Free Diving and Scuba Diving Are Not the Same & That’s a Fact

Since spring is in full swing and summer is almost here, it’s that time of the year when a lot of Aussies are starting to consider undertaking freediving as their new hobby. And how wouldn’t they – soon enough it will be scorching hot, so the idea of getting underwater is more than appealing. Diving is an adventure of a kind, so getting the right knowledge and training in the field, along with equipping yourself with a top quality freediving equipment set, can certainly make the experience much more satisfying.

Once you start looking for your top quality freediving equipment pieces, make sure you can make a difference between freediving and scuba diving gear. Freediving equipment doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive – it just has to fit your requirements. Here are a few pieces that every newbie should get if they want to “dive right into” this activity.

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Mask

First things first, you need a freediving mask. Low-volume freediving masks are recommended for this purpose as they differ significantly from the traditional scuba mask or snorkel mask. They’re designed to have a low internal volume, just as their name suggests, or simply put, they require less air in order to equalize the masks at depth. This means that you’ll have more air left in your lungs, thus, you’ll be able to stay longer under water and dive deeper.

Snorkel

A freediving snorkel is all about streamlining and simplicity. Scuba snorkels have different features and are significantly larger, while freediving snorkels tend to be more simple, flexible and streamlined. There’s tons of them on the market, but the truth is, snorkels will not offer you any significant performance benefits. So having that in mind, it’s best that you go for simplicity – something that fits your mouth and that’s comfortable to wear for extended periods of time.

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Wetsuit

A freediving wetsuit is significantly different than a scuba wetsuit. The major difference is that a freediving wetsuit will be open-cell neoprene, comprised of two pieces without zippers. It is warmer, more comfortable, stretchier and more durable, which is really important when freediving. It increases your lungs capacity, allows you to stay in the water longer, and helps with slowing down your heart rate.

Fins

When using freediving fins you need to minimize oxygen consumption and maximize movement. For this reason, freediving fins are longer and often stiffer. The material used for their creation should play a major role in your choice. The most commonly used materials are plastic, fiberglass and carbon. Plastic is a decent choice for beginners and it is relatively cheap. Fiberglass and carbon are slightly more expensive but are also tougher and of higher quality.