Blog - One Breath Freediving

Fish Profile: Mediterranean Damselfish (Chromis chromis)

27/7/2023

The Damselfish (Chromis chromis) is the most abundant fish in the Mediterranean sea and so often gets overlooked as it is just so common around us while we dive. But believe it or not this grey adult fish (left image) starts out its life as a bright, you could say 'neon', blue, when they are babies and juveniles (right image)!

Adults are 5-10cm long and have the distinctive forked tail and school around the rocky reef or sea grass from the shallows to depths of up to 30m.

A really remarkable fish (see the fascinating youtube video below). Here in Malta the babies hatch in early to mid July and then we are surrounded by these beautiful, tiny blue fish!

Adult Damselfish near common habitat of Posidonia (sea grass) meadows

Juvenile Damselfish

A very interesting video about Chromis chromis, filmed entirely while freediving:

By David Watson, Owner, Founder & Head Instructor / AIDA Instructor Trainer at One Breath Freediving

Sopras Apnea Aperta Mask: Test & Review

27/6/2023

Sopras Apnea have released a new freediving masked named 'Aperta'. I recently took it into the water to test it out on a freediving session and here are my initial conclusions:

Looks:
A very cool looking mask with a good balance between 'angular' shapes and curves (some recent masks are very harsh in their looks). The chevrons in the silicone above the nose bridge is a nice little visual touch. From the side the profile is very low volume and minimalist with a quite pointed nose pocket.

In The Water:
It has a small and light feel to it in the hands, and on the face it feels soft and comfortable. There are the small waffle patters on the nose pocket that provide a better grip for pinching during equalisation. There is a degree of flexibility at the nose bridge between the glass lenses that allow some pressure at depth to be minimised through flexion of the mask structure. Visibility is great due to large lenses for such a low volume mask.

Price:
It sits in the mid to high range in the Sopras Apnea mask range, at €45, though notably I have seen the exact same mask (no doubt from the same factory), marketed by another brand and retailed at €56! So this is a real bargain.

Final Thoughts:
A lovely low volume mask at a great price. Well worth a try if you are in the market for a new or a spare freediving mask.

Pros:
- Very low volume
- Silicone skirt is soft and comfortable
- Nice looks
- Great value

Cons:
- Nose pocket is on the narrow side

By David Watson, Owner, Founder & Head Instructor / AIDA Instructor Trainer at One Breath Freediving

5 Most Impressive Shipwrecks For Freedivers in Malta

24/5/2023

Malta has lots going for it for freediving including amazing visibility of 30m+ and impressive underwater topography including caves and caverns. One thing that always stands out to our divers visiting Malta at One Breath Freediving is the abundance and accessibility of shipwrecks available to see.

Here I have made a list of our favourite wrecks for freediving. All have been sunk on purpose as an artificial reef and diving attraction and all are in the depth range (or viewing range) of 10-20m. Next to each listing is a link that takes you to a video of the wreck on the OBF YouTube channel so you can get a better impression of the amazing experience that is wreck freediving here.

I hope you enjoy. Let us know in the comments which is your favourite wreck to freedive!

P-31 wreck is in extremely clear water and is visible from the surface

Um El Faroud being prepared for scuttling

1) Patrol Boat P-29:
LOCATION: Cirkewwa | DEPTH: 20-35m | VIDEO: HERE
Former East German patrol boat built in 1960's before being sold to the Maltese navy in 1997. Scuttled as a diving attraction in 2007. Sits in 35m of water at Cirkewwa in North Malta, this is one of the wrecks we see most as we frequently train at this location. 52m long and 8m wide and sister ship to P-31 in Comino.

HIGHLIGHT:
Seeing the dark shape below from the surface and if able to dive just to 10-15m above it, gives an amazing view of the whole ship, so perfect for new freedivers and as a first wreck.

