What Equipment And Techniques Do You Use?

[freedivernd]

wellllll, it's about time you got back into the sport!!

I don't know about being a "pro" .. but here's my take on equipment.

Everyone that I bring into the sport I kinda push the freediving equipment a bit more than the standard snorkel equipment.. it's kinda all the same, as you still have a mask, fins, snorkel.. but usually has to include a wetsuit and most of the time weights and a rubber weight belt.  The rubber belt is needed because as the wetsuit compresses there's no need to adjust it, plus, it usually stays put because you can stretch it on so tight across the hips/butt.

1.> mask and snorkel - low volume for freediving means that I usually grab the Cressi Minima.. but for sight seeing I sure like the Aquatics Atomic.. man that's got good glass!  spendy though...  just an old J tube for a snorkel.

2.> Fins: have to be long.. and flexible or even a mono fin.  Some say the long fins don't always work the best for surface swimming, but it doesn't bother me.
For bi-fins and for tough going abuse like rocks, rivers, currents, and whatever the cressi 2000 gara's go on first, and for deep my old sporasub pure carbons.  should be spending more time with the mono fin though for deep stuff.. some are claiming about a 1.2 to 1.3 deeper advantage for the mono.. meaning.. 65 meters with bi-fins should translate to being able to do about 80 meters with a mono.  yeah, wish that was me (those meters converted to feet is like 213.2 feet to 262.4 feet)

3.> a good idea is to get full foot fins 1 size over and then some neoprene socks of either 3mil or 5mil.. or both, one thickness for cold water and one for summer water.  then you're not dealing with zippers on boots at all (or straps on fins that can break)

4.> for floats, it depends.. sight seeing I just take the dive flag with an aluminum wrap handle wrapped with about 65 feet maybe more of about 3/16 nylon rope... but I do also have a tire tube canvas cover with zipper and pockets that's real handy for storing drinking water, camera, depth sonar, whatever, and hauling the 165' of 1/2 inch drop line and maybe 8lbs of lead or so depending.  It is nice to have something to hold onto on the surface but I weight myself or don't so I'm bouyant at the surface and can rest anytime.  I use a 14" tire tube with it.

5.> Anchor.. see #4
6.> Dive Flag.. see #4

7.>Never been to superior but I'm going there for the grandma's marathon..and some snorkeling/hiking.  I'm not running, but a daughter is.  I'm bringing 2 wetsuits.. but think it's going to take the 5mil eliossub suit to handle the cold.  I'm a proponent of the tailor made eliossub suits.. I have 3.  a 1.5 mil that I rarely use, a 3mil that I love, and a 5mil that I can't be without because of these blasted cold waters we end up diving.

those are the equipment ideas.. for technique it's equalize, equalize, equalize.. then after that's mastered.. it's a bit about holding your breath and a good surface dive.

If you want to get into the freediving a bit.. coming up in July is the 3rd annual Freedive A-palooza at Lake Wazee near Black River Falls, Wisonsin.  July 14 & 15.  There will be tons of equipment to try.. great folks from many different states, and everyone there with the same passion.  We have people there of all levels of ability.  You can learn sooooo much there plus get to see and use and try about anything that'll fit ya.. Plus, if you want to give some depths a try it's great because the buddy support is the best in the midwest.

later,
Fred  (that's gotta be the longest post I've ever put up) whuuuw!