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Newbie from midwest USA

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ONT

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Oct 22, 2014
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Hello all, thought I ought to introduce myself here before I go asking rookie questions all over the place :)

I live in the midwest USA (Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio...) so there's really no ocean in sight :( I know there's the Great Lakes, but I'm not a spearo (yet, at least, I might get into it once I get passably good at freediving :p), visibility is typically poor and there's relatively little aquatic life...

I'm quite uneducated in the field of freediving, as there are no freediving classes anywhere near me (I'm quite sure the first thing anyone will tell me to do after I ask a dumb question is to take a freediving class... besides, I could hardly afford many of them anyways). That said, most of what I know so far is from careful research ranging all across the internet (deeperblue, spearboard, youtube, etc.) but since there is quite a lot of dangerous advice I have to cross-check everything, which is a pain. So, when I post something odd or obvious for the rest of you, keep in mind I'm probably not trolling, I just have no clue. ;)

Unfortunately, my location limits practicing to very easy dynamics and equalizing practice in a local college pool (16ft at the deep end is deep enough for a newbie like me... so far...). To be honest, I really started trying to learn how to safely become (slightly) proficient at freediving because I got into a trip to go to the BSA Sea Base in the Florida Keys with some Boy Scouts next spring (yep, on the reef :D), and I want to be able to show up all the youngsters... and I want to take full advantage of the boon of wildlife photography/viewing I'll get to have there!
 
I think that you will fiend there is a plethora of aquatic life in the great lakes. And depending on your dive location visibility can open up (though no where near the ocean). In the northern part of the lower peninsula of Michigan and the water is clear enough to get some decent pictures and enjoy the numerous ship wrecks.
 
Welcome to Deeperblue. A freediving class is an excellent start for both safety and technique. I know they can be expensive or in remote areas, but it really would be a worthwhile investment. For an idea of the opportunities in the Great Lakes, I suggest searching the forums or visiting the USA/Canada Buddy Network subforum. You might locate someone near you who can show you the ropes. Here's a link: http://forums.deeperblue.com/forums/usa-canada.91/
 
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