FREEDIVING INTERNATIONAL FREEDIVING MAGAZINE PRINT AND DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION DELIVERED UK EUROPE & WORLDWIDE LIVEBREATHEDIVE.COM | 1
L I V E B R E AT H E D I V E . C O M
>
READ INSIDE > T WORLD'S BES DIVE SPOTS
IMPROVE YOUR CO2 TOLERANCE SUBSCRIBE TODAY JUST
$4.99
SEPTEMBER 2014
2|LIVEBREATHEDIVE.COM
WELCOME ABOARD We’re stoked you’ve come along for the journey; Live Breathe Dive is the awesome diver ran community which provides new friends – and our dear old friends – with everything you need and want to know about the freediving world we all love, that’s happening right now. Take a breath…
THANKS FOR CHECKING IN
We’re the world’s local freediving community. Keeping you regularly updated during an exciting time for freediving. Find out more…
W H AT I S F R E E D I V I N G ? Freediving is the ancient extreme sport of underwater apnea – a temporary halt in breathing – where the diver descends freely for an extended period of time on a single breath without the assistance of breathing apparatus. An experienced senior dive instructor once told his fondest underwater memory – through an illustrious career diving all over the world – was being at a secluded cove in Thailand with his family, sat on the rocks with just his face submerged in the exotic tide pools – which was a little unexpected given the many wreck dives at depths he’d accomplished with only a select few. That encapsulates Freediving for us – it’s not about competition, longest breath holds, or who can dive the deepest – it’s personal to you and the self fulfilment you gain from improving your body’s natural ability and inquisitive nature to explore the timeless, graceful beauty in the depths of our oceans. “Ocean; a body of water occupying about twothirds of a world made for man – who has no gills” Ambrose Bierce
LIVEBREATHEDIVE.COM | 3
THE BEGINNER’S GUIDE
Starting a new sport as a total beginner is always rather daunting at first – but making the right primed decisions on training, technique and gear will save time, money and potential injury – all whilst yielding a self-assured confidence that you’re well prepared for relaxed underwater adventures. The joy of freediving and one of the major reasons participation in the sport both recreationally and competitively has drastically increased in the past 18 months is the incredible, unparalleled sense of freedom – and that sense of freedom comes with the very little equipment needed to start diving.
WETSUIT A wetsuit should be your first purchase, and freedivers tend to favour open cell suits; which are softer, warmer and more comfortable than closed cell suits. Your body’s warmth will ensure your breathing is relaxed underwater, wasting less energy and keeping you in the water longer. Measure yourself accurately to make sure your order fits comfortably – allowing a little give in the neck, underarms, and groin areas for a comfortable fit.
LONG BLADE FINS Freediving long bladed fins are almost double the length of your average fin and are made with high-tech polymer resins for extreme support when kicking. Long blade fins also allow you to swim in currents easier and reach your ideal destination with less expelled energy and allows for a faster and easier ascent from deeper dives.
FACE MASK Low volume masks reduce the effort it takes to clear the pressure during a dive. Volume refers to the total amount of air between your face and the masks. High volume masks require more valuable air from your lungs to clear – black silicone is favoured among freedivers.
W E I G H T B E LT Without a wetsuit we’re all more naturally buoyant and a weight belt will compensate for buoyancy of the body when diving. Wight belts allow you to simply sink downward, rather than kicking – which causes the blood thirsty leg muscles to consume oxygen. With a weight belt you can peacefully lie motionless on the bottom without straining to keep you floating to the surface.
4|LIVEBREATHEDIVE.COM
TOP UK FREEDIVING SPOTS
C he p stow, W ales with S alt F ree D ivers
C hesil B each , D orset with U nderwater E x p lorers
SaltFree are the largest freedive group in the UK – run by Sam Kirby, former UK Team Captain and AIDA Freedive Instructor Trainer. SaltFree run regular training meets for qualified freedivers and courses recognised by AIDA and PADI for all levels of freediver from complete beginner to instructor.
The abundance of flora and fauna underwater at Chesil Beach is incredible; complemented by the remains of many vessels, which have struck the beach, and broken up in furious storms – now all natural shelters for wildlife. With easy access, depths ranging from 6 to 18 metres and minimal tidal influence Chesil is a must visit for freedivers, and ideal for any level of diving all year round.
N ew q ua y, C ornwall with F reedive U K Freedive UK is a freediving school run by Ian Donald and team, offering freediving courses and trips in Cornwall. Operating from Newquay, a stunning part of the Cornish coast with easy transport routes and giving access to some truly spectacular diving, with visibility sometimes reaching 25 metres.
