What do you get out of freediving?

[RydDragyn]

This sort of fits in with the thread about hypoxia and depression:

http://forums.deeperblue.net/general-freediving/69261-treatment-depressions-hypoxemia.html

But the question is - what do you get out of freediving, whether it be psychological or just plain physical?

...As for myself, I have Tourette's syndrome, and my recent foray into apnea training is very good for helping me calm down, and overcoming urges for the violent twitches and convulsions that I've experienced since I was about 5 years old. Goes along pretty nicely with overcoming the urge to breathe, but the calmness lasts a long time afterwards...

 

[rslomkow]

I get a number of things out of freediving.

* Relaxation for life
I find that freediving generally lowers my overall stress level, and makes me a bit happier. Also it is a good excuse to go through a number of relaxation exercises I have learned from Yoga or other techniques.

* Physical & Social fitness
I tend to spend to much time working, especially when I can't get anything done, I just spend more hours in front of the computer trying to get projects done. I work at home with people in another country 9 time-zones away, and it is easy for work to take up my life. Freediving is an excuse for me to get out of the house, pool training gets me to meet other people who actually speak the language of the country I live in (Germany)

* Relief from migraines
I also suffer from migraine headaches. They very from low-throbs to all out loss of balance and vision. I have found submersion (both hot and cold water) help. I have also found that pressure helps. Cold water (under 11C) and deeper than -10m do wonders. But even -5m and 26C in the pool does help.

* Satisfaction of personal improvement
It is always good to have something very concrete that you can work and and see improvement. I like seeing my breath hold times increase, my underwater sprint times decrease. It doesn't happen every week (pool practice) but it happens.

* Contact with the underwater world
I don't know how else to describe it, but when diving in the Ocean I just feel at home. It is so much easier than the pool, I feel like I am part of the water moving with the waves, a world full of creatures for whom I am neither important nor ignored. I world where it is clear I only have a limited time to visit and explore and I have to make the most of it. A world full of every changing details. Honestly there is something ineffable about the sea, that is lovely to be part of. I get this far more with freediving than SCUBA or Sailing.

* Fun
Short simple and it is . Though the pool can be a bit of work.

 

[sheepeck]

I can hardly add more then rslomkow.
Only thing different - I do not have any health problems I could cure by freediving, so for me it's mostly enjoying being free and happy with friends.
I met nice people all around the world thanks to freediving.

 

[sickbugs]

complete personal satisfaction and relaxation.. and a great workout.. seriously, freediving is the thing i look forward to most in life, even if it is from a spearfishing point of view mostly, i feel more alive in the sea than on land.

 

[sanso]

rslomkov put it just right, I can only add one thing:

* It gives me an excuse to hang out here at DeeperBlue

 

[immerlustig]

happiness

 

[worst]

peace with myself

 

[DiverTodd]

Challenge, discipline, and self improvement come to my mind. Like rs said, it's always great to see improvement, always brings me a big boost of self-confidence! And, of course, that incomparible feeling you get of gliding along underwater, unfettered by a bulky tank and bc, or rates of ascent speed. I always look forward to my weekly session in the 12' deep pool...it's more than just working on technique and skill, it's also stress relief; I feel SO relaxed and peaceful after my sessions.

Todd

 

[alix.leclerc]

I met the most amazing man through DB and freediving...

...We dive every week

 

[freediver blue]

I get to see the beautiful underwater world

 

[penguinator]

When I am diving: Absolute peace with myself, relaxation, fun, a challenge, etc etc


At the moment: Absolutely nothing... I have been out of the water for a good month now. Hopefully I can get back in soon

 

[azapa]

good thread: to add and agree on the previous rewards, I'll sum mine...

I am not a gung-ho hunter type and am very eco, but taking two or three fish home once a week that I selected, stalked and speared, out of my environment, to feed my family, is a real reward. Last weekend I peaked: 3 shots 3 fish. It does not get much better than to see my wife and kids loving to eat the fish....

 

[alix.leclerc]

It does not get much better than to see my wife and kids loving to eat the fish....

