Also referred to as Apnea, freediving offers freedom and mobility to those who enjoy spending time underwater. Though many freedivers practice the sport casually, there are many others who elect to take it more seriously. There are seven basic freediving disciplines, and it’s up to you to decide which to participate in. You can stick with one or mix things up and get involved in all seven if you wish.
Constant Weight with Fins - Freediving Disciplines
In constant weight with fins, the freediver uses his or her fins to propel the body downward to the greatest possible depth. In this discipline, you may use either a monofin or bi-fins.
Constant Weight without Fins (Unassisted) - Freediving Disciplines
In constant weight with no fins, the freediver uses only swimming techniques and muscle strength to achieve the greatest depth possible; he or she is prohibited from using either a sled or the vertical reference rope to descend. This is the most difficult, but purest form of freediving, as it uses oxygen quickly and requires exceptional coordination.
Static Apnea - Freediving Disciplines
In static apnea, competitors are freediving for time by attempting to keep their faces submerged in the water for as long as they possibly can. This discipline is the only one in which a freediver is judged on the amount of time he or she is capable of breath-holding. The face is submerged in the water while the freediver holds as still as possible. Static apnea isn’t just a contest – it’s also a great method of training for other freediving disciplines.
Free Immersion - Freediving Disciplines
Free immersion challenges divers to achieve the greatest depth possible, using a rope to pull themselves downward during the descent and upward during the ascent. In free immersion, no fins are worn, nor are any other propulsion devices used. This is an easy technique that beginning freedivers usually find enjoyable.
Dynamic Apnea - Freediving Disciplines
Dynamic apnea may be practiced with or without fins, and rather than involving a contest for greatest depth, it involves swimming as far as possible on a single breath. Usually practiced in a swimming pool, dynamic apnea is a good training method for other disciplines.
Variable Weight - Freediving Disciplines
In variable weight freediving, the diver uses a ballast weight to add up to 1/3 his or her own body weight, which aids greatly in the descent but poses a challenge during the ascent. Ascent can be made with the aid of a monofin or bi-fins, or by using upper body strength to pull oneself up the rope.
No Limit - Freediving Disciplines
No limit freediving is the most dangerous, and is not sanctioned as an official freediving discipline by any association; even so, it is popular with those wishing to achieve the greatest depths possible. In this type of freediving, the diver uses a sled or other type of ballast weight to make a rapid descent, then uses a buoyancy device to ascend. The risks of no limit freediving are so great that it is no longer allowed in apnea competitions.
No matter which of these disciplines you choose to practice, your maximum depth and the amount of time you can spend underwater will depend largely upon the amount of time you dedicate to practicing. The good news is that you can practice holding your breath anywhere, anytime, to strengthen your lungs. Just remember that your body responds differently to the physical challenges associated with apnea when submerged and spend as much time as you can underwater to maximize your abilities.