Freitaucher

Freitaucher, or freediver, is a person who dives underwater without the use of breathing apparatus, relying on breath-hold. Freediving is practiced for recreation, sport, and professional purposes such as scientific research, rescue, or spear-fishing. Techniques emphasize efficient air management, buoyancy control, and safe ascent.

Competitive freediving includes several disciplines: constant weight (CWT) where descent and ascent are made with fins and without pulling a rope; free immersion (FIM) using rope to descend and ascend; dynamic apnea, with or without fins, measured horizontally underwater; static apnea, breath-hold test on the surface.

Training and safety: Acquiring breath-hold tolerance, equalization, and depth technique involves progressive sessions, dry land exercises, and coaching. Divers typically train with a partner, use a dive line, and carry gauges or dive computers. The risk of hypoxia and shallow-water blackout makes safety protocols essential.

Physiology and equipment: The mammalian dive reflex, lung and chest elasticity, and spleen contraction contribute to performance. Typical equipment includes a mask, snorkel, fins or a monofin, a wetsuit or skin, weights, and a dive computer or depth gauge. Some disciplines restrict equipment to fins or no fins.

History and notable figures: Freediving has roots in ancient diving cultures. In the 20th century, explorers Jacques Mayol and Enzo Maiorca popularized the sport. In recent decades, athletes such as Herbert Nitsch, Natalia Molchanova, Alexey Molchanov, and William Trubridge have set records and advanced techniques. Records are maintained by organizations such as AIDA International and CMAS.