Hi, I’m wondering if anyone knows of any freediving groups (chats or forums) in Dahab for connecting freedivers (buddying) and or buying or selling equipment.

Hi I’m a beginner in freediving and I’ve only gone to two fundives so far. I’m on a budget that’s why I want to assess if it would be worth for me to get certified if all I want is to improve my open water skills such as duck diving, improving buoyancy, EQ and to be able to just dive deeper depths. Should I just continue doing fundives or get certified? and if certification is the way to go to improve these skills which one should I take if these are my goals since I tried to look at each and I’m not sure if the pool trainings will target my goals.

i bought a mask yesterday which was advertised as a mask good for going from 20-50m of depth, but after further research i found out that i should have bought a low volume mask. i still don't know how to tell if a mask is low volume and it would be nice if someone could explain. the mask in question is a cressi samoa mask. would that mask be considered a low or high volume mask? i just realized it would be good since it fit me perfectly and it was advertised to be good under pressure.

I have a poolcompetition coming up in a couple of days. How long before the start would it be beneficial to stop enting?(if at all)

Hello everyone.

I am quite curious on what the path to become an instructor looks like. I am wave 1 molchanov certified, but I have had further private lessons and at the moment I have met all requirements for wave 2 and I will soon get certified for that too. Free diving has become quite a passions in the last couple of years and I love everything about it.

How long did it take you to meet the instructor requirements and how has been the experience of being a freediving instructor?

I love sharing my passion for freediving and showing friends how to do it. It's amazing to see friends afraid of depths and apnea go down 5-10 m for their first time.

I would love to get some input from the community.

Practing STA using STAmina App and I want to connect my Garmin Descent G1 but it’s not working.

Has anyone did this?

First of all, warm greetings to this community! (and to the whole of reddit too, I guess, since up until now I've been more a "reader" rather than a "writer")

While over the course of my life, at least since the age of 14 I have had a deep fascination for freediving, this sadly extended only to observing through media & internet rather than practicing. Growing up on plain lands in west/central Europe there wasn't really any opportunity to pursue this dream of mine; approaching my parents, and asking if there was a way, it was dismissed as "too exotic", "risky" and "potentially harmful" (paraphrased).
Yet the enchantment never went away.

Fast forward to now, at the ripe age of 30: recently, upon the opening of the local open-air pool, a "crash course" was held, for some techniques of breath holding & dipping down a bit (hesitant to call it anything more, given the pool has a maximum depth of 3.5m). Participating in it, for whatever little freediving it actually was, the joy it brought me matches only that of some of my best childhood memories. This, combined with the timing of "The Deepest Breath" documentary (I know, might be a bit repetitive to hear for you, but it's true), was the straw to break the camel's back.
While I am not unhappy with my current career, it leaves me unfulfilled.

So much so that I'd consider changing into anything related to this sport, as long as it provides an opportunity to pursue it myself, and some time for a decent training schedule still.
What is on my mind though is what one can expect. That is not to say I'd be reaching for world records - not in the slightest; and while maybe also -100m CWT/CWTB might be not for this lifetime, what would an achievable long-term goal look like? -60m? -80m even? When now, I feel like I could dedicate my life to it.
And while not the most competitive person in general, what would expectations be for small-time competitions? Participating of course not to win, but at least also not to make a fool of myself.

Obviously, a change like this would be huge, and this wouldn't be out of a daily fancy of mine, nor of a mid-life-crisis (am certain to be able to rule that out), yet - being the person I am - this is where projected goals and numbers come into play. While competition isn't in my spirit, ambition is.
And potentially tainting the write-up until now, I would probably not go through with any of this, if the prediction was to be reaching not more than -40 CWT/CWTB, peaking in 5 years, or 10 (?).
As much as it saddened me to put down the previous line, the combination of my realism and ambition obliged me to ask.

I realize this might not be the typical post around here, and maybe not the most welcome one, yet - regardless of the outcome, I felt compelled to pour out my soul in it.

In any case,
I wish all of you a nice day, and safe diving!

Oh, and for context, right now, I'd consider myself averagely fit overall - for better or for worse.

