Talk to me about Free diving.

I heard is described as trying to drown yourself and then giving up but that was more related to depth free diving. It is lots of training from breath control and mental relaxation.

If you can remain calm and relaxed you put less stress on your body and can stay underwater longer.

If you realise that you are twenty feet down in a violently unforgiving environment, with no way of breathing and liable to die if you open your mouth or fail to make the surface in time then your less likely to enjoy it.

I have a friend who was a highly accomplished free diver. I get the impression he’s pleased he gave it up before he died.

That said, what you’re talking about sounds safe enough if you’re a decent swimmer and use some common sense.

One thing to bear in mind is that at depths of 30ft or so, depending on your body type, breath size and other factors, you will become negatively buoyant. If you don’t have the strength to actively swim up from there to the surface you won’t float up, you will drown.

Get it wrong and you die. Seems like loads of fun. I'll pass.

WHat J-R said... below about 10m depth you naturally start to sink, so you need to be able to actively swim against that, its a bit of an unnerving feeling.

The deepest I have gone with just a face mask, no fins, weights etc is 13m, I just wanted to see how deep I could go , I have no desire to try and go any deeper, or go that deep again.

What you're talking about though I would say is perfectly fine if you're confident in the water- which you must be other wise you wouldnt be thinking about it as long as you Stay above the point where you start to sink and you'll be fine.

Just remember to prioritise getting back to the surface over grabbing any bitey, pinchy, slimy bit of seafood that *really* doesn't want to be grabbed and will fight pincher and spiky bit to get away from you.

Cheers, 10m feels pretty deep. I had thought(/or hoped) it of more swimming over submerged rock pools in 2ish meters of water would be sufficient to catch a tasty morsel…

I had thought(/or hoped) it of more swimming over submerged rock pools in 2ish meters of water would be sufficient to catch a tasty morsel…

yep, thats just swimming/snorkelling, minimal risk there if you're a confident swimmer, just be aware of tides, waves, boats etc, ideally have someone else with you keeping an eye on you/each other.

Have a watch of The Deepest Breath  on Netflix. That'll either make you think you want a go or put you right off (like me)

There is a reason that baited creel pots are used to catch lobster. They really like to hide. I would imagine your chances of catching one on a single breath are somewhere between zero and miniscule.

Seems like loads of fun. I’ll pass out.

FTFY.

If OP wants to see how the pros do it, he should watch the 'Coral Triangle' episode of Simon Reeve's Wilderness series on BBC. 13 minutes on one breath at 20+ metres.

I can probably manage about five seconds before I panic.

You can get lobsters along a rocky shore at low tide without getting your head wet. Broom handle with a wire hook on the end to fish about under the ledges amongst the kelp. Take a measure as well to ensure you don't inadvertently take any undersizers, and don't take any carrying eggs or with soft shells.

If OP wants to see how the pros do it, he should watch the ‘Coral Triangle’ episode of Simon Reeve’s Wilderness series on BBC. 13 minutes on one breath at 20+ metres.

Yeah, that guy was incredible.

(Not Simon Reeve, the swimming guy. Simon Reeve seems pretty cool too though, to be fair)

Mask, snorkel and fins. Wetsuit acts like bouyancy and will make it harder to get off the surface.

i do it off Cornwall beaches/reefs in the summer but rarely go deeper than 3/4m down. Not bothered about catching anything to eat, it’s just a whole different world to explore.

You have zero chance of catching a lobster free diving. They are a bugger to get even when scuba diving.

They hide in crevices and under ledges.

If you chance upon in the open, they can scarper very quickly using their tail to swim backwards very quickly.

Even with just a 3mm wetsuit on, you would struggle dive at all without weights.

I would imagine your chances of catching one on a single breath are somewhere between zero and molluscule.

FTFY.

And yes, I know a lobster isn't a mollusc 😀

That pun was limpet.

You're talking about snorkeling. Freediving is related but different in that the it's the pursuit of depth, time & personal limits. If you've never been involved I'd seek proper advice on the required gear & learning some basic skills. Spearfishing is on the rise around the UK & lobsters as well as scallops can be had on breathhold. If you want to remain immersed in UK waters you'll need some gear :o) Minimum, good two piece wetsuit made out of modern neporene, mask, snorkel, shoe fins & if you want to go below the surface a weight belt and weights. A small sheath knife essential. Best advice I can give is don't do this on your own. I've bought gear from both of the following & can recommend both places.

Spearfishishing.co.uk

Spearfishing Store

If you want to take things further look up courses endorsed by AIDA. There's several in the UK.

I went Apnea Canarias

Have a watch of The Deepest Breath on Netflix. That’ll either make you think you want to die or put you right off (like me)

Ftfy

Talk to me about Free diving

there’s no adverts and exclusive content if you pay for membership

lobsters as well as scallops can be had on breathhold.

