At Rusty Freediving, we are one of the most trusted SSI Freediving Training Centres in Perth, Western Australia, so safety is our number one priority. Although freediving is a wonderful and unique sport that gives us better understanding of the aquatic environment, it does not come without differences to the surface world and the fact that we have less time to recover should always be a factor that is treated seriously.
From complete beginner to experienced freediver, following the important safety measures are vital in freediving responsibly and staying away from potentially life-threatening situations. Here are the ten safety tips which are fundamental safety standards for every freediver and by having these safety rules, everyone can prevent possible accidents when diving deep.
Always Dive with a Buddy
The buddy system is one of the most basic safety features in freediving. Do not freedive alone - make sure you have either a dedicated surface support person, or a buddy freediving with you Since there is safety in numbers, your buddy stands guard over you, and can help to rescue if need be, and call for emergency help. Even the most reigning champion in freediving would happily accept an extra set of eyes and hands in the water under the knowledge that the Dive-Partner might as well be saving their life one day.
Honor your boundaries
It is of utmost importance to understand one’s personal limits and stay within them. No matter how much you may see other freedivers doing it, do not be tempted into going deeper than your capacity or holding breath longer than necessary. Each person has different physical and mental abilities when it comes to freediving and therefore, staying in a zone that makes you comfortable becomes crucial. Cross the line of your own limitations and there is every possibility for you to blackout, suffer from shallow-water blackouts or any other dangerous consequences. Gauge yourself according to your present fitness level and proficiency at any given time.
Master Proper Equalization Techniques
Equalization is another basic freediving skill that can hardly be called secondary; it is an indispensable means of safety underwater. Again, the pressure on your eardrums and sinuses will start increasing, and they can even produce painful feelings of constriction if you do not equalize as you descend. If you fail in equalizing, there is a very unpleasant “ascent block” that might not allow you to get to the surface. Ensure that the different types of equalization learnt, like the Valsalva maneuver are perfected to the point of being automatic.
Stay Within No-Decompression Limits
Despite this it enrolls a constant divers’ strategy which is pretty much risky if the limit of human body is not highly respected. One of the ideas is the so-called no-decompression limit (NDL), which indicates the depth & time at which a freediver can dive and avoid such dangerous conditions as the bends – the illness caused by the expansion of gases in the tissues. Overcome your NDL and it is possible to face severe, sometimes lethal consequences such as dissolved nitrogen gas becomes a threat as pressure drops during the ascent procedure. One can only rely on dive computers or other tools to measure depth and time to assure compliance with the safety limits.
Exercise, Eat Well, and Stay Mentally Well
Freediving as a discipline depends on the strength of a person and his/her psychological condition in order not to cause harm in the process of diving. Make sure you are fit and healthy to submerge yourself, well rested, well hydrated before any extended block of diving. Do not dive if you are tired, worried, or if you have been drinking alcohol or using drugs; you will not have your normal ability to reason or to move as quickly as you should. Also, do not decouple regular freediving-specific workouts involving breath holds, swimming technique, and relaxation exercises to update your skill sets and endurance.
Understand and Monitor Environmental Conditions
Even the ocean and inland waterways are various and capricious areas of operations. It is recommended that you check the weather before entering the water and ensure that water visibility is good and current negligible, and other conditions that may be too extreme. Dynamisms in water strength, for example, current, lack of clear sight and turbulence on water surface all increase the likelihood of dangers encountered when freediving. Several times be ready to lose a dive session or start it but terminate it if the conditions are not friendly or getting worse.
Implement Proper Safety Protocols
It’s recommended that each freediving session has standard operational safety procedures right from when someone is arriving at the location to when they leave the area. This includes having surface support; having a clearly visible identifying equipment like the dive flag or buoy; having correct ascent rate, ensuring contingency measures are in place and rescue plans. Make sure you know about these precautions and nobody on your dives disagrees.
Invest in High-Quality Gear
You cannot cut corners when it comes to freediving gear and equipment as your life and safety depends on it. When equipment is deemed inferior or has not been adequately maintained, the possible dangers are extremely high. Check and see if your wetsuit, your mask, your fins and all the other accessories you will need are in perfect condition and fit you well. It may be useful to invest in a dive computer or other related monitoring equipment that should relay information on Depth, Time, and other important aspects to divers at a particular instance. It is crucial to spend a couple of minutes going through the market and find high quality gear to ensure much more protection while swimming.
Continuously Build Experience
Freediving is an intense competitive activity that demands time and some level of expertise to perfect. Therefore do not be very eager to grow up or opt for other projects that are out of your reach at the moment. It is recommended that divers slowly add hours and types of dives, making various levels and, only after the careful and thorough mastering of certain skill and type of dive, advance to the higher level of diving. This way, the more often you practice in water and use correct methods, the closer you will get to natural movements and feelings, so it is as safe as possible.
Prioritize Safety Culture
Finally, it is necessary to state that all these points contribute to the formation of a safe freediving environment, which is the backbone of freediving’s responsible approach. This means having a culture where even the least of players including the instructors, students and casual partners always put safety of the divers first. It is okay to report or intervene if ever there is a time that you feel uneasy, or know that somebody is bent on taking chances not needed.
Conclusion
Freediving is not only a very exciting method for discovering the seabed yet also an effective means of challenging human body and spirit. However, it is also a very dangerous sport and it implies the maximum precautions and adherence to the rules of the game. Thus, the number of potential dangers is maximally reduced, and only these basic safety rules are left to follow in order to fully enjoy the procedure of free immersion.
With the proper habits in place, having your ears; eyes and head tuned and most important of all your fellow freedivers’ safety at heart, you are ready to start your freediving adventure. With some practice, a lot of motivation and dedication, you can proceed and make freediving a lifetime experience.