Free Diving : How Long Can You Hold Your Breath?

I have been swimming very frequent, like 3 times a week for 1 hour each time. I used to swim 4 times a week to train for Everest Base Camp. I cut down to 3 times because I cannot bear to suffocate my body with chlorine. I can swim freestyle with less difficulty. I won't say at ease because many of the veterans in the swimming pool have commented that I need to improve on my stroke. I swim so much that sometimes, I get bored with swimming. So, I venture into water activities. Early this year, I did scuba diving in Pulau Tioman. Recently, I tried something new - Free diving.  

11052014 - I knew a new friend whom I met in Gua Tempurung. He asked about my diving experience when he saw my profile photo in Whatsapp - me in a wetsuit showing the OK sign in the waters. Then, he tells me of free diving. I thought it was diving for free! And then, he said it is to dive without the equipment. It piqued my interest. So, we stayed in touch and I enrolled for the course organised by Dolphin Lee in Klang Executive Club. It was here I know of mermaids! I am contemplating to try to be one. There were 3 of us in the course, and a Richard Wonka from AIDA International who flew in from Phuket came to teach us. I paid RM600 for AIDA 2 Course which is confined water dive. It is a 2-day course.

On the first day, we had a classroom course where Richard taught us on the basics of freediving. I was a bit confused initially but the information slowly sunk in. On the second day, we went into the pool, and learnt 2 things - static and dynamic apnea. Apnea means to not breathe. For static apnea, one holds the breath without moving, and the maximum I did was 2 minutes 10 seconds. For dynamic apnea, one has to dive underwater and swim for a minimum of 40meters. I did 40 meters. There was an exam after using the pool. I passed the exams, which has both objective and subjective. It was really difficult trying to write answers, plus the fact I have not used a pen or pencil for a long time. To pass the pool exams, one has to do static apnea for a minimum of 2 minutes and dynamic apnea for a minimum of 40 meters, pass the rescuing, buddying and fining. I did not make it on the fining. So I have to retake soon. I got AIDA 1. But that is not enough! I came for AIDA 2 and I will get the certification.

There were no photos of me in my first time doing free diving. But subsequently, I have been visiting the Shah Alam Aquatic Pool every weekend since then to practise. You can see my photos in Shah Alam Aquatic Pool.

25052014 - Me in action doing dynamic apnea in Shah Alam Aquatic Centre. My buddy took my video to show how bad I was. Haha! After seeing the video, I finally understood what was my mistake and improved.

Then, I practised on my duck dive. Initially, I was doing more of a chicken dive, where I did not straighten my legs right after bending down. So, now I am getting better. I think.

It was a scary feeling when I learnt freediving. Holding your breath underwater. Practising on my breathing skills. Eventually, I have to learn how to dive deeper and equalise. I hope to get this certification.

Once upon a time, being in the water scares me. I was afraid because I could not tread water. I disliked swimming. But I learnt in my teens because everyone was swimming. Today, I still cannot tread that well. Haha. But I have built my confidence in the water.