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TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2019!

29/6/2019

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We are super pleased to announce that One Breath Freediving has been awarded the Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence for 2019 - the second year running!
A big thank you to all freedivers and customers that have dived with us, past and present. We could not have done it without you!
David
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Freediving Comino Wreck: P-31

18/6/2019

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By David Watson, AIDA & PADI Master Freediver Instructor and Owner & Founder at One Breath Freediving, based in Malta
Freediving in the Maltese Islands has lots of wonderful features that make it spectacular; the stunning underwater visibility of up to 40m, the cliffs and caves that are prevalent across the islands, the deep blue colour of the water that is unique to the Mediterranean Sea. But one thing that really draws freedivers to Malta is the chance to dive on ship wrecks. Malta has a LOT of wrecks, some sunk by nature (storms), by humans (wars), or on purpose to create artificial reefs. The P-31 wreck falls into the latter category.
P-31 History & Key Information:
  • ​A former East German Kondor class mine sweeper built in 1960’s
  • Purchased by Malta in 1992 (along with P-29 & P-30)
  • Decommissioned in 2004
  • Sank 24th August 2009
  • 52m long, 7m wide, weighing 360 tons
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Since being purchased by the Maltese Tourism Authority and sank as an artificial reef attraction for divers, the P-31 now sits upright on the sandy seabed West of Comino( just South of Blue Lagoon and just West of Crystal Lagoon), approximately 200m from shore. The depth on the bottom here is 20m and the top of the wreck is at just 10m deep. In fact the P-31 sits so shallow that it was necessary to cut off the mast of the ship before sinking her so as not to obstruct boat traffic. The wreck can often be seen clearly from the surface when you arrive by boat and I have even seen it occasionally from out of the airplane window when arriving or leaving Malta on certain days! In the summer months you will see a yellow ‘X’ marker buoy above to indicate the wrecks position.
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Since her sinking, the P-31 has had to weather some rough storms as the prevailing winds on the islands are from a NW direction and sitting this shallow in the water means that waves and swell have had an impact, but considering that she has been underwater for 10 years already the wreck is still in very good condition. Before sinking she was thoroughly cleaned and made safe for divers. This means doors and hatches were removed and obstructions such fixtures, wires and cables were cleared out. There are a number of levels to explore and for a freediver it is normally clear and obvious which direction it is possible and safe to go in.
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​Specific Tips for Freediving The P-31 wreck:

  • Be careful of scuba divers! Sometimes there can be large groups of beginners on the wreck and they can block or obstruct exit points. Also, the wall of bubbles they release can hinder the view from a buddies perspective.
  • Check overhead and around you as sometimes there are still a few stray cables or pieces of metal jutting out or hanging loose. Mind not to cut your hands or catch your wetsuit on any sharp edges.
  • The large hatches (what would have been engine compartments) towards the centre and rear of the ship are open and linked together.
  • Surface close to your freediving buoy and display either the ‘diver down’ or ‘alpha’ flag (or both!), to signify that divers are in the water. Ideally, also have someone on the surface watching boat traffic that can warn or issue instructions.
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5 Essential Tips for Wreck Freediving:
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  1. Take a Freediving Course: Knowing how to breathe correctly, having efficient technique, and knowing your body and understanding safety and how to rescue correctly will all make you a better, safer and more confident freediver.
  2. Be a Good Buddy: Always freedive with a buddy, never freedive alone. This is the golden rule of freediving! And, watch your buddies dive attentively from the surface and then meet them at a depth of 10m as they return back to the surface.
  3. Do Your Research: Make a plan before you enter the water and discuss and adapt it during the session when necessary. Know what each other is doing and where you are going. Know the wreck: study photos, ask other divers. Is it safe? Look closely first from the outside and never go in anywhere where there is no clear and obvious exit
  4. Use Suitable Equipment: Use a freediving buoy and rope, that way you can relax and breathe safely before and after the dive, boat traffic can clearly see you, and you can get down to the wreck using Free Immersion and therefore save energy to explore the wreck with a longer bottom time. Also recommend is a torch to look into darker corners and a knife or line cutters in case or accidental entaglement.
  5. Have Fun! Freediving a wreck can be fascinating and exciting with so much to explore and discover. There really is something special about seeing close up some huge manmade structure out of its element and deep in the blue water.

Lastly, please remember, freediving, and especially wreck freediving, can be DANGEROUS. Always freedive with a buddy, never push your limits or enter enclosed spaces with no clear or obvious exit. Please take a freediving course for your own safety and that of your buddy.
Interested in wreck freediving? Then subscribe to One Breath Freediving and follow our ‘Wrecks of Malta’ video series! Speak to David about freediving courses and wreck exploration possibilities.
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www.youtube.com/user/onebreathfreediving
www.onebreathfreediving.com
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AIDA Monofin Course: Training Drill

16/4/2019

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Monofin Training Drill:
Here Jose is using a kick board to help stabilise the upper body and a front snorkel to allow him to breath during the training exercise. This takes away the 'apnea' element away from this particular drill and allows him to focus on technique over breath hold while he adjusts to using the full sized monofin.

