There seems to be a growing interest in freediving. Because I keep hearing about people who are into this sport, I wanted to learn more about it and if it is something that can and should be done from a catamaran or sailboat and if it is something that I want to do when on my catamaran.

Can I Freedive From a Catamaran? Yes, you can do one of many types of freeding from a catamaran because freediving is the act of diving without an external oxygen source, of which there are many types of freediving including snorkeling, skin diving, variable weight, no limits, constant weight and free immersion to name a few and can be done in a swimming pool, lake or ocean.

How Deep do Free Divers Go?

Some freedivers go down to depths beyond 65 meters (that’s 213 feet). Most of these dives take place during competitions with trained rescue personnel on-site to perform a rescue if needed. In fact, at the time of writing this, the world record is an unbelievable

You don’t have to go deep when free diving

Freediving is all about staying within your comfort zone. It may be the perfect activity to do off your catamaran. If 100 feet is beyond where you think you want to go – just stay within your comfort zone.  It can be a freeing feeling to stay underwater while holding your breath. Sound as interesting to you as it was to me? Great! Let’s dive deeper (sorry, I couldn’t resist the pun).

The Free in Freediving

So Freediving means being free of an oxygen source like a tank. Freediving has gained much popularity because it is free to do – that is because it costs virtually nothing to do. You’ll need a mask and flippers. That’s all! You can go off a dock or from the beach or from a boat.

What is the History of Freediving

Freediving has existed for centuries and beyond both for recreation and a way of finding food for survival. I remember as a child reading books about a boy who was freediving in the Mexico, finding black pearls, which of course starts the trouble with the bad guys and begins the adventure. I loved reading about the intrigue associated with freediving and the adventures of tropical and exotic locations. The underwater world (could have been the sequel to the Water World movie) is like another planet. Freediving allows almost anyone to be able to see and experience what this amazing (underwater) world has to offer.

Is Freediving Dangerous?

Yes, freediving can be dangerous but it doesn’t have to be. In 2013, there were 100 documented deaths out of 5,000 divers. Most of which occured at depths in excess of 75 feet. Extreme freediving to get noticed on YouTube can be dangerous. Diving down to depths of 100 feet plus is not an easy thing to do and going without oxygen for long periods of time can be dangerous. Plenty of things can go wrong including hypoxia, blackouts and organ damage.

Because freediving has very few barriers of entry (you only need a mask), virtually anyone can do it. When so many people are doing something that they may know virtually nothing about, problems can occur. The masses aren’t trained on what can go wrong while freediving under water, don’t always have a proper first aid kit with them, many of which are on vacation and not only aren’t familiar with freediving techniques and safety, but so many are not familiar with the ocean or body of water where they are diving in.

Freediving Doesn’t Have to be Dangerous

Freediving enthusiasts argue that it doesn’t have to be dangerous and the risks can be greatly minimized by following a few basic rules. First, always dive with a buddy. Second, make sure you and your buddy have taken a class so that you know what to do if your buddy blacks out. Next, stay within your comfort zone. Freediving or snorkeling around a reef or in shallow waters are not dangerous.

Modern Freediving Techniques

Modern freediving is a combination of diving and meditation. Before diving to extreme depths, one must relax and prepare your body.

Types of Modern Freediving

• Variable Weight Freediving – using added weights, typically in the form of a weighted belt to assist the diver, then returning to the surface under their own power with flippers.
• No Limits Freediving – the most dangerous type of freediving where divers use weights to bring them to very deep depths, then buoyancy devices to bring them rapidly to the surface.
• Constant Weight Freediving – diving without the help of added weights. This is considered by many as the purest form of freediving. Flippers are optional.
• Free Immersion Freediving – The diver pulls a rope down and back. This is used by beginners and more experienced freedivers alike. This is commonly used when freediving is taught

Competitive Freediving

Competitive Freediving is also gaining in popularity. Every competitive dive that is sanctioned by the International Association for the Develpment of Apnea (AIDA), requires an on-site doctor with the proper rescue equipment which includes oxygen. The really good divers actually go down to depths in excess of 100 meters (328 feet) in constant weight diving (CWT).

General Rules for Freediving

• Relax – preserve your oxygen levels. This is key to being able to stay underwater for longer. The more relaxed your are the less oxygen you body needs.
• Visualize – visualization will help you to relax. This is almost a form of meditation and self hypnotism. Being in the right state of mind goes a long way to enjoying freediving.
• Learn – Modern freediving is gaining in popularity. Take a course from a certified instructor. Get certified. Talk to other freedivers and learn from their experiences.
• Go at your own pace. Think of freediving like doing yoga. Find they type that you like and are comfortable with.
• Challenge yourself to do all of the above and you may find freediving becoming your new favorite hobby.

What Freediving Equipment do you Need?

• None (if you are a beginner, this is a great place to start). The great thing about freediving is that it doesn’t required thousands of dollars of equipment like many other boating activities and diving activities.
• Snorkel and mask (then use the scuba and mask that you have, which will most likely be standard snorkeling gear). Once again, use what you have, to start, then gradually change to more specific freediving gear at your convenience and budget.
• Just a mask (no flippers are needed. Go by your comfort). You can use a standard snorkeling mask or for more advanced freediving, you may want a low volume mask.
• Low volume mask requires less oxygen to equalize (this will help you to equalize your mask as you reach deeper depths)
• Flippers (use what you have or go use long flippers).
• Long Flippers allow you to go deeper with less effort.
• Weighted line (helps with orientation in the water – pull yourself down to deeper depth and follow it back up to the surface)
• Body weights (belt). Use less energy to dive down to deeper depths.
• A Good Wet Suit. Wet suits will not only help to keep your body warm, but also add buoyancy and will help you to float.
• Dive computer. A good dive computer helps you to be aware of your depths.

I Didn’t Know That I Was Already a Veteran Freediver

Little did I know before writing this article that I had been freediving many times throughout my life and plan to do more freediving from a catamaran (or the dinghy) in the future. I would like to learn how to spearfish while freediving. It looks like something I can do. I don’t think I’ll push myself to some of the extreme depths, but diving down 25 to 30 feet sounds pretty exciting to me!

Related Questions

How does scuba diving differ from free diving?

Scuba Diving is different just in the fact that with scuba, you carry your oxygen source with you. Scuba divers don’t need to hold your breath, which means they can stay underwater much longer at any given time. Scuba divers are limited by how much oxygen they can carry with the in tanks on their back. The other HUGE DIFFERENCE is that scuba costs a significant amount of money. Scuba equipment typically costs in excess of $1,000 US Dollars. Finally, scuba diving is regulated in many popular dive spots and requires certification which can cost another $300.

If you are going to sail to areas with amazing dive spots like Panama’s Caribbean Coast, the Bahamas, BVI’s, Caribbean or the South Pacific, then I really think that scuba diving and owning your own scuba equipment which may include a compressor to refill your tanks, will enhance your diving experiences. Staying under water for longer periods of time will increase your opportunities of getting excellent pictures and video as well.