You have the life

 

[SnuFPunK]

What do you get out of freediving?

A break.

Freediving so good it makes my tail curl.

Since I've discovered freediving, Whenever I am outside of the water I have a constant feeling of not enough space to move in, Im missing an entire dimension of motion.

Motion in 3D is so much more natural to me.

~ Snuf

 

[bluecape]

Great people, freedom, relaxation, challenge, joy, a sense of selfworth and well being, discipline, hard work, a privileged view of a silent world, at times...fear, excitement, understanding of myself in the holistic sense, increased knowledge of the ocean and it's inhabitants, humility, synergy with myself and the elements, fitness, strength, inner peace, calm.

In short, if I see the above, I see that freediving gives me everything, absolutely everything.

Jeff

 

[SnuFPunK]

...In short, if I see the above, I see that freediving gives me everything, absolutely everything.

Jeff

Thats beautifly correct, Everything.

 

[azapa]

I wanted to add this bizarre "plus": since I started freediving and spearfishing my wifes enormously high cholesterol level, despite being thin and healthy (it's a genetic thing), has dropped to normal levels. The secret: large amounts of fish stock! Fish oil has the "good cholesterol" that reduces the bad. No joke. Crazy world.

PS: fish stock = take bones + heads of your filleted catch, place in large pan, cover with water, add celery, carrots, garlic, a few onions and little salt and pepper and boil until fish is cooked. Skim of floating scum etc (sounds worse than it is). Then strain and jar the liquid and use as base for Thai soups, to cook rice with etc, or just drink! Keeps colds away too. I am sure there are better recipes on the web.

 

[alix.leclerc]

The secret: large amounts of fish stock! Fish oil has the "good cholesterol" that reduces the bad.

Yep eating fish three times a day for a month will double your bleeding time (time taken to form a scab) Thus reducing blood pressure and cholesterol and possible reducing heartrate if it is very high.

Onions and garlic do the same thing, as well as containing antioxidents.

Fish cooked in olive oil, garlic and onion cooked in white wine and served with a glass of red is the perfect boost to good cholesterol and antioxidents. This is why the medterainian diet makes you live longer.

Happy hunting

 

[Mr. X]

The Omega-3 oils also help re-balance the over abundance of omega-6 oils in our modern diets.

Yep eating fish three times a day for a month will double your bleeding time (time taken to form a scab) Thus reducing blood pressure and cholesterol and possible reducing heartrate if it is very high...

Interesting point. I read a article a while back that described one possible downside of the high fish diet. While it is well known that American Inuit/Eskimos have/had excellent teeth and almost no heart disease due to their traditional diets, what was less well known was that their mortality rates were not improved. i.e. they didn't live any longer because of it...perhaps the slow clotting (or harsh environment) led to other problems?

 

[alix.leclerc]

perhaps the slow clotting (or harsh environment) led to other problems?

Hmm not too sure. However, eating too much of anything is not neccessarily good for you, especially if you are getting too much of one thing and not enough of another. For example, the innuits are getting a great supply of omega 3 and other essential fatty acids from fish leading to low blood pressure and a healthy heart, gut and blood vessles, but what about fiber? Vitamins? Calcium? What about all the things that come from a balanced diet?

As far as freediving is concerned the fish diet is a tricky one, because although it may help you dive longer due to better flow of blood around the body and less effort on the heart, low blood pressure increases the risk of blackouts.

I think that any extreem diets should be avoided, in all walks of life. We all know that a good mix all fruits, veggies, meat, fish, natural fats/grains/nuts/juices/etc is good for you. Trying to avoid heavily processed foods is a good thing, and what's great for the environment, your health and just pure enjoyment is growing and gathering as much food as possible. Including spearfishing oh yes!

Eating three pieces of dark chocolate a month will make you live a year longer...

...so eating three pieces a day will make you live forever right?

All of this for me is because of freediving. Freediving is not just a sport, it's a lifestyle. It's the way you take care of yourself and the world around you. Being healthy and passionate about the sea and feeling at home in yourself after a long dive.