Freediving

Freediving‏‎ or breath-hold diving is a form of underwater diving that relies on the diver's ability to hold their breath until resurfacing rather than using a breathing apparatus such as scuba gear. This practice is both ancient and widespread, and was traditionally used for hunting and gathering, both underwater and on the surface of the water.

History

The history of freediving is closely tied to the history of human interaction with the sea. Ancient cultures around the world practiced freediving to gather food, harvest resources like sponge and pearl, and to salvage items from sunken vessels. The Ama divers of Japan and Korea, who traditionally dive for abalone and pearls, are a well-known example of freediving culture.

Techniques

Freediving techniques vary widely depending on the purpose of the dive, the environment and the local tradition. However, all freediving methods share a common emphasis on breath control, efficient movement, and mental discipline.

Static Apnea

Static Apnea is a discipline in which the freediver holds their breath for as long as possible while floating on the surface or standing on the bottom. This technique is often used for training purposes, to increase the diver's comfort and efficiency with breath-holding.

Dynamic Apnea

Dynamic Apnea involves traveling as far as possible underwater on a single breath. This can be done with or without fins, and is often practiced in a pool.

Depth Diving

Depth diving, or deep diving, is a form of freediving where the diver descends as deep as possible on a single breath. There are several sub-disciplines within depth diving, including Constant Weight Apnea, Free Immersion Apnea, and Variable Weight Apnea.

Safety

Freediving is an inherently risky activity due to the danger of hypoxia, barotrauma, decompression sickness, and drowning. Therefore, safety measures such as diving with a buddy, adhering to safe ascent and descent rates, and proper training are crucial.

Competitions

Freediving competitions have been organized since the early 20th century. The AIDA International is the worldwide federation for breath-hold diving, setting standards for competition rules and safety.

See also

• Spearfishing
• Underwater hunting
• Underwater archaeology
• Underwater photography