2) Tug 2:
LOCATION: Sliema | DEPTH: 12-20m | VIDEO: HERE
A former working tug from the Valetta port, this boat was sunk in 2013 as a diving attraction and artificial reef. It is quite a swim from shore (10 min surface swim) but well worth the effort as it is a great looking wreck in a typical 'tug' form. Doors and windows are all removed to make it safe for divers to explore.

HIGHLIGHT:
Perfect depth and size for freediving on and to access safely inside. Great fun and ideal for making cool freediving videos.

3) Um El Faroud:
LOCATION: Wied Iz Zurrieq | DEPTH: 15-35m | VIDEO: HERE
This former oil tanker is an impressive 115m long and 16m wide and sits on the seabed at 35m in two parts having been broken apart in a particularly fierce storm. This part of the coast is susceptible to strong currents so this particular wreck is more suitable for advanced freedivers. If you are lucky and probably with a strong current present, you might see schooling Barracuda around the upper decks. See photo above for this ship being positioned for sinking.

HIGHLIGHT:
The pure size of this wreck is immense and amazing to see for the very first time. The propeller is very impressive if you are comfortable down at 35m.

4) Patrol Boat P-31:
LOCATION: Comino | DEPTH: 10-20m | VIDEO: HERE
This is the sister ship of the P-29 at Cirkewwa so shares the same specifications but sits shallower on a sandy bottom at 20m deep making it another wreck perfect for all levels of freediver. Scuttled in 2009 it is still in good condition as it is sheltered from the worst storms. Accessing the wreck is by boat as it lies off the uninhabited island of Comino. Beware of other boat traffic, especially in the summer months.

HIGHLIGHT:
Being able to see the whole wreck from the surface (see photo above) is amazing. So also perfect for snorkellers. Often lots of scuba divers which adds more fun with the accompanying bubbles.

5) MV Scotscraig:
LOCATION: Anchor Bay | DEPTH: 10-20m | VIDEO: HERE
This wreck has an interesting history as it was used for the Popeye movie (1980), firstly to transport the material into the secluded bay to construct the film set, and then in the movie itself. The boat is a river ferry 25m in length and relatively wide, sitting at 20m depth on a mix of rocks and seagrass. The visibility here is never great by Maltese standards (15m maybe) and it is a LONG swim (or better by kayak) just North of Anchor Bay.

HIGHLIGHT:
Not frequently dived on because of its more isolated location, so feels more of a real 'discovery' and the marine life can be more abundant because of this.

Come freediving with One Breath Freediving to see these and more wrecks in Malta. Exploring and fun freediving sessions available to already certified freedivers.
Interested in deeper and historical wrecks in Malta? At this underwater museum website you can view numerous amazing Maltese shipwrecks in a 3D interactive experience: HERE

By David Watson, Owner, Founder & Head Instructor / AIDA Instructor Trainer at One Breath Freediving

Introduction to "Relaxation" in Freediving

6/4/2023

When you are freediving, one of the most repeated terms you will hear from your instructor or coach will be "Relax". But what exactly is meant by that term in the context of freediving? What can we relax, how can we achieve a more relaxed state and why is it so important for freedivers. Lets take a look at what is involved.

People....relaxing

WHY we want to be relaxed is mainly to do with oxygen consumption, (as are most considerations in freediving). With only one full breath to take with us on our dive, our oxygen supply for that duration will always be finite. So we need to consider WHAT uses our oxygen while we dive. Movement (to a degree), is necessary, but then unnecessary movement or even muscle tension will use oxygen but with no benefit to the freediver. And just the same as unnecessary thinking and mental 'movement' will also increase oxygen consumption.

Therefore, we can break this topic into two parts; MENTAL relaxation and PHYSICAL relaxation, and look at the best measurement indicator of each. And finally the link between the two, the BREATH.

Physical Relaxation:
The human head weighs between 5-6kg and is held in place by just 7 vertebrae and around 20 muscles. The majority of the day, everyday we carry this weight around with us, but of course we get used to it so we don't think about it much (usually not until you hurt some of those vital neck muscles!).

