Freediving: everything about freediving

 

Freediving: everything about freediving

Freediving, also known as snorkeling or freediving in French, is a sport activity consisting of diving without using breathing equipment. Ventilation is therefore voluntarily interrupted, hence the importance of respecting safety rules. This type of diving can be combined with other activities such as spearfishing, photography or underwater fishing.

A bit of history

Freediving is a discipline that has gone through history and has been practiced for centuries. At the beginning, the reasons for its development were mainly food, then little by little freediving became commercial, sports and even recreational.

Thus, works by Mario Mationi found in the 60's prove the existence of food apnea in the West Indies practiced for millennia long before colonization. Moreover, freediving already existed in prehistoric times until the IXth century BC with the collection of shells and especially sea sponges and red coral to make trade.

Freediving is also a very widespread discipline worldwide. Since 2 centuries, it has been practiced by pearl fishermen in Polynesia and the famous nude divers who practice freediving up to 50 years in Japan.

More recently, freediving has been made famous to the point of becoming a sports or recreational activity thanks to the film The Big Blue. Even if it took a long time because of the fear around the discipline due to many accidents, freediving is now very popular.

The different practices of apnea

Freediving is divided into several disciplines that can be practiced in a swimming pool or in the sea.

In the pool

- Static apnea: this is the basic discipline which consists in staying as long as possible in immersion by holding one's breath.

- Dynamic apnea: it can be practiced with or without fins and consists in covering the longest possible distance horizontally in immersion.

At sea

Apnea at sea is also called deep apnea and is practiced along a vertical cable that serves as a guide for descent and ascent.

- Free diving freediving: this discipline consists of descending as deep as possible using the cable with the sole force of the arms for the descent and ascent. It can be practiced with or without fins.

- Constant weight freediving: Can also be practiced with or without fins, constant weight freediving is similar to free immersion. The objective is the same, diving as deep as possible but the use of the legs is also allowed.

- Variable weight freediving: The objective of this discipline is to reach the deepest possible depth. However, the freediver does not use the strength of his arms or legs but a whip to move along the cable. 

- No limit" freediving: This is the most dangerous discipline that allows you to reach the greatest depths. The freediver dives with a buoyancy tube and the ascent is made thanks to a parachute which is a balloon of air attached to the tube inflated by the diver.

Effects on the body

When a diver is in freediving, the efforts made result in the production of carbon dioxide by the organs. However, this gas cannot be evacuated. For this reason, freedivers regularly work on their carbon dioxide tolerance through various exercises.

Freediving also causes many reactions in the human body, in particular the immersion reflex. Various phenomena are then observed.

First of all, the slowing down of the heart rate by about 20%, which can be amplified with training.

Another effect is peripheral vasoconstriction, which causes a decrease in the diameter of the blood vessels and thus pushes the blood back to the vital organs such as the brain, the heart or the kidneys.

Finally, there is also a phenomenon called pulmonary erection which increases the resistance of the rib cage to external pressure. In fact, at depth the lungs reach a volume of 1.5 liters compared to 6 or 7 at the surface. This reflex occurs because the rib cage cannot compress itself indefinitely.

The benefits of apnea

First of all, freediving allows you to recharge your batteries, relax and let go. Many people say they practice the discipline because it allows them to evacuate the stress and worries of everyday life. Indeed, the freediving environment and high pressure can lead to a feeling of well-being and positive emotions such as fullness and happiness. 

Freediving can, like other sports, be a way to be more confident. Setting goals and then pushing yourself to reach them and finally reaching them can boost your self-confidence.

Furthermore, freediving allows you to immerse yourself in a universe full of very diverse underwater animal and plant species. Thus, this activity is an opportunity to discover a new and exotic world but also to learn new things about underwater life.

Freediving is also highly recommended for divers who wish to see whales, dolphins or other very large marine mammals.

Finally, this discipline is also an excellent way to maintain oneself and do sports. Practicing freediving allows you to work a large number of muscles and keeps your lungs and cardiovascular system healthy.