Variable weight apnea

Variable Weight Apnea is a discipline of freediving, a form of underwater diving that relies on the diver's ability to hold their breath until resurfacing, rather than using breathing apparatus such as scuba gear.

In Variable Weight Apnea, the diver descends with the help of a weight and ascends by their own power, either by swimming or pulling along the dive rope. The weight used in this discipline is often a sled, which is attached to the dive rope. The diver can control the speed of descent by adjusting the weight on the sled.

Variable Weight Apnea is considered a more advanced form of freediving due to the additional skills and strength required to ascend without the aid of buoyancy devices. It is also a more dangerous form of freediving due to the increased risk of barotrauma, a condition caused by a change in air pressure, and hypoxia, a condition caused by lack of oxygen.

The current world record for Variable Weight Apnea is held by Herbert Nitsch, who descended to a depth of 214 meters in 2007. This record is recognized by the International Association for the Development of Apnea (AIDA), the governing body for competitive freediving.

Variable Weight Apnea is one of the disciplines included in the AIDA World Championship, along with Constant Weight Apnea, Free Immersion Apnea, and Static Apnea.

Training and Safety

Training for Variable Weight Apnea involves improving lung capacity, physical strength, and diving technique. Divers must also learn to manage their oxygen consumption and to recognize the signs of hypoxia and barotrauma.

Safety measures in Variable Weight Apnea include the use of a dive buddy, who can provide assistance in case of emergency, and a dive computer, which monitors depth and time underwater. Divers are also advised to ascend slowly to avoid decompression sickness, a condition caused by dissolved gases coming out of solution into bubbles inside the body.

See Also

• Freediving
• Herbert Nitsch
• AIDA World Championship