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Freediving or Free Diving??

Thread Status: Hello , There was no answer in this thread for more than 90 days.
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MsDaisey

New Member
Dec 21, 2005
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I'm sorry, this is such a petty question - but could someone please help me to clear up a (silly) argument?

Is Free-diving one word??? I would say no - it is 'Free' diving, as opposed to 'Scuba' diving or any other. Grammatically, I think it should be hyphenated, and is only used as one word from the tendency of English Language speakers to shorten the spoken / written word.

Would appreciate input on a silly moment.. Thanks x
 
MsDaisey,

I guess it depends on who you ask. English teachers would agree that it should be two words. But they would not know one if they tripped over him/her. But if you asked a pro you'd get a different view. http://www.performancefreediving.com/

Try another approach... skindiving is one word, as is skindiver. Hmmmm?
So is it time that eventually makes it correct? In the fifties, back when Skin Diver Magazine came out it was two words.

Chad
 
From my non-freediving cousin when I told her I was freediving:
"Oh, how can diving be free?"

The spell checkers that I have want to separate the two words.

Adrian
 
Freediving has a complex meaning, which differs from "free diving", so I think freediving is the proper word, when talking about freediving, and free diving, when talking about (a) diving, which is free (of charge, or i.e. "free diving bunjee" could be a really extreme "one event" sport - using no rope, no rubber band :) ).

The other possibility is to write freediving as "apnea".
 
freediving is the real term. free diving is the word snorkelers use to make themselves feel special. :D

Apnea is a term people dont understand much, they think of sleep apnea and treat me like im dying, or just say WAAA!?!?.

Then again when I say freediving people think one of 2 things: skydiving (often they think its skydiving without a parachute. lol a one time sport :D), or cliff diving.

when will people learn :head

EDIT: besides, calling myself a freediver makes me feel far more... professional then when I call myself an apneist or however you spell it.
 
Last edited:
By cliff diving, you mean base jumping? :)
These terms, which are really seldom used are not easy to remember and use for an outsider.
Treat it as a source of fun (for us). :)
 
true. and base jumping is jumping off a building (or a cliff your right) and opening a parachute to make your way down (and for buildings, RUN!) but cliff diving is jumping off a cliff into water. (best places are quaries, ive done 100 feet, but i wasnt wearing shoes so i couldnt walk for a week :D)
 
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