However, in the water we have a sensation of weightlessness due to Archimedes principle which exerts an upwards force on the body. So while we have this support from the water we can totally relax our muscles secure in the knowledge that we are safe and will float. And to give in to this sensation is a really amazing feeling, and unique to us on in our gravity inflicted land living lives. We can use the sensation of floating in the water as a cue to remind us to relax the muscles of the body and just let go of the tension and float, with the head and neck being an obvious place to start (and easy place to spot by the instructor if not relaxed).

You can easily experiment yourself with feeling the difference between muscle tension and muscle relaxation by trying 'Progressive Muscle Relaxation'. That is, tensing and releasing specific muscles in isolation to feel the difference between the two states.

Mental Relaxation:
'Mind Chatter' can be characterised as that voice in our head that pops up intermittantly to say various things throughout a given day, the majority of which are not vital or important at that particular moment. And also, if we are worried or scared or distracted then this chatter can often be negative in its content, causing us increased anxiety or stress.

In isolation, the human brain uses 20-25% of the oxygen in the body and this amount can even increase up to 50% if we are thinking heavily or of complex matters! This is an amazing amount, so it is clear that if we can empty our mind of unnecessary thinking it is a great way to save oxygen. This brings us to meditation and mindfulness, a state where we are aware of what thoughts pop up into our mind and we can dismiss them before they take over our thinking. In fact freediving is often referred to as 'underwater meditation. Even using a Mantra (as used in yoga), which can be a word or a phrase repeated over and over to aid focus and concentration as well as positively reinforcing our state of mental relaxation.

Breathing for Relaxation:
What can we do to bridge the physical and mental aspects of relaxation? This brings us to our breathing. And the most important way we can prepare for the freediving breath-hold and prepares us both physically and mentally for the dive ahead.

Breathing is something we do automatically without thinking about, but we can over-ride and control it if desired, with the benefit of doing that with the goal of relaxation is that by slowing breathing down, we can also slow the heart rate, save oxygen and feel even greater relaxation, ready to dive. As you can see this becomes a positive, repeating cycle.

Effective breathing preparation for freediving uses tidal volume breaths (relaxed and not full, in and out), but slower and a little deeper than our usual chest breathing. We want to utilise the diaphragm (the main breathing muscle), and use pauses between inhale and exhale to emphasise the slower speed through this control and therefore an increase in relaxation.

This is what is taught on first level freediving courses and is used by recreational freedivers and competitive freedivers alike, as a way to switch into 'dive mode', effectively linking both physical and mental relaxation for successful freedives.

By David Watson, Owner, Founder & Head Instructor / AIDA Instructor Trainer at One Breath Freediving

5 Ways to Prepare for Your First Freediving Course

9/3/2023

This is one of the main questions that I get asked by potential freediving students. Before taking your first ever freediving course it is difficult to imagine exactly what to expect from it, however, by preparing a little bit before the course, it can really make a difference on how successful you will be with it and how much you will enjoy freediving and the whole course experience.
So here are the 5 best ways to prepare for your AIDA2 Freediver course (and can also be applicable to AIDA1 Introduction to Freediving too):

1). Learn to Swim / Practice Swimming:
This is the biggest one. How will you be able to be relaxed in the water and focus on learning freediving if you are scared or worried by just being in the water? There is already a lot to learn about technique in freediving without your attention being mainly on trying to stay afloat or stress from having water touching your face. So be realistic about your ability. If you go to the pool for a pool party and stand in the shallow end with a drink in your hand, this doesn't count as training or being a swimmer! You don't have to be an olympic level swimmer to freedive but being able to stay afloat without panic and swim continuously for 5-10 minutes can make a huge difference for a trainee freediver.
(AIDA1 has a swim requirement of 100m, AIDA2 has a swim requirement of 200m, both are non-stop swimming, any stroke, no time limit)