Tl;Dr:
Starting with freediving at the age of 30, what goals can one reasonably expect still, in CWT/CWTB when dedicating to the sport?

edit (original kept as-is for historical purposes):
In asking this, as a lot of u rightfully pointed out, the numbers game shouldn't matter. And I think I agree now.
But still, this little part of me, ambition - maybe, had me wondering, even if of questionable relevance, and metaphorically:
I would gladly board this train. I need not know exactly where it will take me; but I needed the general direction.
Yet unknowing which stop I'd get off and potentially settle at; just wish me luck it doesn't crash!

And again a big thanks to all of your answers, you are a great community.

Might keep you updated where the journey will take me :)
no promises, though.

Is anyone using a Shearwater Tern for freedidving? If so, what do you think of it?

Hi,

I'm going to Komodo and am doing a non-diving tour that involves some typical snorkelling activities in medium sized groups. I wanted to learn free diving as I won't have the chance to scuba dive on this trip (I am AOW with ~40 dives, so I have exposure to open water diving with medium/strong current).

Around my area in Toronto doing the full AIDA 2 course is 700USD, which is quite a bit. I'm wondering if doing just the confined pool session which is about half the cost would be sufficient to do some light free diving while in snorkelling tour groups. I'll likely purchase free diving fins but wont have access to weight belt unless I purchase that too.

I'll probably finish the rest of the certification at some point.

Thanks for the advice!

​

Hi,

I'm going to Komodo and am doing a non-diving tour that involves some typical snorkelling activities in medium sized groups. I wanted to learn free diving as I won't have the chance to scuba dive on this trip (I am AOW with ~40 dives, so I have exposure to open water diving with medium/strong current).

Around my area in Toronto doing the full AIDA 2 course is 700USD, which is quite a bit. I'm wondering if doing just the confined pool session which is about half the cost would be sufficient to do some light free diving while in snorkelling tour groups. I'll likely purchase free diving fins but wont have access to weight belt unless I purchase that too.

Thanks for the advice!

​

I would like to order a pair of Molchanovs fins (PRO Bifins 3 Fiberglass). Does anyone know of any European distributor, or other way of buying, to avoid paying import duty fees in the EU area?

I’m getting photos off of my camera in a few days.

Most of the water I dived at was 10-15 feet deep. I equalized even though it’s not technically necessary. We moved to a abandoned underwater quarry, and we were told it was 100 feet deep. I could dive to the bottom, so that was not true because I’m not that good. I was still equalizing, so I didn’t quite realize the 25 feet of water above me. Looking up was quite the spectacle to say the least, as I have never been so deep. MDR was also helping so I had plenty of oxygen, it felt magical!

I need to do a dedicated freediving program, as we had a lot of extra gear due to snorkeling being the intent. It prevented me from being in a state of total calm, and added drag. I think I could have done 50 feet without all of that!

I had a buoyancy compensator that would float we up if I blacked out, and then my partner knew what to do from their. My partner was also just as capable as me and knows signs of blacking out. I also was only going a minute down at most, so blacking out wasn’t too big of a concern, although there still is a chance obviously. I think this is sufficient safety wise.

Thanks for reading!

Is it normal to get intercostal (I think) soreness from training? Been doing pool training and it feels like someone is sitting on my chest

I’d rather not go to the doctor if this is a common experience/ part of the process

as the title says, i've only ever scuba dived and snorkeled, and am new to freediving. i fell in love with it after watching a few documentaries, and since i'm a biology major in uni, and am planning to go into marine bio and move overseas , it's a dream come true to learn to freedive. i just signed up for a freediving course in my area, but since i live in an isolated place where there is no sea, how can i most efficiently practice considering i can't dive in the sea, and can only use pools as a practice spot?

what kind of equipment do i need as a newbie? i'm going to malta in july, and want to purchase a good set of freediving fins, since i only got some scuba/snorkel fins rn, and i'm thinking of buying a budget wetsuit. do i need that equipment inside the pool? what kinda fins? i was thinking of cressi modular fins since they're budget friendly.

any advice is appreciated, doesn't have to do anything with what i've asked! just overall advice!! thank you

Hi everyone,

Alexander Nilsson (Swedish record holder) and I have developed an app for the Apple Watch designed as a tool for breath-hold training.

It provides real-time feedback on heart rate and oxygen saturation visualized through a chart view during sessions. Pretty similar to how the Massimo app works (which requires an oxygen perimeter for use).

