Freediving Noob

[LanceW]

Hi. I've never done any diving. I've snorkeled a bit and surfed and swam in the ocean a lot. I was hoping to hook up with someone or multiple people to learn, train and do free diving. I was hoping someone(s) could point me in the right direction on getting started and doing it. Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

P.S.-- If none of y'all have seen this, it's pretty sweet (in my opinion):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if2jIqgkGnM

Lance

[Joshua Smith]

Hey, Lance- welcome to the site! Strangely, I don't think I know any actual freedivers....you hear about them around here once in a while. Maybe someone who knows someone will chime in?

[selkie]

A friend of mine took a class from these people in Vancouver BC and liked it. http://www.performancefreediving.com/home/

[WASP7000]

Freedivers aren't welcome here...bubblemakers only (with the exception of you rebreather divers).

Nah just kidding. I would love to try freediving, but I have one problem, I can't hold my breath for longer than maybe a minute. How do those guys get past that?

Lance, take a few minutes to fill out your profile so we all know where you're from. Are you a speafisher? It seems like spearboard.com is a good place to find people that freedive because i think most freedivers are spearfishers. I've seen a few guys on that board from down in Oregon that freedive.

[Jaksonbrown]

Check out the Bottom Sounders of Washington State- Washington Freediving and Spearfishing Association (WFSA). The local freediving organization around here...

http://dir.groups.yahoo.com/group/Botto ... =dir&slk=3

[spatz84]

Free diving in the PCNW, can you do that in a dry suit? I have alwaysa wonderd if they hold on to a rock or something to get down to depth and then just do a slow ascent or something, anyways welcome to the club

S.

[WASP7000]

I've heard it's a no go on the drysuit. Too uncomfortable because of the squeeze at depth. Most guys use open cell neoprene wetsuits I think.

[airsix]

I've heard it's a no go on the drysuit. Too uncomfortable because of the squeeze at depth. Most guys use open cell neoprene wetsuits I think.

When I was a teen I free-dived my drysuit to between 45-50ft a couple of times. I don't recommend it. Get a proper wet suit. And fins. And training. I'm not a freediver, but I am intrigued by it.

[spatz84]

even with a wet suit i would think that the added bouyancy would cause some real difficulties with decent. I mean it would seem fine in warm water locals where shorts and a bodyglove will do you fine but around here? I don't know.

[WASP7000]

Guys down in Oregon do it with 7 mil wetsuits and a weightbelt...

[airsix]

even with a wet suit i would think that the added bouyancy would cause some real difficulties with decent. I mean it would seem fine in warm water locals where shorts and a bodyglove will do you fine but around here? I don't know.

Definitely have to wear a weight belt.

[whatevah]

Locally I've used a 7mm full suit and 7mm step-in shorty over the top. I wear an 18lb belt - have to work a little to get down but once past 30ft or so I get negative very fast - then I have to work to come back up