​How do you think he is doing?
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Freefall Feeling.....

6/12/2018

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The freefall can be one of the nicest aspects of depth freediving. The moment on the descent when you become 'negatively buoyant' and start to sink independently of effort. This of course has it's advantages, most prominently; saving energy (and therefore oxygen) and aiding relaxation (saving oxygen and facilitating ear equalisation).
So what is involved in a good freefall? Let's take a look:
  • Correct weight: This allolws you to stop kicking at the correct point of the dive to start the freefall. Too light and you wont freefall early enough. Too heavy and you will waste energy on the ascent.
  • Body position: Tucked in (elbows and knees), legs together, looking ahead (not down), and relaxed shoulders and neck.
  • Equalisation: Remember to equalise! Use the movement of the lanyard or your fingers on the line to help judge the speed you are falling. Equalise frequently and before pressure is felt.
  • Turn: With the correct hand position to turn, the momentum of the freefall can mean very little effort is needed to make a smooth turn at the bottom of the dive.
  • .....and not forgetting..... The Way up!: Using POSITIVE buoyancy to finish your dive by stopping kicking in the last 3-8m  before the surface.
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Why Train?

24/3/2018

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Imagine the scanario:
You successfully complete your first course in freediving, you loved the experience and can't wait for your next chance to dive down to 20m. Six months later, on your next holiday, you excitedly sign up for a freediving excursion to eplore the local reef, but it all seems harder this time, you are less relaxed, the breath hold is shorter, you forget how that whole equalisation thing works again....
Or
You are an Advanced Freediver, 'did the course got the card!'. You are more confident with your technique, happier holding your breath but you are turning at the same depth on every...single...dive and can't figure out how to get past this invisible obsticle that is holding you back......
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The Solution:
Training and coaching sessions!
Taking training sessions or a one-to-one coaching session with an experienced instructor can give invaluable feedback on your dive preparation and technique, give you new solutions to problems, give you feedback on your dives and give you the tools to perform at your best. For more experienced freedivers, coaching could help you overcome a plateau in your performance or open up new depths with easier equalisation methods, for beginners it could help refine your technique and increase your comfort and time underwater.

Freediving is a SPORT (unlike some other underwater activities that shall remain nameless :)), with strong mental and physical components and a high emphasis on technique. So to improve and achieve personal gains you need to practice and train yourself. Repetition and consistencey  are vital to see improvments in performance, there is no way around that. Remember, if it was easy and came with no real effort it would not be half as satisfying to reach new depths or times!

"Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect." 
- Vince Lombardi

+++ Training and Coaching sessions are available year round for certified freedivers. David is an experienced AIDA & PADI freediving instructor with additional qualifications in Sport & Exercise Science and Personal Training. +++
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AIDA Monofin Course

6/11/2017

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Courses running regularly, enquire to reserve your place and set free your inner dolphin!
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Video: Cirkewwa Fun Dive

8/9/2017

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Scuba Diver to Freediver Pt.3

10/1/2017

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Day 1
There was a total of 3 of us doing the course, so after we did our introductions we started on some classroom work.  We also practiced the correct technique for ear equalizing and did some timed breath holds.  Around midday we went to Malta's national pool to do the required 40m underwater swim.  This is called Dynamic Apnea and the main points of this involved correct weight and buoyency, pushing off from the side of the pool and doing the first arm stroke, turning at the other end of the pool and getting to 40m.  All these parts were covered in detail and we practiced our techniques until we were ready for the 40m.  Rescue diver procedures were also taught and practiced during this pool session.
After the pool we went back to the classroom for the final theory for day 1 and briefly went over what the plan is for the second day.

Day 2
After a brief classroom session we entered the very calm water of Cirkewwa and setup the buoys in 20m deep water.  First we practiced Free Immersion where you pull yourself down the rope.  There were a few things to get right, such as relaxation, initial accent technique, then equalising and pulling yourself down the line.
After this session we went onto constant weight where we used fins and the correct technique to efficient finning. The AIDA2 course requires a dive of 16m-20m.
The day was very calm and relaxed and this was clearly a major part of freediving. Not pressure or stress to get things done, take your time.

