Sport on a single breath. Why freediving is so exciting?

quite often about the successes of Magdalena Solich-Talanda and Mateusz Malina who we have partnered with and we do support their passion.

We do feel, however, that Freediving is such an exceptional sports discipline that does deserve wider explanation on how exactly it is done and why is it so exciting.

Nature of freediving is a holding a single breath during a deep-sea dive without any external supply of oxygen. Historically freediving was used around the world for the sake of profit from sponge harvesting, pearls and seafood collecting and treasure from ships. Over thousands of years freediving has evolved and nowadays considered as a one of the most challenging forms of the sport.

Divers stretch the their limits of physical compatibilities through adaptations from respiratory, cardiovascular and thermal responses. Only after long breath-hold training diver gets cardiovascular responses as a decreased heartbeat, increased blood pressure, and decreased blood flow to the limbs which are innate animalistic ability. Although adaptive freediving is dangerous and causes issues ranging from dizziness to death.

Freediving as a sport has a number of different types of dive that are recognized competitively by AIDA (International Association for Development of Apnea) and CMAS (World Underwater Federation), all of them can be practiced by both men and women . . . .

Human body’s potential in inhospitable environment adaptation is huge and continues to surprise us. Sea and nature are the sources of inspiration for rediscover of mindfulness.

Here are brief explanations on characteristics of each Freediving discplines:

Constant Weight (CWT) the most common depth version. The diver descends on a using either bi-fins or a monofin and typically a wetsuit and a small amount of weight. The diver is not allowed to pull on any guide ropes or change the weight used.

Constant Weight Without Fins (CNF). In this discipline, the diver wears a wetsuit and a small amount of weight without the need for any type of fin. The diver uses only muscle strength to propel them downwards and back up again is generally regarded as the most difficult and pure discipline from a sporting perspective.

Free Immersion (FIM).This discipline is similar to Constant Weight No Fins in that the diver uses only a wetsuit and a small amount of weight; however, in this case, the diver can only use the guide rope for propulsion. You see divers doing this discipline both in a “head down” and “head up” position.

Dynamic With Fins (DYN).The first of the pool disciplines. Here the diver travels in a horizontal position underwater (typically in a pool), with a propulsion aid such as bi-fins or a monofin, in an effort to cover the greatest distance possible.

Dynamic Without Fins (DNF). The diver in this discipline again tries to cover the greatest distance possible in a pool but this time all propulsion aids/fins are prohibited so divers just use their arms and legs to propel themselves.

Speed-Endurance Apnea (S&E). Speed-Endurance (S&E) Apnea is a CMAS specific discipline where the athlete aims at covering a fixed distance within the shortest possible time while keeping his/her body underwater. This discipline occurs in the pool and consists of covering stretches of the pool length by alternating apnea swimming with passive recoveries at the end of each stretch. Speed-Endurance (S&E) Apnea may be performed with fins or without fins. When used, bi-fins or monofin must be moved solely by the athlete’s muscular strength, without the aid of any mechanism, including mechanisms triggered by the muscular system.

Static Apnea (STA). This discipline requires the diver to hold their breath for as long as possible, floating face down with the respiratory tracts submerged. This is the only discipline where performance is measured by duration.

Variable Weight (VWT). This discipline is one of the two more “extreme” versions of the sport and was popularized by Luc Besson’s movie “The Big Blue.” Here the diver descends with the help of a heavy weight (typically in the form of a sled) to a pre-agreed depth and then ascends to the surface using their own strength, including fins if they choose to.

No Limit (NLT). This is the true expression of human endurance underwater. The diver descends with the help of a heavy weight and then ascends using any method of choice – traditionally a lift bag but in more recent times, fast counter-balance pulley systems. In this discipline, divers descend to depths deeper than some submarines can operate.

Check out the video below to learn more!

You know someone who does extraordinary things? Let us know!

Best regards

Grena Team

<