2). Practice Relaxed Breathing:
Breathing is the foundation of freediving. On the course you will learn the correct breathing for freediving, and how you can control your breath. Remember, we can control how we breath, whether it is fast or slow or deep or shallow. Start by lying down comfortably and breathing relaxed but a little deeper (always through the mouth!), so that when you breathe in, you feel the diaphragm muscle move down into the space where our stomach is (hence why we call this 'belly breathing'). Try this and feel how your heart rate will slow and you can practice relaxing all the muscles of your body at the same time, creating a calm and relaxed state (which is also great for stress relief!)

3). Feel the 'Urge to Breathe':
Doing a dry breath hold following on from the relaxed breathing, explained above, is a safe way to feel what signals our body will give us when it tells us it wants to breathe again. So take a big, full breath after a couple of minutes of the relaxed breathing and try holding until you feel the diaphragm (breathing muscle) start to contract and moving a little bit or you feel a warm sensation there. This is the urge to breathe and although we can safely hold beyond this urge, we are not used to experiencing this sensation or challenging it ever in our lives, so this will feel new. Before the course you can experience this and try holding 5-15 seconds (count down in your head) after you first feel it and see how you are still perfectly ok afterwards. This type of practice then, is great mental and physical training for the urge to breathe we feel as a freediver!

4). Practice Ear Equalisation:
Ear equalisation is the most challenging part of freediving for beginners as it is something we rarely do ever in our day to day lives! Chances are, even if you are a scuba diver you are doing it inefficiently as they only teach the very basics of it on a scuba course. On the freediving course you will learn about doing ear equalisation correctly and efficiently for freediving, but most people will benefit greatly from practicing and training this in the weeks and months leading up to the course. You will be provided with guidance on this in by your instructor in preparation for the course, but start by looking up Frenzel equalisation technique and Valsalva Maneuver (us freedivers want to do FRENZEL as it is much more efficient).

5). Read the Course Manual:
Once you are signed up for the freediving course you will receive access to the relevant AIDA freediving course manual. It goes without saying that by reading this before the course starts you will be in a better position to understand the concepts once they are explained to you by the instructor during the course. Also, you can test your knowledge of the manual by answering the test questions at the end of each chapter. Most beginners are surprised how much theory there is to know in freediving. There is a 100+ page manual for EACH level (AIDA2, AIDA3, AIDA4), introducing new concepts to help you dive deeper, although the foundation knowledge comes on the first level course (AIDA2).

IMPORTANT:
It goes without saying that these 5 tips alone do not make you a safe and competent freediver and definitely do not replace taking the freediving course! But with these 5 steps you can ensure you are prepared and ready to experience your adventure with One Breath Freediving!

By David Watson, Owner, Founder & Head Instructor / AIDA Instructor Trainer at One Breath Freediving

Why As an Instructor You Should Have A Teaching Philosophy

20/2/2023

In this blog post I wanted to introduce you to the One Breath Freediving philosophy and also to look more specifically of why it is important as a teacher (instructor) to also have a teaching philosophy. Those of you that have freedived with myself will know already that I have my own beliefs on how freediving should be experienced, especially when it is introduced to beginners.

A teaching philosophy is common among professional educators, especially in a classroom setting but of course there is no reason it cannon't be successfully transferred to what we do in and out of the water in freediving. Here are some points of what might constitute a good teacher and be part of their/your philosophy. It is by no means exhaustive so feel free to add in the comments anything else that you believe is important.