V obster Qua y, A von with G o F reediving The Lily Pad – a purpose built freediving platform at Vobster Quay with exclusive use for freedivers wishing to train, practice and of course – have fun. Moored over the deepest part of the lake with 6 lines going straight to the bottom – the ideal platform to enjoy the relaxing sport of freediving.
D orothea Quarr y, W ales with A p neists U K With divers mainly from North Wales, North East and North West England and Scotland – Apneists UK run professional AIDA Freediving courses for those in good health and over 18 years of age. Dorothea Quarry must be the most beautiful quarry around; with stunning scenery and changeable weather creating vivid colours and effect with the water and surrounding slate. “Dorothea Quarry is our true home, nowhere else in the UK is deep enough”
LIVEBREATHEDIVE.COM | 5
FREEDIVING IN EUROPE
V illefranche - sur - M er , F rance with C hango D iving Home to the AIDA World Freediving Championships – Villefrance Sur Mer is a very special bay along the Côte d’Azur and is internationally renowned for its serene waters and safe dive conditions. The posidonia seagrass harbours plenty of wildlife and further south, protected cliff sides plummet 40m below the sea’s surface.
Z ak y nthos , G reece with R eef C lub Z ante Zante’s lush greenery inland reaches the island’s coast – giving the waters a stunning crystal clear, emerald pigment. Swim with Loggerhead Sea Turtles and friendly Mediterranean Monk Seals, enjoying unrivalled visibility anywhere in Europe with an adventure you won’t forget. Visit west of the island and more specifically The Blue Caves and Navagio Beach which is only accessible by boat.
T enerife , S pain with A p nea C anarias Located in a sheltered part of the island, the freediving school is just meters from the sea with easy entrance to several lines set up to a range of depths. Radazul, Tenerife has unbeatable freediving conditions – plenty depth, crystal clear waters, no currents and warm land and sea temperatures almost all year round.
6|LIVEBREATHEDIVE.COM
WORLD’S BEST FREEDIVING SPOTS B arracuda Point, M ala y sia with S i padan . com Sipadan Island is recognised among the best diving in Asia, and features in our bucket list of must dives in the world. Witness the incredible Barracuda tornado formations swimming alongside greenback turtles aplenty and with access from the shore, crystal clear underwater visibility surpassing 30m and the majority of corals less than 25m deep – Sipadan Island is freediving paradise.
K oh T ao, T hailand with A p nea T otal Translating as Turtle Island; Koh Tao was once inhabited by Sea Turtles - a little more than 20km in size, Koh Tao is the smallest tropical island within the Gulf of Thailand and is known for its incredible diving with beautifully vibrant coral reefs. Whale Sharks and plenty more diverse fauna are always around with the jungle ensuring serene calmness, picturesque white beaches and enough local bars and restaurants to chose from, for a well deserved beer after diving in paradise.
M olokini , H awaii with M aui O cean A ctivities Molokini is a small, crescent-shaped island off the South Maui coast. The waters here offer vibrant, colourful reefs perfect for freediving – with the waters here so rich with wildlife that Molokini was named a State Marine Life and Bird Conservation District; purely and naturally beautiful.
T ulamben , I ndonesia with D ive T ulamben . com Internationally renowned for the incredible dive sites and prized for its easy diving and amazing natural wildlife, Tulamben is another must dive. The USS Liberty shipwreck is famous as one of the easiest wrecks to access in the world – with underwater creatures ranging from ghost pipefish, and pygmy seahorse to sharks and mola-mola sunfish. Tulamben is a great place for beginners, with a number of sites which are suitable for training dives, fun dives plus underwater photography.
D ahab , E g y p t with F reedive I nternational The Blue Hole, Dahab; a submarine sinkhole around 130m deep – with a shallow opening of 6m deep known as The Saddle opening out to the sea, and a 26 m long tunnel known as The Arch, the top of which lies at a depth of 56m. The exceptional abundance of coral reef and wildlife establishes The Blue Hole as a fantastic destination for divers of all experience looking to improve in perfect conditions, the surrounding reef protects The Blue Hole from the currents with a flat calm surface.
LIVEBREATHEDIVE.COM | 7
THE ABYSS TA B L E
Duffy London have created this incredible concept named The Abyss Table, with detailed layered wood and glass finish to replicate a geological underwater cross-section of freediver’s paradise – showing the sculptured beauty of our oceans. It would sure make a stunning centrepiece in the home of a wealthy freediver, one who has £5,800 + VAT going spare. Do hurry though; they’re limiting the editions to just 25 pieces.
8|LIVEBREATHEDIVE.COM
THE APNEA WALK Learn one of the most effective techniques in training your body’s ability to endure rising levels of Carbon Dioxide in the blood; improving your Carbon Dioxide tolerance is vitally important when learning to freedive… The Apnea Walk helps elevate your tolerance level for high amounts of Carbon Dioxide in the blood, low levels of Oxygen and your tolerance for building Lactic Acid in the muscles during underwater apnea. Plan your route in advance and use environmental targets for measuring records.
