THE SPORT OF FREE-DIVING

This is definitely the part of freediving that you won’t be searching for videos of, because they are kept right next to the videos of paint drying. It is, however, a competition event and pool discipline as well as an essential part of training. 

In the context of competitive freediving, a static breathold will take place in a pool, with the competitor relaxed and face down in the water at the start of and duration of the hold. It is ‘static’ in that the freediver is stationary. As with every other discipline, there is always a safety for each participant, even though each competitor knows their limits and (typically) respects them, competitors may have such a high tolerance for elevated CO2 levels and a correspondingly lower urge to breathe than most people do that they may push a little too far. 

There are some pretty remarkable records set in this discipline, but we have not listed them here because it is less inspirational than intimidating at first glance, especially if you are new to the sport.

It is worth noting two things. First, if you haven’t trained previously, your breath hold time maximum at first may only be 30-50 percent of your actual ability. That should be encouraging to a newcomer to this sport, along with knowing that this is a trained skill that you can improve in relatively quickly. 

Secondly, the world-record dives to depth by world champions are of a significantly shorter duration than the static competition record times. This is important because a lot of progress can be made by focusing on swimming and diving techniques, not just on breath hold times alone. That is because it is always about efficiency in freediving. 

Dynamic with Fins (DYN)

These dynamic disciplines typically take place in the pool. This involves swimming underwater for distance, not depth, using fins. The designation ‘dynamic’ not only is descriptive but also differentiates these disciplines from static, or stationary breath hold competitions. Dynamic could be with the use of bi-fins (the fins you usually see on divers of all flavors) or with a monofin. The records are set with the latter due to a monofin’s higher efficiency. 

As with everything in freediving, to reach the limits of one’s potential, technique is extremely important. The diver must keep a perfectly streamlined form and find the right balance of kicking speed and force, which can vary from diver to diver. Some freedivers like to compete in open water for depth and less so in the so-called ‘pool disciplines’ of dynamic swims, but they really do both go hand-in-hand. 

Dynamic without Fins (DNF)

Exactly what it sounds like! Swimming for distance, but without the aid of fins of any sort. As in CNF, it is of course more challenging to cover distance without the aid of fins and so it is its own separate discipline. 

Here, not just the kicking technique but also the correct use of the breaststroke needs to be considered. When using fins, the freediver will keep the arms streamlined, but without fins they will need to swim with the arms as well. And as with the other disciplines, the competitor must dial in the perfect balance between speed and oxygen consumption to compete, as this is for distance and not time.

Constant Weight with Fins (CWT)

This involves swimming/diving for depth with the aid of fins. It is called constant weight because the diver will have the same amount of weight on for the duration of the dive. That sounds like a simple distinction, and it is, but this does make it more difficult to perform a dive to depth and return. Since the diver must swim up with the weight they dove down with, the ascent up to shallower depths (in the range of 10 meters or so when they become positively buoyant again upon ascent) requires a substantial amount of effort. 

Compare this type of competitive diving with “no-limits” freediving where one is dragged down to depth with a weighted sled and compressed air assists with the ascent. That is not part of the competitive disciplines written about here, nor is it an AIDA-sanctioned event. What is the record for CWT? Some pretty impressive depths!  

Russian champion Alexey Molchanov holds the men’s record for

 a dive to 130m or 426’.

The women’s record is held by Alenka Artnik for her dive to 114m or 374’

Constant Weight without Fins (CNF)

This is swimming for depth without the aid of fins, as the name strongly implies..In this discipline the diver is diving without the aid of fins, and as CWF, there is no ‘lightening the load’ so to speak, to aid in the ascent.

The most effort, just as in CWF, will be expended during the descent while the diver is positively buoyant until they ht ‘free-fall’ (the depth at which they become negatively buoyant) and during the ascent up to that point. The deeper one goes, the more effort it will take to get back up to that positive buoyancy depth. And sInce fins greatly increase the efficiency and speed of kicking underwater, without any it will take more effort and time to get to depth and back up.

Watch the best in this discipline achieve a worlds’ record here: William Trubridge sets his world records with a 102m CNF 

Free Immersion (FIM)

This discipline involves the diver using a line to pull down to depth and then back up to the surface. This discipline, as with the other freediving disciplines, favors a streamlined and efficient technique. While it seems simple, minor adjustments to technique make a difference when pushing the limits of one’s physiology. 

It is worth seeing an incredible dive by the women’s record holder in this discipline. Watching will give you a glimpse of what it takes for physical conditioning and mindset, as well as why this is a really fun discipline.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1snG2xsfDA