Free Diving
Free Diving refers to diving activities that require holding one’s breath under water. Compared to other Diving Variations, they do not involve the use of Diving Equipment (e.g., SCUBA) that aid in breathing underwater. Popular variations of non-competitive Free Diving includes spearfishing, snorkeling, and freedive photography. There are also competitive sports like constant weight, free immersion, variable weight, no limits, dynamic and static apnea. Synchronized swimming, underwater rugby, underwater hockey, and underwater hunting are among the less recognized variations of the sport.
Benefits
Free Diving activities offer a myriad of physical benefits. Because the sport does not use any breathing apparatus, it strengthens the diver’s lung capacity. It also promotes a greater awareness for the body’s limits and enables the diver to learn how to control his body.
Before you begin
There are a number of things to consider before pursuing Free Diving extensively. Just because it does not employ the use of Diving Equipment doesn’t mean that it is free of difficulties. There are actually a lot of physical risks involved in Free Diving that may result in serious injuries or death. It is advisable for free divers to attend classes that will equip them for all the challenges that they might encounter underwater.
Body adaptation
In order to appreciate just how risky Free Diving is, it would be helpful to understand how the body adapts to underwater pressure:
- Ear Pressure Equalization. The ears are the first to respond to the pressure as a diver is submerged underwater. As the pressure outside the eardrum intensifies, the eardrum is pushed inwards. Ear pressure equalization pushes air into the middle ear so that the pressure equalizes.
- Bradycardia, This reflex allows mammals to dive for prolonged periods under pressure. Translating to “low heartbeat,” divers experience a reduction in their heart rate when they are underwater so that the body requires lower oxygen.
- Blood Shift. As a diver delves deeper, the pressure increases around the body. In the absence of a breathing apparatus, the lungs have no source of air that will equalize the pressure. It is through this mechanism that the body copes with the increased pressure. As the name suggests, the blood shifts from other body parts and floods the lungs in order to equalize the pressure. This results to a slower heart rate and an increased blood pressure.
- Peripheral Vasoconstriction. Deeper water equates to higher pressure. As the body is submerged in greater depths, the blood from the toes, fingers, hand, and feet are drawn towards the body’s center. The diver experiences reduced circulation in these areas in order to protect the body’s vital organs.
Whether for leisure or sport, the allure of Free Diving varies from one diver to the next. For some, it is the liberating experience of underwater exploration sans the diving equipment. For others, it is a physical exercise that allows them to test their body’s limits. No matter what Diving activity suits your taste, remember two things: it always helps to get assistance from an expert and always practice safety.
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Basics & Backgrounds
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