1). Make sure you’re comfortable sat upright with your hands on your knees 2). Slowly take 5-10 deep breaths and prepare your body for apnea 3). Hold your breath for a minute while remaining seated 4). Proceed to a standing position, still holding your breath 5). Start walking at a slow pace on your chosen route 6). Focus on each step you take, closer to your desired target Resting time is valuable, and vital to your improvement . There are both intrinsic and extrinsic factors affecting your apnea, so don’t always expect progression.
LIVEBREATHEDIVE.COM | 9
FREEDIVING HISTORY
From all walks of life around the world people have been practising the sport of freediving for many years yet it’s only within the past 50 years when performance freediving has extended what was once believed to be impossible depths to reach… Back in 1879; Paul Bert – a French physiologist reported that when ducks were forced underwater they had a innate reflex which slowed their heart down to prolong the inevitable – leading to an investigation into the storing of life-saving oxygen. Researchers discovered that immersion in cold water – or just simply holding your breath – triggers what’s
called the mammalian diving reflex, which the body uses to conserve the life-saving oxygen. When the reflex kicks in, your pulse slows and the circulatory system constricts, shunting the blood away from muscles, skin and organs – ensuring the brain and heart are prioritised. For many years it was widely believed that divers couldn’t descend to depths exceeding 50m – purely due to the weighted pressure on the lungs causing collapse. With time this myth has been dispelled through very simple training techniques, which aim to increase lung capacity, carbon dioxide tolerance and low oxygen levels.
Freediving’s first official record was set in 1949 by Raimondo Bucher who reached a depth of 30m – this was broken further in 1951 and reset to 35m – broken again in 1952 and set to 39m. It took the freediving community until 1961 to breach the 50m milestone – with the famous competitive rivalry of Jacques Mayol and Enzo Maiorca beginning; which spanned over 20 years. In 1975 Mayol managed a world first by descending 100m deep with Maiorca following nearly 10 years later with a retirement dive of 101m. Since then, the freediving world has seen many records broken including Herbert Nitsch’s descent, with the help of a weighted sled, to 214m.
10 | L I V E B R E A T H E D I V E . C O M
V I TA L C O 2 TO L E R A N C E To improve apnea and take your diving to the next level of enjoyment you must become accustomed to the build up of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) in the blood. It’s natural to expect a lack of Oxygen (O2) is the culprit forcing you to breathe during apnea – but really it’s the release of CO2 from the cells into the blood for the lungs to exchange for O2 which sends those signals for us to breathe – especially prevalent during movement.
Naturally when we exercise our respiration rate increases – as the muscle cells require O2 faster it needs to remove waste CO2 in the blood, just as quick. During freediving on one breath you have to be able to deal with the build up of CO2 to ensure your muscle cells function normally without a consistent O2 source to complete the cycle – it’s mind over matter from there on, and through proper training to ensure your body is capable of dealing with excessive levels of CO2 in the blood.
L I V E B R E A T H E D I V E . C O M | 11
I M P ROV E YO U R CO 2 TOLERANCE WITH THE APNEA WALK
With correct training and learning techniques from qualified instructors, you’ll be amazed with personal progression – you’ll soon be diving to 15-20m without a problem. Extreme sports aren’t titled loosely without prevalent risks each time you partake. It’s vitally important you learn to freedive with a qualified instructor who’s experienced and been assessed by certified boards in able to pass on teachings to ensure you dive progressively with knowledge, awareness and discipline. Safety is the main priority with every dive; enjoyment and pride is always secondary. Breathing up is an effective technique to improve your apnea, and essentially your dive time and can be easily practiced dry. It’s great for relaxing your body and mind so they’re in sync before apnea. So how do you breathe up? Well, you need to focus on breathing from the lowest point in your diaphragm deeply and slowly all the way to the top of your lungs – effectively you’re exhaling longer than inhaling. Once you feel relaxed and prepared to dive; take 3-4 deep breaths exhaling as much CO2 in your blood without hyperventilating (it’s a fine line)! Take one final ‘normal’ breath before the full complete inhale of O2 from the lowest point in your abdomen all the way up to the top of your lungs, filling your cheeks with O2 and swallowing the air to increase your lung capacity further. Practising this simple technique regularly will see your static apnea times lengthen considerably – which will help with longer dive times and a better tolerance of CO2. There are numerous variables, which affect static apnea times; these can be hydration levels, blood sugar levels and fatigue. Note down each time you practice to gain a better understanding of your body’s tolerances.
12 | L I V E B R E A T H E D I V E . C O M
L I V E B R E AT H E D I V E . C O M