Newbie freediver from the Philippines

[Doc Bass]

Hello and Mabuhay! Greetings from the Philippines!

I would like to ask for any tips or advice you can share to a person who just started in this wonderful sport of freediving... I am a doctor by profession and I find freediving as a way to destress and get away from all of the hustle and bustle of the medical profession... Freediving gives me inner peace and calm. And I am also a biologist which I took up as my pre-med course, thus I really love the sea and all its marine inhabitants.

If any of you would be kind enough to direct me to any useful tips or need-to-knows in this sport I would gladly appreciate it.

Thank you all and happy diving!

 

[BatRay]

Welcome to Deeperblue. You may want to start simply by browsing the Freediving section. Many freediving-related subjects have been discussed in great detail and the conversation threads cover a lot of interesting information. We have a search function that you can use if you are looking for something specific.

I also recommend that you consider taking a freediving class. Many people report a good deal of progress in a relatively short amount of time, and you can progress under the watchful eye of experienced divers.

Have you done any marine biology or fisheries studies? I currently work in fisheries and it's an interesting field.

 

[Kars]

Great, a diving Doc!

I fully concur with Batray's words.

A course is indeed a very good investment, and will safe you years of 'trial and error' and dangerous experimentation.

I like to add to Bat's words to say, find some dive buddies. When you're exploring your mind and body in the water, you're expanding your limits, venturing into the unknown. Here you really need a buddy to secure you experimentation. Also a buddy is great to relate to and share your experiences with. The verbalising already helps to better understand what is going on.

As for you, freediving/snorkelling, sports have a therapeutic benefit for many, and can be a great motivator to live a healthier lifestyle. So maybe you'll start recommending this for some of your patients. Then becoming an instructor might be a consideration. / though you may want to keep work and relaxation separated.

I believe there are some good freedive instructors on the Philippines.

Love, Courage and water,

Kars

 

[Doc Bass]

Thank you BatRay and Kars for the warm welcome and your inspiring messages!

Yes, I do intend to enroll in freediving classes when I can find time soon.

And yes, BatRay... My premed course was Biology and during that time I had friends who were taking marine biology... They even helped me out on my thesis which was about the species diversity of holthurians in my region... It even won best paper.

Also, my mom was a marine biologist and worked for some time in the Department of Fisheries here in the Philippines. I was just a kid back then but she used to bring me along whenever she had to go on field research and so began my love for the open sea.

And Kars, yes I have some dive buddies... Actually they're my cousins and we're all kind new to the freediving discipline... But we all have one thing in common... Our love for the sea and all the magnificent creatures and ecosystem found in it!

Thanks again for the encouragement and support!

Much love from the Philippines!

- Dr. Bass

 

[slingshaft]

Hey Man, welcome, where do you spearfish?
Which gun are you using? Cheers.