making freediving more known. - Page 2

Pekka · #16 February 15th, 2002

I Agree with SASpearo, frediving requires so much that not all people can do it/want to do it atleast for more than a few weeks.
That prevents the sport to became over-commercialised. Do you think rock climbing has became over-commercialised? I think it has not it just has been brought to reach of all people so practically anyone interested can try it..
Freediving has it's differences though you can not make it easier for your self...or well you can always take padi course and do scuba, but freediving is always as hard as it has been since....we got out of water and started living on dry land.. That is why I think it sould be made known to as many people as possible..

SASpearo · #17 February 18th, 2002

Rockclimbing has definitley become WAY too commercialized in the past few years. When it was the fastest growing sport, just about anyone doing 28 - 30 gradings (Don't know what US ratings are - that's SA / Aus grading) could get a sponsorship. And with all the climbing walls being put up in shopping centres, it took some people less than 6 months to get there.

Comercialisation includes things like walls in shopping centres, I mean come on - when are we going to see 30m dive tanks with windows in shopping centres? And which Zenner will dive there IF it happens someday?

I have great expectations that one day, walking down the street with my longblades, people will say: "Look, a freediver! I'd never be able to do that!" In other words, they'd know about it, but not everyone will participate in it.

Anyway, had a crappy weekend - my car broke so I couldn't go diving. That will be remedied by Wednesday though !!

Regards,
Riaan C

Pekka · #18 February 18th, 2002

Ohh man I would love to have tank right in the shopping centre, that would definately make my day!! Oh that thought warms my heart!

But still....I don't think that many people would dive in it, I mean freedive....it is still hard to relax and have the technique for diving...
Well I do see your point too..
I guess as so many things in life this has two sides both good and bad, hope things go to the right direction in the future

............I am still wishing for the tank to my local shopping centre....

SASpearo · #19 February 18th, 2002

.. in Pretoria - I think it's called Ocean Divers or something silly like that - inside an 'outdoor' shopping centre. They've got a 5.5 dive tank with windows overlooking the coffee shop next door. I've spent some interesting times in that tank ...

Pekka · #20 February 18th, 2002

Quote:

Originally posted by SASpearo
.. in Pretoria - I think it's called Ocean Divers or something silly like that - inside an 'outdoor' shopping centre. They've got a 5.5 dive tank with windows overlooking the coffee shop next door. I've spent some interesting times in that tank ...

Did you freak the coffe sippers out by spending way too long time at the bottom of the tank..

?

SASpearo · #21 February 19th, 2002

I motioned for the closest waitress to bring over a menu and hold it up against the window .... after deliberating for about a minute, I ordered - what else - a Tuna Mayo sandwich. Then called her back and signed for mineral water as well. By this time EVERYONE in the coffee shop was staring ... hee hee hee ...

Had to eat the food ouside though.

paul · #22 February 27th, 2002

im going to be editing the video footage of a recent n.z open water CW record (when the tapes arrive) and have got approval from the producer of an extreme sports tv show to include the video segment (if he likes it, fingers crossed) hopefully this will raise some more interest in nz for the sport. if the segment isnt too long i could post it on the web for downloading.

just wanted to recount something that happened to me a few years ago (marks story reminded me of it) i was on a "dive with the dolphins" boat in the bay of islands nz and the viz was incredible, there was a pod of bachelor dolphins being pretty playful but keeping there distance. i swam down to 12-15 meters and just hung there for a while and out of the distance a
flashing silver streak would appear, boy what a surprise at how fast dolphins move underwater they came and swam around me really looking right into my eyes it was an incredible experience bordering on the spiritual. I would stay down as long as i could and let these dolphins circle around me then i'd swim back to the surface. The funny thing was all the other people were flapping around on the surface and the dolphins wouldnt go near them, at one point i was swimming and looked around to see everyone following me (dolphin bait one guy called me). I didn't know about freediving as a sport then so when asked about holding my breath i just shrugged. I really felt that getting down and into their environment made all the difference to how they responded to me. When my ears get better i'm looking forward to doing the dolphin dive again.

cheers

Stephan Whelan · #23 February 28th, 2002

Quote:

Originally posted by paul
im going to be editing the video footage of a recent n.z open water CW record (when the tapes arrive) and have got approval from the producer of an extreme sports tv show to include the video segment (if he likes it, fingers crossed) hopefully this will raise some more interest in nz for the sport. if the segment isnt too long i could post it on the web for downloading.

Let me know when you've got the video to post to the web, we'll host it here for you.

SASpearo · #24 February 28th, 2002

Is that maybe a sign that more videos are on their way to the gr8est site on the web ???

Mmmmm ... me ponders.

Stephan Whelan · #25 February 28th, 2002

Riaan,

Welllll - the members who've been around for a while know that i'm also striving to make this site bigger and better. We have several top secret projects in the making...but I can reveal that we are beginning to add more video to the site.

However, we will be limiting the number of videos because our server costs will skyrocket if we add large numbers of video files. People who do have video they want to include on the site should email me directly to talk about it.

I'll keep you all posted.

paul · #26 February 28th, 2002

stephan will let you know as soon as its all done (im eagerly awaiting the tapes- still)
cheers

kbakery · #27 March 2nd, 2002

First post. Make freediving more popular? I worked real hard to find an obscure off the map sport and now you want to go and make it popular? May have to switch to rock hopping.

Pekka · #28 March 4th, 2002

kbakery....rock-hopping, if all you want is off the map sport.......why do you freedive? I freedive because of the underwater experience is such a buzz or should I say such a peaceful experience so different.. When I am down there it is like I could be in a different planet....the world is left behind..
I wouldn't mind to have buddy next door... it would be so handy....now it is not quite that easy...

kbakery · #29 March 4th, 2002

Pekka, you've got a point there. The buddy situation here is also difficult sometimes. And I'm two minutes by bike from good diving.(Kauai). May have to start a club. Stop in if you're passing by.

Pekka · #30 March 5th, 2002

thank you for invitation kbakery! I just wish I could travel and dive more......I am about 30min from the sea, that dosen't mean that I am close to a ideal diving spot...far from that and I don't know any freedivers around this....well enough of complaining.. I'll stop in if I ever happen to pass by..

I wish......

DeeperBlue