Generally speaking, freediving is the act of holding your breath underwater without the use of underwater breathing equipment. It originally began as a necessity for ancient people who wanted to gather food or other items from the seafloor or a bottom of a body of water, but has grown to become a form of recreation and competition with a variety of disciplines. It’s these modern forms of competition that we’ll cover in this article that tries to answer the question of “What is freediving?”
Competitive Freediving
There are several different types of competitive freediving all held together by the common factor of holding one’s breath while underwater. There are many different types of individual and team sports that include participants from countries all over the world. For the uninitiated, the array of different types of competitions can be bewildering. In an effort to give a general overview, we’ve put together a brief guide of freediving associated competitions.
Constant Weight Freediving
Constant weight freediving is done with fins (CWT) or without (CNF) and involves diving as deep as possible without any breathing aids.
Free Immersion Freediving (FIM)
Free immersion diving allows the diver to pull themselves down and back up a rope, without fins, while trying to attain maximum depth. Often free immersion diving is used as training for constant weight freediving.
Variable Weight Freediving (VWT)
While not considered competitive, variable weight freediving does maintain national and world records. It involves using added weights to help the diver reach depth. It’s often used as a training method for other freediving disciplines.
No Limits Freediving (NLT)
No limits freediving allows divers to utilize additional weight to reach depth and a buoyancy device to help bring them back up to the surface. This has allowed freedivers to reach depths never before thought imaginable.
Static Apnea (STA)
Static apnea freediving is simply laying on the water surface with your face underwater and holding your breath for as long as possible. While seemingly simple, it is also one of the toughest freediving competitions as little effort is needed to surface and there are no distractions from the task of holding your breath.
Dynamic Apnea
Dynamic apnea competitions can be done with fins (DYN) or without (DNF.) The object is to travel horizontally as far as possible without coming up for a breath.
Synchronized Swimming
Because of its inclusion in the Olympic Games, first as a demonstration sport in 1952, synchronized swimming might be the most familiar form of competitive freediving, although it may not be commonly recognized as freediving at all. A combination of swimming, gymnastics and dance performances accompanied by music are rated by a panel of judges.
Competitive Spearfishing
Competitive spearfishing is based on hunting and capturing fish with fishing tackle solely dependent on physical strength and without the use of a breathing device.
Aquathlon
Aquathlon is similar to wrestling underwater where two competitors try to remove a ribbon from the other’s body during the course of three, 30 second rounds.
Underwater Hockey
Also known as Octopush, this team sport is similar to hockey with the puck being pushed around the floor of a pool using small sticks in an attempt to get it into the opposing team’s goal.
Underwater Rugby
Another team sport, underwater rugby sees two teams attempt to move a weighted ball into the opposing team’s goal.
If you’re planning on visiting Roatan this August, don’t miss out on one of the world’s most important freediving competitions – the Caribbean Cup, which is held in West Bay.