About Freediving
Freediving or breath hold diving is about diving free of bulky equipment, using nothing but a single breath of air. The term Freediving may sound new but it is actually the oldest form of diving, people were hunting and gathering in the oceans long before any type of breathing apparatus was invented. The earliest historical records of breath hold diving are of Cretan sponge divers in 3000 BC and Chinese sponge divers in 2200 BC, military divers were even used in times of war in ancient Greece and Rome. Modern freediving has come a long way since then and divers are taking advantage of more current technology and materials to make breath hold diving in the ocean much easier and more enjoyable. This equipment includes carbon fibre long bladed fins and monofins, low volume masks, low drag smooth skin wetsuits that are very warm and flexible and dive computers that monitor both depth and time. Many people freedive from recreational snorkelers that just want to dive down to look closer at a fish to divers that enjoy spearfishing, underwater photography and competition freediving. Competition freediving is about taking a single breath and seeing who can dive the deepest, swim the furthest, or hold their breath the longest. There are 6 categories in competitions, the most common competition format is usually constant weight, static, dynamic and optional dynamic no fins. Descriptions of these events can be found below.
AIDA is the world wide body under which competitions are regulated, AFA is the official AIDA representative for Australia. Current World and Australian records can be found at :-
Competition Categories
Constant Weight - Depth diving with fins, no change in ballast
This is simply diving down and back up with either bi-fins or a monofin.This is also the most common form of freediving and what most people outside competition actually do, from people spearfishing to those that just want to take in the sights. You are allowed to wear weights but anything you take down with you has to be brought back up, you also cannot use the rope for propulsion.
Static Apnea - breath hold lying still in a pool
Static Apnea is holding your breath as long as possible with your airway below the water. Some top competition divers are able to hold their breath for several minutes.
Dynamic Apnea - distance covered underwater in a pool
The diver uses fins to swim as far as possible underwater in a pool. Most recreational freedivers use long bladed freediving fins, in competition however monofins are becoming increasingly more dominant.
Constant No Fins - depth ...diving without fins, normally using breaststroke
This is freediving in it's most pure form in that the diver must swim up and down without the help of fins or touching the rope.Most divers use a modified type of breastroke. This event is increasing in popularity and is one of the most challenging as it demands not only good breathold but also fitness and good swimming technique. You are allowed to wear weights but anything you take down with you has to be brought back up.
Dynamic Apnea No fins - distance covered underwater in a pool without fins, normally using breaststroke
- distance covered underwater in a pool without fins, the freediver commonly uses a type of breaststroke. It requires not only a good breath hold but also fitness and good swimming technique.
Free Immersion - depth diving where the diver uses a rope to pull themselves up and down
Free Immersion is depth diving where the diver uses a rope to pull themselves up and down.You are allowed to wear weights but anything you take down with you has to be brought back up.
