Free Diving: What one needs to know

[takisG]

For some Freediving on a Greek island this summer, I have chosen the following:

• Platina II Hyperdry Snorkel
• Gara Professional Fins
• No weights and wetsuit
• Seemann Mask (This is the mask I currently have made in Germany. Reckon it's good?
• My awesome apnea book

Hope this is a good choice!

 

[Simos]

You forgot a buddy ;-)
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[takisG]

BUT WAIT!
I also bought this for my scuba diving: Simply Scuba Mens Everflex Pack | Packages,Wetsuit Packages | Simply Scuba UK
Can't I use those for the freediving and maybe you could tell me what weights to use considering I weight around 60 kg?
I hope this is possible as it will save a lot of money!

Takis

 

[Simos]

Hmm scuba suits don't really work for freediving... :-( but if you are freediving in Greece in the summer, you could probably just get away with wearing the hood, gloves (just for protection) and something like a 2mm open cell neoprene vest or similar. Disclaimer: I've never tried diving in just the vest so I'm only guessing it'll be ok...
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[Kars]

Platina II Hyperdry Snorkel
Gara Professional Fins
No weights and wetsuit
Seemann Mask (This is the mask I currently have made in Germany. Reckon it's good?
My awesome apnea book

I don't know about the snorkel. In general, I do like large diameter, head following shape, I don't like valves.
In regard to fins I want comfortable footpocket, foot to blade angle, and medium soft blades. Interchangeable blades may be attractive if I do recreational and deep dives, or for travelling.
A wetsuit, a bodysuit already will make it more comfortable for longer hours. And also in regard to floating and sun jellyfish protection.
I don't know of seemann mask. I think that going for quality really pays off here, make sure you fit the skirt though. The Micromask is great, Aliens are cool. Sphera's are better for depth. Search for Fields of vision here on DB, and check out how much you can see through the different masks.
The Umberto Apnea book is great.

 

[takisG]

At the end of my school exams I'll probably be lucky enough to also get some weights, a wetsuit and a weight belt.
I'm thinking of the Cressi Competition 2, 3,5mm and 4kg weights. I am going to go to depths of around 10-15 since I don't have a trained diving buddy.
Also, my diving computer has "freediving capabilities". It has this mode called the gauge mode mentioned here: http://forums.deeperblue.com/freediving-equipment/86571-suunto-vyper-free-dive-mode.html, so it should be fine for what I'm doing!

 

[Erdi]

At the end of my school exams I'll probably be lucky enough to also get some weights, a wetsuit and a weight belt.
I'm thinking of the Cressi Competition 2, 3,5mm and 4kg weights. I am going to go to depths of around 10-15 since I don't have a trained diving buddy.
Also, my diving computer has "freediving capabilities". It has this mode called the gauge mode mentioned here: http://forums.deeperblue.com/freediving-equipment/86571-suunto-vyper-free-dive-mode.html, so it should be fine for what I'm doing!

I don't think you'll be needing a wetsuit for that time of year, not in the Mediterranean anyway.
I spearfish/freedive in Cyprus every summer to max depths of about 14-15m or so and that's in a pair of swimming shorts!
But the wetsuit is good to have ofcourse, depending on where else you'll be diving. I have a 5mm wetsuit I use for UK waters.

 

[takisG]

Great!
I just have memories of shivering in the water but thats pobably in the evening session of my swimming. I guess I'll get used to it
And then I can get the suit before my course in september.

 

[takisG]

Also could someone give me a link / tell me how to breath correctly before entering the water and how to train to hold your breath.

 

[Simos]

Taki I sent you a message regarding weights - best to get 0.5kg ones in my opinion... (just make sure they'll go on the belt you buy).

Regarding breathing, as per my message, it's really important not to hyperventilate, it's unsafe and not having a buddy around makes things a lot riskier (personally I don't dive to any significant depth if I have no buddy, I stick to snorkelling with the occasional duck dive).

To train your breathhold, it's a good idea to start with co2 tables. They are described on many places on the web and in the book you have if i remember correcty... Before diving, there is no reason to do any special breathing - just close your eyes for a few seconds, with nice relaxed diaphragmatic breathing and the softly open your eyes and go...
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[Divingequipment]

Hello!
I've just registered here with one ambition - to get familiar with the world of free diving.

Who am I?
I'm 16 years old and every Summer I go Scuba Diving (getting my Advanced IANTD license this summer) and swimming in general. I love the sea.

Have I ever done free diving before?
For 3 years, on each summer, I have been "free diving"; at least I think I have. I go down 10-14 Meters with a snorkel, mask and fins to get heart urchins and other interesting sea matter. It has been purely a thing that I have loved doing for 3 years and I never knew that it was called free diving until a few days ago(!). So, yes, I do free diving, but I do it with no training and no diving partner. Speaking about no training, I have no idea whether I breathe in and out correctly prior to diving, I don't do any safety stop on the way up etc. So far, I have gone down with no weights or wetsuit(more about that later).
That's why I would be grateful if you could give me a few tips on how to proceed, even though I will read the other posts some time later.

What Equipment should I get?
Tomorrow I am getting some scuba stuff from Scuba Diving Equipment | Simply Scuba .
As well as getting that, I am planning to get some free diving equipment:

• Weights: I weigh about 60kg so how many weights should I use?
• Fins: Are normal snorkelling fins good, should I instead use my scuba adjustable fins or what else?
• Wetsuit:Obviously, I can't use my 5mm Scuba Wetsuit so what do you recommend? Maybe you can give me a link or 2 to guide me.
• Do I need anything else?

Free - Diving Courses
I dive in Greece with "Serifos Scuba Divers". After doing the advanced IANTD Scuba Course I would like to do a free diving course. Is this the course I need? " Open Water Free Diver"(Serifos Scuba Divers).
Please do tell me whether that course is the course I need. What I want to be able to do by the end of it is to be able to train myself further for freediving(myself) having the knowledge to train correctly.

Suunto Vyper?
As part of my Scuba shopping, I am getting the "Suunto Vyper Dive Computer". Will this come in handy for free diving?

Thanks for taking the time to read my post!

I would be grateful for any useful input into this thread!

Thanks a lot!

Takis

Thanks for sharing......!!

 

[Alina]

Taki I sent you a message regarding weights - best to get 0.5kg ones in my opinion... (just make sure they'll go on the belt you buy).

absolutelly correct! After some time, and depending on the favorite discipline - consider neckweights.

 

[Divingequipment]

absolutelly correct! After some time, and depending on the favorite discipline - consider neckweights.

I agree with you.