Ep. 31 What is Freediving? | With Byron Kay from Kona Freedivers

Learn to Freedive in Kona Hawaii

What is Freediving?
Freediving is basically going underwater and hanging out. You don't need much except your body and it differs from Scuba Diving as with scuba diving you have gear and air that aids you in staying underwater longer. Over the centuries and millennia, people were free diving for food. For shellfish and sponges and utility purposes. Recently it's a more recreational activity and when you're doing it for fun, it's a little bit like snorkeling but maybe you're staying down a bit longer or going a little bit deeper using a bit nicer gear. Freediving on the coast looking at reefs and critters or deeper in the ocean and looking at whale sharks or whales and it's another tool in an aquatic person's toolbox for exploring the underwater world.

Challenges that you'll overcome in the Freediving course:

• Equalization - clearing your ears so that you can dive deeper without your eardrums exploding
• Fear or intimidation of the unknown and the depths. Water comfort is a big part. of it, if you're a surfer or a water polo player, you'll have an easier time because of your comfort in the water.
• Physical ability: the ability to listen to your body and get your body to do the things that you need to do to complete the skills and follow the techniques.

Most people don't realize how long they can hold their breath. Getting over the urge to breathe is one thing we go over in the course and how to get over the reflex of the urge to breathe. You'll learn to defeat the urge and maximize your ability to hold your breath as long as you can. You can apply the breathing techniques to your yoga, meditation practice, or your everyday life to destress.

Freediving Course | What you can expect to learn:

Level 1 freediver course is like the foundation of the house. It takes 1.5 days, with about 4 hours in the classroom going over the history, physics, physiology, technology, and the gear. Post lunch, we do practice work in the pool with breathwork and safety work.  The next day, we go into the ocean and work up to 20 meters, which is 66 feet.

Technique: Freediving is all about using your body in the most effective way and that's what the course is focused on. 

Safety: most people aren't aware of safety, and how to practice safety, and it is one of the biggest takeaways from taking the courses. It's like climbing, the higher you get the further you have to fall but with freediving, it's the opposite, where the deeper you go, the further you go from the surface and a higher likelihood that you'll run into issues should you push yourself too hard.

Gear: Choosing the right gear and how to use it. 

Leave No Trace and Responsible Recreation: What do we need to know about being good visitors to Hawaii?

• Ocean - the better thing you can do is use Reef Safe sunscreen. Even better is to wear a rash guard or something to cover your skin. You can get better protection and you don't need sunscreen or any chemicals.
• When you're in the water, don't' touch marine life
• Don't stand on the reef if you can avoid it
• Respect the ocean and be careful when you're coming in and out of the water
• Go with certified operators. Ex, we do the Manta Rays night dive, we are certified to protect the Manta Rays. They are magnificent creatures and they are a protected species.
• Choose the right operator: look for certifications and ask how they interact with resting animals. 

Where to find KonaFreedivers: Website / YouTube

Freediving movies: My Octopus teacher, The Big Blue