My First Equipment

[MartinTee]

Hi,

I have just finished university in Leeds, England so obviously am tight on funds but have around £100 to spend on my first bits of gear for freediving. This could go up slightly if i wait a week as I can usually save £30 a week from my job.

Here is what i currently do for freediving and which involves water. Other training, in gym, sports, cycling are all mental training.

Go to university pool twice a week and concentrate on relaxing in water, doing lengths of varying strokes, treading water etc. I just use budgee smugglers (trunks) and some swimming goggles.

I start going to a reservoir near to me which is usually used by triathletes to swim distances safely. Its 200 metres in length and 250metres width and varies between 2 and 4 metres deep. This time which is once a week will be used to get use to being in something bigger than a pool and also using gear, such as bifins and monofins. I don't aim to properly freedive in it due to only ever having a friend with me(safety reasons). He enjoys swimming but his sinuses have never been clear in his life but he will be in the water with me and has St Johns Ambulance training and I have shown him a few freediving/scuba diving safety tips. This is the place Gaddings Dam Group Gaddings Dam The second site shows me water temperature and height too which is good.

This is the only water training I really do other than when at my mothers house in the highlands of Scotland, but that will never be more than snorkelling because I will never have anyone with me as its such a remote place. She lives just on the coast of the Minch if anyone knows of it.

The gear I currently have are two normal wetsuits, an ONeil and Osprey. One is 3mm and one is 4mm and are both full. I have wetsuit socks, boots and gloves. I am of the understanding that I will need a freediving specific wetsuit if i am to get serious.

Here are the things I would like or need to use while in the reservoir or out in the sea off of Scotland.

Monofin, maybe these: [ame="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270701491696&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT"]MONOFIN mono fins flippers freediving swimming 9 - 12 on eBay (end time 03-Jun-11 15:03:37 BST)[/ame]

Bifins: [ame="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SEAC-SUB-X-PRO-FINS-Freediving-spearfishing-6-5-13-/350405283836?pt=UK_SportingGoods_MasksSnorkels_Flippers_SM&var=&hash=item905b5829d9"]SEAC SUB X-PRO FINS Freediving spearfishing 6.5-13 | eBay UK[/ame]

Mask: [ame="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SEAC-SUB-U-Fit-Combat-MASK-freediving-spearfishing-/270522662508?pt=UK_SportingGoods_MasksSnorkels_Flippers_SM&hash=item3efc683e6c"]SEAC SUB U-Fit Combat MASK freediving spearfishing | eBay UK[/ame]

[ame="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SPHERA-MASK-freediving-free-dive-swimming-freedive-/270735706201?pt=UK_SportingGoods_MasksSnorkels_Flippers_SM&hash=item3f091b0859"]SPHERA MASK freediving free dive swimming freedive | eBay UK[/ame]

What are the differences between the two?

Do I need a noseclip and also a neckweight or any other weights?

If i was to get in to competitions i could do them in warm pools were I would just need monofin, mask and weight?

Remember, im limited to roughly £100

Thanks

 

[daveslow]

hi!
unfortunately i can't help you with most of those items but i CAN assure you that the seac sub x-pro fins are very good for what they cost!!!! i bought them when i started freediving recently and i find them very comfortable and they give good propulsion. i normaly wear shoe size 9-9.5 and bought the fins in size 10-11 to allow for neoprene socks. they do fit very comfortably though already without socks, so with socks they might be a bit tight...
the seac sub u-fit mask+seac sub seatill snorkel+x-pro fins are available here as a set:
Seac Sub apnoea beginner set | Skinflint Price Comparison EU don't know about packaging prices from germany to uk though...
otherwise why not a cressi or omer mask? those companies seem to be very widespread in freediving and they have masks in the 30 quid range!
would like to hear what the more experienced guys here have to say, as i'm also looking to buy a dedicated freediving mask...
but, to cut a long story short... buy the x-pro fins can't go wrong with 30 quid...

 

[ikki_jime]

Hi,


Mask: SEAC SUB U-Fit Combat MASK freediving spearfishing | eBay UK

SPHERA MASK freediving free dive swimming freedive | eBay UK

What are the differences between the two?

Do I need a noseclip and also a neckweight or any other weights?

If i was to get in to competitions i could do them in warm pools were I would just need monofin, mask and weight?

Main difference between this two mask is that sphera has plastic lenses, therefore you need to be extra careful with it, since any touching inside the lens will result in fogging, and outer side is very sensitive and could be easily scratched.Besides that, sphera is very streamlined and good for dynamics, but for the dynamic in the pool you can use swim goggles and noseclip(also with the goggles, dive reflex will kick in sooner). For the first mask I personally would never choose sphera.
Be aware that isn't every mask for every face-type, so best option is to try it before buying. Just put the mask(without strapping it )on the face and inhale thru the nose. If it sticks to your face, than it is OK, also try to apply some pressure on the mask with your hand in order to see if there will be any inconvenience with pressure at depth.
Neckweight is much more needed in DNF, but you certeinly need some.
As for noseclip, you need it if you using goggles, but is not mandatory. Don't bother with noseclips for swimmers, they are not suitable for freediving. Since you are on limited budget you could try to make one like this:

It takes around half an hour of work, and for material you can find some little peace of Plexiglas it would cost nothing.

As for the pools comps, it is OK for the beginning to go without suit, especially if you go with no warm up approach.
Hope that helps
Cheers

 

[daveslow]

hey ikki_jime
could you post how you built your diy nose clip!? that would be awesome
personally i do use a swimmers noseclip (Aqua Stop Nose Clip) for statics (dry+wet) and also for dynamics as i don't need to eq much or at all then... and i can't afford the expensive apnea nose clips...