Intermediate Freediving techniques

[Fletch]

Hi everyone.

I was wondering where there are some good threads on basic freedive training. I'm an experience diver (3 years) but want to learn new technique to take my diving to the next level. I want to improve my bottom time and also my overall technique to become the best diver I can be. Can anyone direct me to some useful threads that will help me out with intermediate fundamentals?

thx-Fletch

 

[haughki]

Hi Fletch,

Thanks for posting.

-I don't have time right now to point you to specific threads. But, I would say that doing your own searching, browsing would be worth while.

-I'd strongly recommend a freediving class. In my experience, there's no substitute for getting together with very experienced freedivers and doing some focussed training, especially around safety. There are many great classes out there. Full disclosure: I an instructor for Performance Freediving. But, I think pretty much any of the schools out there would be a great way to learn more about freediving and how to safely push your limits.

-Lastly, just a friendly warning to please do your training and diving with a buddy who is paying close attention to you, especially towards the end of your dive. The freediving community is seeing more and more deaths as the sport expands. Almost all of these are easy to prevent: have a buddy who can dive at your level, and make sure he/she is ready and watching so that if you black out, he/she can rescue you: just to keep your airway out of the water. I don't mean to scare you--I think freediving is amazing and I really want you to keep doing it. But, please take what I'm saying seriously: it's very hard (impossible) to predict your max dive time and depth from one dive to the next. If you're pushing your limits, you will likely black out at some point, and if that happens without someone right there to rescue you, death isn't far off.

Boy, that's a gloomy way to end this I really hope you'll dive safe and have a great time doing it. Best of luck!

Hawkeye Parker
San Francisco, CA

 

[nicolas240]

I am also looking for techniques to take my freediving to the next level. Ive gone down about 70 ft and thats with no training at all. I was wondering how i should train or what i can do to go deeper?

 

[cdavis]

What "you" need is tremendously individual, because freediving is a tremendously complex interaction of way too many factors to even list. Take a course(PFI does one of the best) from a good instructor and he can zero in on much of what you personally need at the time. Beyond that, spend lots of evenings going through threads on these forums and trying(with a buddy) what seems right to you. Do both for best results. That works(personal experience). Slogging though a great many threads can be very time consuming but I guarantee it will be even more rewarding.

Connor