FREEDIVING FORTE
6/7/2007 9:34:19 AM by Stacy Wynn
If you’ve ever considered freediving off one of the thousands of coasts on our great watery planet, read on to find out the right way to take the plunge — just make sure to only dive as deep as your lungs allow.
At first, the words “freediving” and “sportfishing” don’t seem to go together very well. It takes time to wrap your mind around the idea of fishing without a rod and reel. The idea of fishing without any more air than that which is currently held in your lungs makes the task seem impossible. In this day and age of extreme sports, however, freediving-fishing is the latest rage. Though the sport is not actually that new, freediving can trace its history back to native fishermen many centuries ago who held their breath as they searched the sea bottom for shellfish to eat.
The Excitement
What makes the sport so fascinating? Just imagine being above the famed Fowey Rocks several miles off the coast of Miami Beach. Crystal-clear waters make the reef, in approximately 40 feet of water, a choice spot for this new sport. In fact, top freediver and spearfisher Sheri Daye spends every available weekend diving this or similar sites. With just a mask, snorkel, wetsuit and 10-pound weight buckle, and carbon fiber composite fins specifically designed for freediving, she’s ready to grab her four-foot speargun and go after fish such as her world record catch of a 157-pound yellowfin tuna. The fins are designed to get her to her underwater destination quickly to maximize fishing time, which Daye puts to great use.
“Bluewater fish can always outswim and outmaneuver you,” says Daye. “You have to put yourself in the position where they’ll come by you, and then wait. My goal was to be able to hover one minute at 60 feet. I knew I could fish there.” The result of this ocean maneuver off of Costa Rica in 2003 was her record-breaking tuna.
The Basics
Since there’s no need for cumbersome equipment in the form of a scuba tank and associated gauges and hoses, the sport can almost seem overly simplistic. This is most definitely not the case. Though many people have been freediving without any instruction for years, dive groups are starting to bring formal standards and training to the sport.
One such association is the International Association of Nitrox & Technical Divers (IANTD), in association with Divetech student training materials. Their courses cover such vital subjects as breath holding ability and comfort as well as the physiology and psychological factors associated with freediving. In-water training is designed to allow for breath-hold practice in constant ballast conditions as well as increase diver awareness and safety through repetition and emergency procedures. By recognizing freediving and providing a structured curriculum, the IANTD works to ensure consistent guidelines, safety through education, and formal recognition of the sport, as well as providing a source of continuing education both in person and online at IANTD.com
The Dive
“Freediving isn’t just about record depths,” says Emma Farrell, former chairwoman of the British Freediving Association (BFA) and world-class freediving instructor. “It’s also about extreme silence, mental focus and teaching your body to be flexible.” All of which are essential to successfully track and spearfish. As an added bonus, freediving, according to the BFA, prompts a “diving reflex,” a human physical response that’s similar to that which occurs in dolphins and seals. As our faces go underwater, the heartbeat decelerates and blood pressure lowers. This is the cause of the calm feeling that can last for days afterward.
“There’s no more lonely, exhilarating or vulnerable feeling than floating around, suspended in deep blue, waiting for something big to appear out of nowhere,” says Daye.
As with conventional SCUBA diving, safety is a major concern when freediving. First, one must always keep an eye out for sharks, jellyfish, sea urchins and other harmful creatures of the deep, while paying attention to how long you’ve been under and going after your target fish. If that wasn’t enough, there’s the concern about SWB, or shallow-water blackout. This abrupt loss of consciousness usually occurs around 15 feet or less from the surface as the re-expanding, oxygen-hungry lungs begin to draw oxygen from the diver’s blood, resulting in a blackout.
Preventatives include freediving with a buddy or having someone onboard the dive boat as a lookout for those minutes before surfacing. Exercises that build a freediver’s endurance help to preserve the oxygen in the blood stream as well as increasing the diver’s ability to stay calm during stressful situations.
The Experience
“I enjoyed scuba diving for several years, but I needed a new challenge,” says Daye. “Freedive spearfishing is both fun and challenging. I was instantly hooked on this sport because of its many benefits. You get to observe a beautiful world underwater, you get to eat fresh fish, you create some very strong bonds and friendships with your fellow spearfishers, and it keeps you in good shape — mentally and physically. I’m surprised more people don’t do it.”
FAB FREEDIVER: Top freediver and spearfisher Sheri Daye with one of her world record-bound catch.
So what’s the best way to get into the sport? Daye says there are some good books on the market like BlueWater Hunting and Freediving by Terry Maas. You can also take a freediving class from Performance Freediving (PerformanceFreeDiving.com). They teach in several cities several times a year. You can also subscribe to Spearfishing Magazine and Hawaii Skin Diver. Daye also recommends the upcoming Spearfishing Seminar and Expo at the International Gamefish Association in Dania, Florida, July 29-30, 2007. Daye is the official hostess of the event that will feature fascinating and educational seminars, plenty of interesting vendors and — new for this year — a film festival.
“It really helps to hook-up with someone that is already into the sport,” Daye advises. “Join a club and get a mentor — but always remember to keep it safe and go at your own pace.”