The other thing to discuss is how "freediving" is cast as a competitive or spearo activity, with either a tag or a fish as the goal. Both activities require their own safety protocols. By definition a competitive freediver is closer to their limit while diving on a line, and yes, they should have several safety systems to watch over them. Spearoes probably need to work on establishing internal decision making protocols for when to let the fish get away and live to spear another day.
All this stuff scares away people who want to enjoy the ocean underwater. We need to discuss and think about the realities of diving in situations other that competition. AIDA has done a lot for improving safety, but I believe that it and other instructors have a harder time making recommendations for people who want to try freediving at their own beach, in whatever conditions they find themselves in.
To me, freediving is certainly not about going up and down a descent line with a counter weight system in place. I believe it is possible to develop a sensible safety protocol for recreational freediving in which the primary responsibility for your own safety lies on the freediver's own shoulders--and yes, this can and should be taught so that each new recreational freediver isn't starting from scratch. This has to evolve more, otherwise freediving will remain an extreme sport, and not something you can do on a vacation on the spur of the moment.
The proof of this is that I've seen freediving instructors of freediving not following their own strict safety protocols. Why? Because they are impractical in most cases for enjoying a recreational dive. But for various reasons, no one wants to sit and think about what is practical and reasonable.
Paragliding is a dangerous sport and yet people still go up in the air by themselves and drift long distances. Yet, the sport as a recreational and competitive activity thrives. I would argue that it is more dangerous that freediving - the difference is that safety has been well thought out from a recreational AND competitive point of view.
Pete
All this stuff scares away people who want to enjoy the ocean underwater. We need to discuss and think about the realities of diving in situations other that competition. AIDA has done a lot for improving safety, but I believe that it and other instructors have a harder time making recommendations for people who want to try freediving at their own beach, in whatever conditions they find themselves in.
To me, freediving is certainly not about going up and down a descent line with a counter weight system in place. I believe it is possible to develop a sensible safety protocol for recreational freediving in which the primary responsibility for your own safety lies on the freediver's own shoulders--and yes, this can and should be taught so that each new recreational freediver isn't starting from scratch. This has to evolve more, otherwise freediving will remain an extreme sport, and not something you can do on a vacation on the spur of the moment.
The proof of this is that I've seen freediving instructors of freediving not following their own strict safety protocols. Why? Because they are impractical in most cases for enjoying a recreational dive. But for various reasons, no one wants to sit and think about what is practical and reasonable.
Paragliding is a dangerous sport and yet people still go up in the air by themselves and drift long distances. Yet, the sport as a recreational and competitive activity thrives. I would argue that it is more dangerous that freediving - the difference is that safety has been well thought out from a recreational AND competitive point of view.
Pete
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