Freediving is a ton of fun! It’s a progression from snorkeling where you start taking drops below the surface. Like most ocean activities, freediving is inherently dangerous, so it’s crucial to know your limits, dive with a buddy, and ensure ocean conditions are suitable for swimming.
The best way to ensure your safety while learning to freedive is to work with a certified instructor. They will gradually guide you through a progression of diving skills that follow the sport’s best practices.
As someone who grew up surfing, swimming, snorkeling, and paddling, I did not follow the recommended path to becoming a freediver. However, my experience in the water and dives with expert spearfishermen have helped me develop solid ocean awareness.
Recently, I coached two summer interns in freediving. Over three one-hour sessions, they went from being unable to use their masks comfortably in a pool to diving to depths of 20 feet in the ocean. Reflecting on our time together, I thought it would be helpful to share what we learned with others.
Assess Whether You’re Ready for Deeper Dives
Start With a Swim Test
Before you proceed, assess your ability to swim in open water. Can you handle currents and waves?
Ocean conditions can change quickly and produce varying degrees of power. You should be prepared to swim in conditions more intense than expected in case the ocean changes unfavorably while you’re in the water.
Freediving also depends on your ability to navigate to a waypoint, especially when entering the water from shore. You need to be able to swim confidently in the open ocean before taking up freediving.
If you’ve already built decent endurance by swimming laps in a pool and are ready to sharpen your open-water skills, I recommend starting in protected bays. This will expose you to moderate wave energy and help you become comfortable with the uncertainty of open water before traveling farther offshore.
Master the Mask and Snorkel
You’ll need to create a good seal around your eyes and nose so you can explore the ocean without constantly adjusting your mask.
When you first use your own mask, spend five minutes in shallow water adjusting the strap until you find the right fit. You want it tight enough to maintain the seal, but not so tight that the pressure around your head gives you a headache.
Fasten the snorkel to the mask so it stays high and close to your face while swimming. The snorkel should be positioned so water does not easily enter while you are looking at the ocean floor.
Keeping your mask from fogging is an important skill. If you cannot see without constantly managing fog, it becomes difficult to enjoy a dive.
New masks sometimes need to be treated with heat to remove residue left from production. You can also use a defogging solution to create a coating on the glass that helps prevent condensation. Stream2Sea works best for me.
Keep your mask clean and avoid touching the inside of the lens with your bare hands. Oils from your skin can compromise the effectiveness of the defogging treatment.
Breathing with your face in the water is trickier than many people expect. You must breathe through your mouth and avoid breathing through your nose, which takes practice.
You’ll also need to practice clearing water from your snorkel. Waves can cause seawater to enter the snorkel and reach your mouth. Do not swallow it. Instead, use the air remaining in your lungs to blow forcefully through your mouth and push the water out of the snorkel.
Practice clearing your snorkel in a pool or shallow water. Once you get the hang of it, you can continue enjoying the underwater view without constantly removing your snorkel to drain it.
Gear Up
Once you commit to learning how to freedive, your first stop should be a local dive shop.
Here’s a basic equipment checklist:
- Mask
- Snorkel
- Wetsuit—in Hawaii, I recommend 1–2 mm
- Weight belt
- Weights
- Fins
- Neoprene socks
- Mask defog
- Gloves
- Buoy
- Buoy flag
- Floatline
- Buoy weight
You should expect to spend at least $300. You do not need top-of-the-line gear, and you can save money by purchasing used equipment.
We recommend visiting your local dive shop for advice on the best gear for your size and diving style. You can also ask about renting equipment so you can learn what works best before fully investing.
Practice Diving Skills in Shallow Water
Before taking deeper dives in the ocean, practice your skills and test your equipment in shallow water.
At this stage, you should always have a buddy actively watching you whenever you hold your breath. Blackouts caused by a lack of oxygen can happen in shallow water too.
There are a few essential skills you should become comfortable with before entering deeper water.
Equalize Your Ears
As you dive, increasing water pressure can quickly create discomfort in your eardrums. Divers balance this pressure by equalizing their ears as they descend.
To practice equalizing:
- Remove the snorkel from your mouth and close your mouth.
- Pinch your nose so air cannot escape.
- Blow lightly and steadily into your closed nose until you feel your ears equalize.
- If you feel pain or cannot equalize, stop descending and return to the surface.
- At the surface, breathe normally.
It’s natural for your cheeks to puff out while equalizing, and it’s normal to struggle at first. Everyone’s Eustachian tubes—the passages connecting the ears and throat—are different. Practice will help.
Tip: Equalize early and often. You can even practice this skill on land.
Choose the Right Amount of Weight
You want enough weight to descend without too much effort, but not so much that you must fight to remain afloat.
As a general rule, if you are not wearing neoprene—which is positively buoyant and makes you float—you may not need additional weight. You should be able to float naturally at the surface while inhaling.
Whenever you use weights, wear a quick-release weight belt and make sure both you and your buddy know how to release it.
It’s All About Being Safe and Having Fun
Freediving opens up a new world of underwater exploration, but the ocean is dynamic and demands respect.
By prioritizing safety, mastering your equipment, and practicing your skills in controlled environments, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying the freedom of the water.
Stay safe, dive with a trained buddy, and enjoy every moment beneath the surface.
Additional Resources
- FreediveSafe! Freediving & Spearfishing Safety Video
- How to Stop Your Dive Mask Fogging Forever
Recommended Dive Equipment Brands
- Mask: Cressi
- Snorkel: Mares
- Fins: Seac
- Wetsuit: O’Neill—1–2 mm for Hawaii
- Weight belt: Riffe
- Weights: Any generic brand
- Neoprene socks: Akona
- Mask defog: Stream2Sea
- Gloves: Waihana
- Buoy: Riffe
- Buoy flag: Any generic brand
- Floatline: Riffe
- Buoy weight: Any generic brand