It also has a cycle breathing mode for CO2 training where you can set custom breathing patterns and receive haptic feedback to notify you of phase changes.

We're still in the early stages of development and I'm not really sure how the app will evolve in the future but would greatly appreciate your thoughts on the app and any suggestions for improvement.

Would you consider integrating this app into your routine?

Should also say that the app is a "watch-only app", free to download though and with no hidden costs, advertisements, or in-app purchases :)

Looking forward to your feedback and suggestions! Thank you for taking the time.

App Store link: https://apps.apple.com/se/app/hunchi/id1668046328
Website: https://hunchi.app

Hello, how is your opinion on carbon fins in comparison to plastic fins for recreational freediving up to 50-60 meters? Do they make a significant difference outside of competitions?
Thanks!

Hey y'all,

I'm new to freediving and find myself taking a work trip to Brisbane. Does anyone recommend some good diving spots?

I tried learning to freedive for a long time last year and ended up actually spending a decent bit on fins/mask and actually getting to the training. Despite making progress with some elements there was a lot I struggled with, especially duckdive which became something of a mental as well as physical block for me. I also developed issues with seasickness which didn’t help.

Skip forward to now and I’m definitely wanting to learn again and hopefully actually get certified. My last instructor was great in many ways and I definitely did make some progress but I feel like they did not necessarily help me with my duckdive or other issues even when I communicated this openly.

My key issue however is that my options for finding suitable training are limited given there simply aren’t many options for freedive specific for me in my current country. There are scuba shops offering freediving but I’d prefer someone who does freediving day in day out. Most of the courses are PADI too which I’m personally not happy about. There is the option of going abroad but I’m time limited given I only have a certain amount of holiday leave and I’m already trying to do my Divemaster training for scuba. It’s in the back of my head to maybe negotiate with my old trainer, who’s aware of the issues I’ve had already had and be firm in my expectations (I have a feeling that communication between us wasn’t always the best).

What would you do?

Anyone tried the Deep Humans Carbon Blades? And if yes, which foot pocket are you using? Looking for recommendations and feedback.

As the title says, my boyfriend and I booked a vacation this july to Gozo island. I specifically wanted to go here cuz of all the good diving and snorkeling sites. Are those sites approachable without having to pay for excursions? And without having a car? Where would those spots be located?

Hi guys!!

Anyone experienced stopping for a long time in freediving?

I just achieved 60meters depth recently. But now I have to stop due to some injury on other sports.

Anyway, what did you do on dry (without open water / water drills) to keep your adaptation in place or much better, improving?

Are you doing tables? Uddyana? Lung stretches? Can you please give me tips!

Thanks! I need something to do for 6months on dry to be ready again on water when I come back.

Has anyone here completely replaced their 3mm single-piece with a Shark Skin or other neoprene alternative?

How is it?

Pros and cons?

Does cold water leak inside like on back zip wetsuits?

Thinking about getting something like this to replace my warm water 3mm suit as it's lighter and more compact for travel, not to mention my 3mm single piece kinda sucks because water gets in through the back zip anyway during many freediving movements.

I’m a newbie in freediving and haven’t been in the open water yet (just learning the basics in deep pools — 12-20ft deep) and my frustration is I can’t keep myself underwater without floating in seconds! Are there any tips/things I need to do to avoid buoyancy as a newbie? Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone,

here to let you know what we have been doing in the last few years. It all started as a dream...😎...and we are now living it. That's why we named it Freediver's dream cruise. My partner and I wanted to bring together freedivers from all over the world to come and sail with us in Croatia, as we are already freediving and sailing we thought it would be so cool to share this with like-minded people.

Here we are, fourth year in a row, still organizing freediving sailing cruises. So far we had freedivers from 19 countries and 5 continents.

This year we are having multiple boats sailing together - a proper freediving flotilla.

Join us if you are searching for a freediving based holiday, daily diving sessions, amazing nature, cool people etc.

Ante (my partner) is a freediving instructor so if you need a course he can provide it before the cruise.

There is more info at freediversdream.com

Happy diving!

Has anybody with consistent troubles equalizing their ear / sinus undergone one of these procedures and if so, what was your experience?