Scuba diving vs free diving certification?

[Lorenzoid]

I get it that although freediving was once a skill acquired informally, today there is formal freediving training available. But does formal freediving training really result in a "certification"--as in, a certification card? I am not a freediver and have no idea.

As a scuba diver, I know that the whole point of having a certification card is because dive businesses who take on potential liability by renting you tanks, taking you out on boats, etc. (and their insurers) want some assurance that a scuba diver has taken formal training, to use as evidence that they acted reasonably in the event that some misfortune occurs and someone tries to hold them liable for negligence. Is there an analogous demand by businesses for a freediving certification card? I suppose I can see how a boat operator who takes freedivers out might ask for some assurance of training. Does this really occur?

 

[seeker242]

I get it that although freediving was once a skill acquired informally, today there is formal freediving training available. But does formal freediving training really result in a "certification"--as in, a certification card? I am not a freediver and have no idea.

Yes, you get an actual card and there are different levels of certification also. Usually levels 1, 2 and 3 it seems.

Is there an analogous demand by businesses for a freediving certification card?

Not sure. But if you want to take level 2 course from an agency, you have to show your level 1 card. The different levels correspond to different depths mostly it seems. Although, I think the training is just mostly so you don't die. If a person with no training tries to freedive to 40m or 60m, they probably won't make it back!

 

[dmaziuk]

If a person with no training tries to freedive to 40m or 60m, they probably won't make it back!

Depends of what you mean by "no training". If you can swim in fins, you should be able to do 80 m in under a minute wearing freediving fins. If you don't have pulmonary issues you should be able to hold your breath for close to a minute without going into panic mode. So 40m should be doable with very little training.

Of course if you can't swim, or kick and hold your breath at the same time...

 

[Lorenzoid]

Not sure. But if you want to take level 2 course from an agency, you have to show your level 1 card. The different levels correspond to different depths mostly it seems. Although, I think the training is just mostly so you don't die. If a person with no training tries to freedive to 40m or 60m, they probably won't make it back!

Thanks. So it seems the "certification" to a certain level is mainly for the training agency's internal use. Doesn't really seem analogous to what we think of as a "certification" in the scuba realm.

I have no interest in freediving--it would scare the crap out of me to dive down more than 20 feet or so on a breath hold. My interest is in the philosophy of certifications. You freedivers--enjoy your sport.

 

[seeker242]

Depends of what you mean by "no training". If you can swim in fins, you should be able to do 80 m in under a minute wearing freediving fins. If you don't have pulmonary issues you should be able to hold your breath for close to a minute without going into panic mode. So 40m should be doable with very little training. Of course if you can't swim, or kick and hold your breath at the same time...

The word "should" here makes me nervous, Ha! should and maybes are never a good thing when it comes to things that could kill you. I much prefer an actual yes, rather than a maybe.

Of course if you can't swim, or kick and hold your breath at the same time...

I'm pretty sure it's a bit more complicated than that.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

Depends of what you mean by "no training". If you can swim in fins, you should be able to do 80 m in under a minute wearing freediving fins. If you don't have pulmonary issues you should be able to hold your breath for close to a minute without going into panic mode. So 40m should be doable with very little training. Of course if you can't swim, or kick and hold your breath at the same time...

Really... Anyone can just jump in and dive to 130 ft with flippers and a mask..

 

[dmaziuk]

Really... Anyone can just jump in and dive to 130 ft with flippers and a mask..

No, only those who can swim.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

No, only those who can swim.

It is much, much easier to drop to 200 ft on scuba than 40 m freediving... The fact that this is not obvious, is actually surprising.

 

[dmaziuk]

I'm pretty sure it's a bit more complicated than that.

I can do 25+ swimming horizontally, no fins. In freediving fins and no wall I can do double that easy. With a little breathing and a little weight I shouldn't have a problem going below 30.

I was a swimmer back in school and swim for exercise now, but I'm pushing 50 and I had 25+ years of smoking, sex, drugs, and rockenroll in between. Someone half my age with clean lungs should be able to do 30+ m without extensive training.

---------- Post added October 7th, 2015 at 06:39 PM ----------

It is much, much easier to drop to 200 ft on scuba than 40 m freediving... The fact that this is not obvious, is actually surprising.

See how fast you can swim in freediving fins with no gear, see how long you can hold your breath, multiply and take half of that. Do the math, you might be surprised at how deep you should be able to freedive with very little practice.

 

[seeker242]

I'm just saying I've been researching freedive training, because I want to get it, and it seems more involved than just "hold your breath and swim". Locally, 2 people have died in recent months freediving. Natalia Molchanova, a world class freediver with 41 world records, went missing on a dive a couple months ago. She was only doing a 35m dive when she disappeared. She could hold her breath for 9 minutes underwater. Her body was never recovered so nobody really knows what happened. The most decorated freediver ever, died on a 35m dive. Just sayin.