You would have to be quite an accomplished snorkeler/free diver to catch lobster.

There is no way a 1st timer will have the skill and the knowledge of where to look.

I presume it’s worth getting some Lessons / practice in a swimming pool before jumping into a sea loch.

No, I think you should be ok if you just practice holding your breath in the bath.

You’re talking about snorkeling

Wild diving surely? Even if it's only a quick dip in 50cm of water, with a mask and snorkel out of a souvenir shop, the word 'wild' adds connotations that the reality doesn't bring. And that can only be good.

A small sheath knife essential.

Tell me why. I had one when I used to dive. It never got used. (Apart from that time when I had to slit a Bond henchman's air-tube while we were invading the villain's hidden cavern. And that time with the man-eating shark.)  Mockery apart, when do you use it when snorkelling? I've never needed one, but then I've never been spearfishing. Presumably to cut line, etc. (And fight off giant morays...)

You’re talking about snorkeling

Let's be honest, he's just talking about going for a swim. This is all getting a bit out of hand...

I'm an AIDA qualified freediver, although it's been many years since I actually did it

1- the netflix documentary stuff is the 1% at the very top of the sport so don't treat that like it's normal practice, but yes it's dangerous if you don't know what you are doing

2- catching anything whether scuba or freediving is really hard. you need to know where to go, what to go for and have the right kit - plus it's an additional layer of complexity as well as the act of breathhold. even the experienced divers have days where they  come back with nothing

3- get a wetsuit that fits really snug and most importantly a well fitting mask and learn to snorkel before trying to get deeper

4- do not go deep on your own !

I can highly recommend Steve Millard - freedivers.co.uk - he really knows his stuff

I met that Tanya Streeter  once.

I once pulled myself down the mast of an inverted Wayfarer dingy - maybe 6m? I was proper panicky and not happy about it - but was quick enough to be able to feel the old root that the mast was stuck in, preventing it from coming upright, or us lowering the mast.

I think it is a thing for training, clear waters and clear heads with an understanding of risk.

If you want to forage seafood, there are lots of opportunities that do not need such deep diving...

Tell me why. I had one when I used to dive. It never got used. (Apart from that time when I had to slit a Bond henchman’s air-tube while we were invading the villain’s hidden cavern. And that time with the man-eating shark.) Mockery apart, when do you use it when snorkelling? I’ve never needed one, but then I’ve never been spearfishing. Presumably to cut line, etc. (And fight off giant morays…)

Coastal dive sites can be littered with discarded fishing line & lures. And For finishing off the fish & lobsters the OP's going to catch!

Coastal dive sites can be littered with discarded fishing line & lures. And For finishing off the fish & lobsters the OP’s going to catch!

Of course! (face palm!) It is a very long time since I did any sort of diving, and we did very few actual dives and didn't go anywhere vaguely dangerous. Or interesting! 😀

Nice job posting pictures of the bass that all look undersize - and that's ignoring the fact that you've also exceeded the daily catch limit.

Minimum Conservation Reference Size (MCRS)
The MCRS (‘minimum size’) for bass is 42cm.

You must not retain, tranship, land, transport, store, sell, display or offer for sale specimens below the MCRS, but must return them immediately to the sea.

Spear'fishers generally don't seem to give a shit in my experience.

Nice job posting pictures of the bass that all look undersize – and that’s ignoring the fact that you’ve also exceeded the daily catch limit.

I knew someone would be along :o) How many people were fishing ?

Watch Chasing Mavericks and bear in mind the person who is learning to surf Mavericks died free diving.

Why does that make the undersize fish bigger?

(I see one spear gun and one pair of feet)

Why does that make the undersize fish bigger

So what i understand is that you've decided to comment without actually knowing or establishing the facts? :o)

It's the same as we always did with a stupid modern name.

Pardon me for being dim but how do you qualify for doing something man has done for many millenium?

So what i understand is that you’ve decided to comment without actually knowing or establishing the facts?

I've caught enough bass to know what an undersize one looks like.

Anyway I'm sure there were 3 of you out and those fish are massive.

I did a PADI free diving course out in Fiji when I was there for Scuba.

It was good. Taught me a lot. Mainly that I don't want to be a free diver.

If you want to harvest seafood - try scallops.

Or just buy it fresh locally thus putting money into the local economy. Won't look as Insta but then you won't look as dead.

IDK, I'd go along with the suggestions to do a bit of snorkelling for fun (wear a dry suit in those chilly Scottish waters?) and buy some proper fishy treats at the fishmonger's or from a professional.

Or just buy it fresh locally thus putting money into the local economy. Won’t look as Insta

Tbf that comment took longer than I thought it would.

Don't you do your own car spannering? Do you not think you should use the local garage thus putting money into the local economy?