5 things I wish I knew before I started Freediving
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Freediving has changed my life in so many positive ways. I truly believe that most (if not all) people could benefit from trying it.
As a beginner, there will always be mistakes along the way. Two years in and I’m still learning with each dive I take. As you take the first few steps, here are five things to keep in mind for a smoother transition.
1. Equalization will be harder than your breath hold.
I didn’t believe this at first. After all, when we watch freedivers glide effortlessly through the water hundreds of feet below the surface, we don’t think “wow, look how great they are at equalizing!” Of course not. We all think the same thing: “how the heck are they able to hold their breath for so long?”
Of course, everyone will be different. Don’t get me wrong, learning breath holds can be challenging too. But typically, the number one thing that stalls people’s progress is equalization.
That's because as a freediver, you have to learn an entirely new way to equalize your ears. The technique is called Frenzel, and it is much different than Valsalva (which is what scuba divers use, and what most people are familiar with).
Learn Frenzel.
Practice Frenzel.
When you think you have it, practice some more.
I did not take this advice seriously and as a result, I was unable to dive deeper than about 25 feet for several months. You will be miles ahead of the game if you come to your first freediving course with a solid handle on Frenzel. Trust me, you will thank me later.
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2. Less is more.
One of the major keys to unlocking progress in freediving is relaxation. This can be a challenge in our everyday lives as we contend with the many stresses of living in the modern world. Add learning multiple new skills while holding your breath underwater, and finding your "zen" seems like an impossible ideal.
But one of the magical things about freediving is it might be the only sport where the more you relax, the further you’ll go.
That's one of the reasons why I love it. If you can find your zen underwater, not only will you progress faster, but if you are anything like me, you will fall head over heels in love with freediving. There is something so special about watching your body do incredible things—like dive 70 ft underwater on a single breath—while your mind and body is in a total state of relaxation.
The more you let go of fear, of expectations, of all the little stresses that bother you throughout the day—the more you allow your mind and body to be completely and utterly relaxed—the deeper you will go.
I think a good way to start is to practice on land. A simple body-scan meditation is a good way to start. I have also found this book helpful. It includes several types of meditations and guidance on mindfulness exercises. Practice on land and you’ll soon find the peace you are looking for underwater.
3. It will take time.
As a lifelong perfectionist with a background in swimming and scuba-diving, I thought I was going to breeze through my first freediving course.
Reality check: I didn’t.
I remember the first time I put on a thick, open-cell wetsuit (a special kind of freediving wetsuit), long fins, and got in the water. I felt so… awkward. Which was a completely new sensation for me. My first attempt at a duck-dive involved so much splashing and flailing limbs I felt more like a dying duck than a sleek, efficient water bird.
And you know what I learned? That's okay. It's even expected. Embrace being a beginner. Laugh at yourself. Having an awkward moment, or two (or ten!) is a freediving rite of passage.
We’ve all been there. We’ve all gotten stuck in our wetsuit. We’ve all had a duck-dive or two that leaves something to be desired. Or a dive that we had to bail out on early. The water will humble you faster than anything else. Let it. That's what it is supposed to do. You might be pleasantly surprised to find who you become in the process.
4. Practice diaphragm stretching.
Do this carefully and with guidance, but stretching your diaphragm can greatly increase your comfort underwater, especially at deeper depths.
I struggled a lot with feeling tension and discomfort in my diaphragm while diving. A few minutes of stretching every other day really made a difference for me. I found these stretches particularly helpful: Diaphragm Stretching (Freediving Stretching Exercises)
5. Make friends!
The number one rule in freediving is never dive alone.
This is primarily for safety, but it also makes it much more fun. So make friends! Connecting with your peers in your freediving class is a great way to start. Your instructor is an excellent resource to help you connect with other divers. There are also many free-diving Facebook groups, many of which host events where groups of divers will meet up and dive together.
Another way to meet other divers is by attending a free-diving retreat. I will be posting a blog post about my experience with this soon so stay tuned! This is how I met my best dive buddy who I now dive with almost every week.
Be kind. Be considerate. Practice safety and respect the local wildlife. The free-dive community is small, so be the kind of diver that people will want to dive with again and again
Ready to get started? Check out my article here to see all the gear you need to start freediving.