Why do free divers never have to worry that their lungs will rupture if they surface at a fast pace?

Because freedivers are not breathing compressed air, the air in their lungs is the same air they had from the moment they began their dive at the surface. It reduces in volume on descent and increases in volume on ascent.

How do freedivers avoid decompression sickness?

avoiding repeated dives to my maximum depth on the same day. not taking a static breath-hold at a depth several times in a row. not doing any depth freediving after scuba diving or any deep dives after static training or consuming recovery oxygen underwater.

Can you hold your breath while scuba diving?

The rule to never hold your breath when scuba diving is important both for dive safety and dive efficiency. A diver who holds his breath underwater will not decrease his air consumption or prolong his dive. He merely increases the concentration of carbon dioxide in his lungs, which makes him feel starved for air.

How is freediving possible?

Freediving or breath-hold diving is a method of underwater diving that does not require the help of a breathing apparatus. Instead of using an air tank, you simply hold your breath for as long can until you return to the surface. With freediving, you can only travel as far as the air in your lungs will take you.

How deep do free divers dive?

For most swimmers, a depth of 20 feet (6.09 metres) is the most they will free dive. Experienced divers can safely dive to a depth of 40 feet (12.19 metres) when exploring underwater reefs. When free diving the body goes through several changes to help with acclimatisation.

How deep can you free dive without decompression?

There’s a bit of physics and physiology involved in a full explanation, but the short answer is: 40 metres/130 feet is the deepest you can dive without having to perform decompression stops on your way back to the surface.

How long can free divers hold their breath?

Most people without any training can hold their breath for about 30 seconds without gasping for air. But free divers who swim without the aids of snorkels or scuba gear can actually hold their breath for more than 10 minutes.

Can You Hold Your Breath while free diving?

Freediving is one of the oldest forms of diving and involves divers diving as deep as they can dive on one breath of air. You can read more about free diving in our article ‘What is Freediving’. But it’s essentially holding your breath for a really, really long time. How long can you hold your breath for?

Can You freedive without scuba gear?

Do your research and look for a local diving school that offers serious practical and physical training specifically for diving without the use of scuba gear. A basic freediving course will first get you comfortable in the water and demonstrate proper deep breathing techniques.

What happens to your body under water when you dive?

You are buoyant at the surface and for the first few metres of the dive. As you start to descend, the pressure of the water pushes you back towards the surface, until around 13m to 20m deep when the dynamic is reversed. Here, according to Amati: Your body begins to sink a little bit like a stone.

Can I freedive without a partner?

At no point in your freediving experience, should you dive without an able partner. Deaths in freediving, from novices up to freediving professionals, are almost always caused through people diving beyond their skill level or without the necessary support.