Freediving Explained
The benefits, styles, courses and 2025 Freediving world records
Freediving isn’t just a sport; it’s a plunge into a world of wonder and breath-taking apnea adventures. But before you embark on your aquatic odyssey, let’s unravel what Freediving is, the different disciplines, how it’s good for you and some of the deepest Freediving world records to date.
- What is Freediving
- Scuba diving vs. Freediving
- Is Freediving good for you?
- Different Types of Freediving Disciplines
- Freediving Equipment
- Compare courses and certifications
- Competitive diving
- Freediving World Records
1. What is Freediving, Anyway?
It’s likely the most calm ‘extreme sport.’ And in all honesty, this classification doesn’t align with the experience of Freediving in the slightest.
It’s all about holding your breath (without breathing apparatus) and exploring submersion in the most blissful and calm state of being.
Freediving is a one-breath-wonder! It’s the fine-tuned mastery of your breath, your lungs, your mind and overall Freediving-specific techniques.
In the words of Natalia Molchanova, “Freediving is not only a sport, it’s a way to understand who we are”.
2. Scuba vs. Freediving
The very basic but essential difference between scuba diving and freediving:
3. Is Freediving Good for You?
This isn’t just a thrill-seeker’s dream; it’s an activity accessible to almost anyone. Broadly, if you can swim, you can learn to Freedive. It’s a great way to improve your lung capacity, enhance your fitness, and develop a strong mind-body connection. Plus, it’s eco-friendly and requires less equipment than other water activities making it the perfect travel adventure.
4. The Types of Freediving Disciplines
Freediving courses provide a unique set of skills helping you to master your breath, your mind, and adapt your physiology to dive comfortably and safely; exploring the underwater world safely with trained dive buddies.
OPEN WATER FREEDIVING
Refers to depth diving, where you train for depths along a line (submerged rope).
DYNAMIC FREEDIVING
These disciplines take place in the pool (or confined water) and include:
- Static: remaining relaxed on the surface, with your face submerged, focusing on your breath-hold time
- Dynamic: swimming a set distance underwater while maintaining your technique and position, increasing your distance over time
5. Equipment
Beyond your lungs, you’ll need a mask and snorkel, wetsuit, weight belt and weights, and nice long freediving fins; equipment is usually available for hire when attending a course. As you progress, you tend to accumulate specialised gear to optimise your performance and efficiency in the water.
6. Compare Freediving Courses and Certifications
We contacted the leading organisations around the world to help you choose which Freediving agency, course and certification is right for you. Head to our Agency and Course Comparison here; whether you want to dive for fun or break world records.
7. Competitive Freediving
If you’re up for the ultimate challenge, competitive Freediving courses offer comprehensive specialised training for increased breath holds, distances and deep Freediving. These certifications are only offered by certain Agencies and operators, preparing you to explore depths, durations and distances that were once perceived to be beyond human limits.
8. 2025 Freediving World Records; AIDA females and males
POOL WORLD RECORDS
- Static – Breath hold times: 9 min 07 sec Heike Schwerdtner | 11 min 35 sec Stéphane Mifsud.
- Dynamic without Fins – Distances: 213m / 699ft Julia Kozerska | 250m / 820ft Mateusz Malina.
- Dynamic Bifin – Distances: 243m / 797ft Magdalena Solich | 290m / 951m Mateusz Malina.
- Dynamic – Distances: 277m / 908ft Magdalena Solich-Talanda | 307m / 1007ft Ming William Joy Jin.
DEPTH WORLD RECORDS
- Constant Weight without Fins – Depths: 84m / 275ft Kateryna Sadurska | 102m / 335ft William Trubridge.
- Free Immersion – Depths: 102m / 335ft Fatima Korok | 127m / 442ft Petar Klovar.
- Constant Weight Bifin – Depths: 111m / 364ft Alenka Artnik | 125m / 410ft Alexey Molchanov.
- Constant Weight – Depths: 123m / 404ft Alessia Zecchini | 136m (446ft) Alexey Molchanov.
Take the Plunge
Freediving is a one-breath-wonder! It’s the fine-tuned mastery of your breathing, your physiology, you mind and overall technique. Simultaneously, you get to break free from the constraints of the surface world, slipping beneath the water to experience a sense of liberation that’s hard to express with words. It’s like a dance between you and another world, a place where time stands still.
Strap on those freediving fins and prepare for a journey to depths you won’t soon forget.
Find your nearest centre with Freedive Adventures!
