I would go snorkeling in the sea as a kid and lose track of time fish watching. When I wanted to get a better look at something down below I would take a breath and dive under – there were times when I felt I could stay under forever. I didn’t know at the time these occasions might have been down to a facility available to all mammals – a dive reflex – which is stronger in aquatic mammals, like dolphins and seals, but also present in human creatures. I didn’t know I was a freediver, that all of can be freedivers, if we wish.
Years later I came across freediving as a discipline and took a course, simply because I wanted to stay under water for longer, and to do so safely. I had tried scuba diving, I found I enjoyed it, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of being encumbered by all the paraphernalia. I wanted to feel… well… free.
Freediving is nothing more than swimming under water on a single breath of air but a whole sport has developed around it. If you’ve heard of freediving before now it may be the ‘no limits’ discipline, in which divers drop hundreds of meters below the surface of the ocean to insane depths, sometimes covered in Red Bull stickers. That discipline is not for me, nor is it for most. Instead my pursuit has been more sedate, with a lot of laughter, nothing crazy, and a lot of good friendships developed along the way.
I’ve never felt it to be a risky pursuit. My instructor has a lot do with that – she always prioritizes safety. The seven rules I dive by are also important:
- Never dive alone
- Respect the environment
- Never dive alone
- Know your limits
- Never dive alone
- Respect your limits
- Never dive alone
I mentioned Red Bull. It’s ironic to have a stimulating drink as such a prominent sponsor because if there is one thing freedivers aspire to it’s a state of mental and physical calm. Yoga and meditation feature heavily in the training regimens of top freedivers because flexibility and serenity are so important. Sara Campbell is a notable yoga instructor who stumbled upon freediving and promptly broke a women’s record, diving to a depth of 96m (315 ft). [I just Googled ‘Red Bull’ and ‘yoga’ and expected no results but instead I was surprised, and my world has shifted. I continue to be reminded to challenge my assumptions.]
The tranquility I find underwater has only been matched by the serenity of floating down to earth by parachute, but in that tranquility I never feel alone. The deeper I dive the more I feel the pressure from the weight of the water; this has always felt like being hugged by the ocean.
I haven’t been diving for some time – the coronavirus pandemic and other priorities have put paid to that for a while. I miss the water. I am water. We are all water, literally. Our bodies are 60% water, our heart and brains are over 70% of the stuff, and our lungs are over 80%. Why shouldn’t we be aquatically inclined?
I can’t take credit for the term ‘I am water‘.This is the name of the Ocean Conservation Trust set up by South African freediver, Hanli Prinsloo. She believes that people look after what they care about, and by giving them wonderful experiences in the ocean she can promote its preservation.
I think that even before caring comes curiosity, and I hope this post has ignited even a small spark of curiosity. If my post hasn’t done the job then maybe this beautiful video from Guillaume Néry might. I hope everyone gets to feel a hug from the ocean, safely. To that end, find a reputable instructor, and bring a friend – the best experiences are those we share.
