First Timers Freediving: 8 Things You Should Know Before You Take the Plunge

1 TOTAL FREEDOM: Freediving, as the name suggests is diving with almost total freedom: No heavy, expensive gear, no maximum ascent rates, closer interactions with marine life and totally new challenges.

2 DISCIPLINES: There are seven different freediving disciplines; some are about about maximising the distance swum underwater, or the depth reached; others are about extending the dive time.

3 BUDDY UP: Never dive alone! Don’t push your limits without proper education. It’s important to have a buddy on the surface that can monitor you in the water and respond if you have any problems.

4 SAFETY RULES: There are always risks involved in dropping deep into the ocean. Blackouts can occur and can be fatal. Careful preparation is important.

5 TOP SPOTS: There are some beautiful places to freedive in Asia Pacific: Richelieu Rock, Thailand; Elephant Head Rock, Similan Islands; SS Yongala Wreck, Australia; Crystal Bay, Bali.

6 REST: It’s vital to rest between dives. You need to rest for twice the duration of your last dive. Without the proper recovery time to re-oxygenate the blood and rest muscles, the risk factor for your next plunge increases significantly.

7 PLANNING: Safety first! Just like scuba, it is important to know the currents of a dive site, and scout out the good exit points.

8 HYPER- VENTILATION: This is not advised! It can lead to a blackout which is very dangerous.

For the rest of this article (Scuba Diver Issue 7/2015, AA No. 84) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download digital copy here.