The Fantastic World Of Freediving

For our uncertain times, it might just be the ideal sport. And it’s as simple as taking a breath, being able to swim, and believing in yourself.

- Neil Armstrong

If you’ve got these abilities, you’re ready for freediving. The silent, underwater world is for you to experience, and to go as deep as you feel comfortable with.

Being able to slip into nature, with few accessories, is the main driving force behind freediving’s surge in popularity. That, and the mental and physical challenges it can provide. You can challenge yourself and you’re in control. But you just have to relay that message to your body, as it’s screaming for oxygen while you’re metres underwater. It is meditation-meets-endurance.

As the co-owner of Zen Freediving in Singapore, Michelle, says: “Freediving incorporates mindfulness and relaxation, and can be a form of stress relief, while you’re learning a new skill at the same time. When you learn to freedive, you become more comfortable in the water and enjoy the environment.”

An old pursuit

With the rise of wellness retreats, courses and apps in recent years, it’d be easy to regard freediving as a marketing gimmick – an offshoot activity promising everything you might be seeking, from mindfulness to fitness. Freediving ticks these boxes, but its roots stretch a long way back, both historically and, believe it or not, genetically.

The Bajan people, also known as the Sea Gypsies of Malaysia, can stay underwater to hunt fish for up to five minutes at a time. There are the freediving grandmas who seek sponges and shells off Jeju Island in Korea. And there’s evidence of sponge divers going back to the time of Alexander The Great, in the 4th century BC.