of the horizontal distance disciplines because of the specific means of propulsion ;long fins or monofin. For a performance to be officially recognized there are minimum depth and length requirements for pools. Pool competitions most often comprise a performance in DYN, DNF, and STA but some competitions are a combine’ of DYN and STA.
DYNAMIC With Bi-Fins (DYNB)
DYNB The new discipline allows the freediver to swim with Bi-fins only with their airway submerged attempting to cover the greatest possible distance. Propulsion aids other than Bi-fins are prohibited.
Dynamic Without Fins (DNF)
The freediver travels in a horizontal position underwater attempting to cover the greatest possible distance using a modified breaststoke . Propulsion aids of any sort are prohibited. DYN requires good technique, relaxation, and a long breath hold in order to achieve the greatest distance. The minimum pool standards are the same as for DYN.
Static Apnea (STA)
The freediver holds his breath for as long as possible with his nose and mouth immersed while floating on the surface of the water or standing on the bottom of a pool. Static apnea is the only discipline based on time of breathhold and not distance . It is one of the three disciplines included in Team World Championships along with CWT and DYN . Performances are recognized in both pool or open water (sea, lake, river, etc).
“The best way to observe a fish is to become a fish.”
Jacques Yves Cousteau