Thread: Beginners guide to freediving/snorkeling

Ok so this is a very basic overview please feel free to add or correct my comments,

here's a very basic run down.

Gear .

Snorkel a cheap one will do.. $15

Wetsuit .. I got a 5 mill on $120 one piece my son got a 1 piece 3mill but finds it cold after an hour in the water. this said you can you any wetsuit I was using my 7mill dive suit and it was ok but I needed more weight to get down and I would never go back from my new suit less bulk less weight to cart about when finning on the surface.So grab a borrow one or go second hand if your not going to be doing heaps eh.. It just the more comforatble you are the better you will freedive.

Hood.. i recomended using one or getting one for warmth's sake.

Mask. probably your most important piece of gear. you can use your standard dive mask but if your going to get into it get a low volume silcon mask, they are comfortable and you earier to equalise(mask squeeze). rember your maybe wearing your mask for hours on end a hard plastic one will be ok for short periods but painfull after an hour.
NOTE make sure your mask fits try heaps fo differnt type because even a small leak is some thing that will drive you F#*King nuts. (well me anyway)

booties (warm comfort) depending on your fins different booties suit differnt fins.

Fins.. Im still using my short dive fins but The big fella had a set of proper long freedive fins and shit they make a differnce but you can't wear your hard soled dive booties in them.

gloves.. anything from a $5 leather pair to dive gloves are fine in my view.

weight belts , one that fits would be a good start there are plastic and weave belts and ones with pockets everyone has a different thoughts
but try to spread the weight around your waist and when you are setting yourself up ypu want to ne neutrally boyant ... that is you are standing in the water at attention you should sink slightly when you breath out and float slightly when you breath in (hopes this makes sense)
Ok lets get started..

if your brand new go to a pool , river or shallow safe bay to start out there getting some confidence and experince.
ok my overview.

1st relax

2nd relax some more.
ok so where setting up to do a dive

1 drive the air out of your lungs and gut

2 take in a slow deep breath then try to gulp some more mouth fulls stuffing the air into your gut (sounds weird but tryit and you will understand the feeling)

3 fold at the waist and lift your legs sraight up with your feet together and use you weight to drive yourself down.

4 as you desend(go down ) if you feel pressure in you ears pinch your nose and gently try to blow your nose you will feel / hear a squeek / pop this is called equalising. ( you can do this sitting at your computer and the most you do it th easier it should get...Some people cannot equalise and if you cannot I suggest you do not try diving deep you will rupture or damage your ear drums)

5 level out on the bottom try not to thrash about relax stay calm as your on limited O2 and so if your nervous or struggling you burn up your air faster.

6 when you start to feel the need to breath start heading for the surface. DO NOT stay down untill you feel like your head is going to explode or your seeing colours infront of your eyes.. YOU WILL DIE.

7 surface face down and with a sharp hard puff blow the water from your snorkel. then relax slow your heart down and just float (think a seal or cloud)

8 fin about looking for other turf.

ok so that is very very basic, there is a shit load of safety stuff to caver which I will do tommorrow.

But people have asked do I have to be fit and the basic answer is "no". but your fitness will limit the conditions and distance you can dive in
That is you want to start small calm days in good conditions staying close to shore building fitness and confidence,

SAFTEY
1 do not hyper venterlate to try to increase your bottom time ... you run the risk of shallow water black out.

2 don't dive alone get a mate or join a club, we employ a one up one down techniec that is on on the surface watching to one on the bottom .

3 don't push you limits you are not as good as you think you are

4 get out before you get cold or fatiigued

5 if you swim out you have to swim back so rember currants will carry you along way and swimming against the current will bugger you faster than you would ever believe .

6 if in dout stay out.. if your piss crook or just uncomfortable don't get in... because you can't just stop sit down or walk home eh

7 if you are in the shit ...DROP YOUR weight belt ..you will float.

8 tell some one where your going etc.

ok so that is a very very basic over view ... there is shit load more things to explain ...will try tommorrow or surf the net you will get a shitload of good info their

best regards Joe
any pressing questions PM me and I'll try to help.

edit to add I know my grammer and spelling is crap but I'm tryin to get it from my head to to the key board whilst making sense. So please bear with me. ta