CEBU CITY, Philippines— Hold your breath, pinch your nose to equalize, and dive deeper into the blue. Welcome to the world of freediving.
Freediving is a sport that pushes people to test their limits, whether it’s facing the fear of the deep or discovering how far they can go underwater without a breathing apparatus.
Marion Sumalinog, Cebuano freediver and instructor and a national record holder in the male division for constant weight with a record depth of 92 meters, told CDN Digital that freediving is both a competitive and recreational sport.
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Sumalinog said that one would need not be a good swimmer to learn or try freediving.
“Ang skills nga kinahanglan sa (The skills needed in) freedive is at least you have tried snorkeling with or without a life vest,” he said.
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While knowing how to swim is a plus, it is not necessarily a requirement for freediving.
In freediving, holding your breath, staying calm, and listening to your instructor or guide are among the essential things one should learn.
Sumalinog also sets expectations for beginners and even seasoned freedivers, saying that the fear of being in the water never truly goes away.
“We manage their expectations that fear of being in the water will not really go away,” he added.
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But once you get used to diving, you eventually learn how to manage fear and react calmly during moments of panic.
The fear slowly fades into a feeling of something calm and liberating. Going as deep as you can while the world suddenly is on mute, nothing to think about, but being away from the chaos on the surface, and enjoying the embrace of the ocean– freediving is also very freeing.
Without a breathing apparatus, a freediver heavily relies on their own body, along with equipment such as fins, a diving mask, a diving belt, a wetsuit or rash guard, and a buoy.
Freediving is more than diving deep; it’s about trusting yourself beneath the surface. Ready to take the plunge? Learn the basics and explore beyond your comfort zone.