Day 3

We met at the dive centre and had a quick briefing for the day's events.  First off was the static apnea discipline at a sheltered area near Bugibba. To pass the course a 2 minute breath hold was required.  I managed 3 minutes and felt like I could manage a few more seconds, but I was more than happy with myself achieving this time.  We also had a go at being the coach.  This involved steadying the person, timing, communication and watching for signals.
Next up was a trip to Cirkewwa again for the final open water dives before the exam. We did the constant weight again, like on day 2, but a little deeper and also practiced using a lanyard to keep you secured to the line as well as being a rescue diver who meets the other diver half way.  With all the open water requirements completed we all headed to the classroom for the written exam.

My Final Points From a SCUBA Diving Background.
Very interesting learning about ears, equalising, lungs in lots more detail.
Knowledge of what's involved in freediving will allow me to be more aware of freedivers when I'm scuba diving.
Being relaxed is very important.
Finding a competent buddy you can trust.  This must work both ways.
Learning what your body and mind is really capable of.

Overall the course was very enjoyable.  David, the instructor was very informative and knowledgable. Detailed instructions and techniques were demonstrated and personal feedback was given throughout the day.
The 3 full days were good fun, calm, knowledgable and were the ideal environment for pushing your mental boundaries to an area it's difficult to imagine before the course.


AIDA2 requirements:
Static:  2 minutes.  I managed 3 minutes.  (Holding breath floating on surface)
Dynamic:  40m. I managed 40m on my second attempt.  (In swimming pool).
Constant Weight:  16m.  My maximum depth was 20m.
The exam was a mix of multiple choice as well as full answers and was straight forward if you followed the manual and classroom ok.
here to edit.
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Scuba Diver to Freediver: Pt.2

28/11/2016

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​The last few weeks I've been practicing my breathing with an app called STAmina. I was advised to follow the CO2 breathing sequence which will help build up resistance to the bodies natural warning of CO2 build up. I started on the app with 0:45 second breath holds, 1:00 minute breath holds, then worked up to 1:25. My breath holds are currently 1:25 and breathing sections starting from 1:30 and decreasing by 5 seconds to 0:55. It's 8 cycles and the total time of the exercise is 20 minutes.

One thing I noticed was that it was important to be relaxed with no interruptions. If I got interrupted then even at the first 15 seconds of my breath hold I'm thinking that I won't manage it, and towards the end of the hold it was starting to become uncomfortable. I had the app setup to beep every 15 seconds which seemed to help really well, as its difficult to judge how much time has passed. I've notice in the past that it can sometimes be difficult to judge time when relaxed. It currently feels good to know the elapsed time, but I can also see how it could be off putting as well.

In a few days I'll be in Malta with One Breath Freediving. So I need to keep up my breathing exercises and finish the last few pages of the AIDA2 manual.

Before doing any training I thought I may be able to hold my breath for 1 minute. But following the course manual and the breathing app I've surprised myself that I can do 8 cycles of 1:25 breath holds.

I'm a bit nervous about some aspects of the course. As a scuba diver I know I'm more comfortable and relaxed when under the water, rather than on the surface, so I'm currently wondering how well I'll be able to relax on the surface. I think of the transition between the surface and underwater to be the risky area when scuba diving..... probably due to possible kit issues rather than physical ability. Also, on the surface I feel more exposed and vulnerable and this only seems to be the case in the sea. Once under the water it's peaceful and calm.

Another issues is the feeling of being underwater on just a breath hold. Being at 15m without an air supply is very dangerous situation when scuba diving but is perfectly normal and safe when freediving. Although I held my breath when in a pool or snorkelling in the sea and felt ok
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Scuba Diver to Freediver: Pt 1.

10/8/2016

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Welcome to a series of new blog posts where we follow the experience of a scuba diver as he learns to freedive properly for the first time!
Here is part one:

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I started scuba diving in September 2011 and have done 400 dives. I've completed the PADI divemaster qualification as well as the SDI Solo diver, PADI tec 40 and I'm currently studying for Tec 45. 

I like to learn from every dive and always look at ways to improve. I'm currently working on kit configuration and practising technical diving  procedures and methods.  I've thought about doing a freediving course for the last 2 years, although I've not taken it any further than that.... until now. In about six weeks I'll be doing my AIDA2 with One Breath Freediving in Malta.

A couple of days ago I went to my local 6m deep pool where I was able to prepare for the course.  I just wanted to practice The Frenzel Maneuver for equalising.  This is how I equalise when scuba diving, but when scuba diving the decent rate is a lot slower and I'm horizontal, not head first.
After 15 minutes in the pool the equalising was going well and towards of the session I could manage 30-40 seconds under water.  This was without knowing any relaxation, breathing techniques or how to efficiently duck dive. At this point I hadn't read anything about freediving. I used a 5mm wetsuit, 3kg weights, scuba fins and mask.

Over the next few weeks I'm going to be studying the AIDA2 manual and spend some time practising breathing and relaxation. I'll update my experiences here in a couple of weeks while I progress through the freediving manual.

​- IAN

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