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Freediving has eight disciplines, from Static Apnea, holding one's breath for as long as possible,
to No Limits, where the diver descends using a weighted sled and ascends
using an airbag or other lifting device.
Freediving can be extremely dangerous and it is vital
never to practice without an experienced person with you at all times.
Freediving can also be lots of fun, however, and by learning how to freedive safely you can enjoy being under the water,
no matter how deep you go.
Freediving does not have to be about pushing your limits
of depth or time. By learning the breathing and relaxation skills
associated with freediving you can learn how to
use less air whilst scuba diving, dive down and take pictures of
underwater life, or even learn how to catch your own
supper!
Learning to freedive also helps
control anxiety, asthma, assist in other sports, promote a healthy weight
and build confidence!
AIDA is the international governing body for freediving. I am an AIDA Instructor Trainer, trained
to teach people from AIDA *Freediver up to the
standard of AIDA Instructor.
If you are interested in learning more, click here!
Freediving disciplines
and AIDA World records
Constant Weight
With or without fins, the diver must descend and ascend kicking and
completely unassisted. The diver may wear weight, but whatever is taken
down must be returned to the surface. This is seen as the truest form of freediving and the toughest. Descending in the easy
part. You need 80% of your strength in returning to the surface, using
all the major muscles in your body when you O2 levels are at their
lowest.
Variable Weight
The diver descends on a sled (with up to a third of their body weight)
and returns to the surface under his or her own power, either kicking
and/or pulling on the rope.
Free Immersion
The diver must descend and ascend by pulling on the dive line. Weight may
be worn, but this is simply a variation of the constant weight category
so the diver must return to the surface with the same amount of weight
used for the descent. No fins are worn.
No Limits
The deepest free dives in history are made in this category. Here the
diver uses a weighted sled, descending at a rate of 3 - 4 meters/second. Ascent
is assisted by an air filled balloon or other lifting device, which the
diver usually has to manually activate upon arrival at depth.
Static
The diver holds his/her breath floating face down in a swimming pool.
Dynamic Apnea
With or without fins, the diver swims horizontally under water in a
swimming pool.
Click here for up to date details of current World Records.
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