A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops - Henry Adams

I believe a good teacher, first, has a powerful faith in the future. As Henry Adams says in the quote you see above, how and what you teach someone can be passed on and on and on and far beyond, affecting peoples lives in ways we might not imagine and will never get to see.
A good teacher must understand motivation and the effects of peer interactions on learning. That most learning occurs through social interaction but at the same time, a competitive environment is not healthy. Promoting curiosity and the broadening of knowledge for self improvement is key.
A good teacher must know their subjects and how to help students learn those subjects. How to link relevant pieces of the jigsaw together to create the bigger picture and make the subject come alive.
A good teacher cannot begin or continue to inspire learning without being a learner. The good teacher must constantly learn what is new in the discipline(s) that they teach.
A teacher is a powerful role model and should be ever aware of the awesome obligation of needing to “walk the talk” with their students. If asking them to live their values and beliefs, the teacher must do the same.

Maybe the teacher’s greatest gift to the learner is helping the learner be motivated to think, and then to want to learn more.....

“We are what we repeatedly do, excellence then, is not an act, but a habit” - Aristotle

The One Breath Freediving Philosophy

By David Watson, Owner, Founder & Head Instructor / AIDA Instructor Trainer at One Breath Freediving

Why Take A First Aid & CPR Course as a Freediver

4/1/2023

Having prior knowledge of potentially life saving first aid education is one aspect of being a freediving instructor that I often take for granted. To maintain an annual AIDA instructor status it is necessary to also maintain certification in First Aid & CPR. Additionally for me, beyond that, I enjoy teaching and sharing this vital information with others, and so became a First Aid & CPR instructor, firstly with the PADI owned Emergency First Response (EFR), and once AIDA developed it's own freediving specific Emergency Medical Responder course, teaching AIDA FEMR.

So here are my top 5 reasons why as a freediver you should take First Aid & CPR course as early as possible in your freediving journey.

1) Help Others:
It should go without saying that by becoming first aid and cpr certified you have a much greater possibility to help out buddies or other freedivers in the unlucky event of an accident. Being someone with this knowledge could make a big difference for a positive outcome from a bad situation.

2) Help Yourself:
With the right knowledge we can recognise potentially harmful situations for or of ourselves, before they arise or before they create a bigger issue. You could be in a position to recognise a medical complaint or onset of a condition in yourself, and act upon it before it escalates in to a bigger, more serious problem.

3) Awareness:
This is an important quality for freedivers, but too often we get caught up in ourselves and our own minds while diving. To be a competent buddy and to qualify as a higher level freediver an emphasis is placed on buddying, helping and rescuing. So why not start on this path early and already be thinking about others and their wellbeing as a first level freediver?

4) Family & Friends:
Away from the world of breath holding, being someone with life saving knowledge could one day save a member of your family or a close friend. Don't be that person that has to stand by because of a lack of knowledge or training. Be proactive in helping the people you care about and learn life saving skills.

5) Extra Mile:
Having a qualification such as first aid and cpr makes you stand out among your peers, whether in your current workplace or if changing career. Such a commitment displays a desire for knowledge and a desire to help others, which of course are highly admirable traits.

EXTRA:
Next level learning. The AIDA FEMR course goes above and beyond a normal first aid course. It is the first ever freediving centred first aid and cpr course on the market, and includes skills beyond traditional courses, such as; intubation of airways, advanced spinal injuries, AED & O2 as standard, DCS and other diving specific illnesses.

Click HERE for more detailed information about the AIDA FEMR Course taught by OBF

Training CPR skills

By David Watson, Owner, Founder & Head Instructor / AIDA Instructor Trainer at One Breath Freediving

Top 5 Marine Life to See While Freediving in Malta & Gozo

22/9/2022

In this blog post I wanted to discuss some of the marine life of Malta & Gozo. The Mediterranean Sea can have a reputation for lacking marine life, and while not completely wrong, as a positive, it can encourage building an even greater appreciation of the smaller life and other details that can otherwise get overlooked in a crowded, tropical sea. Malta & Gozo are especially known for superb sea water visibility, with 30m of clear water common, as well as some really fascinating smaller marine life that can be very fun to observe while freediving.

Freediving is an under appreciated way to view underwater marine life. On scuba, of course you can stay longer, but you are also noisy and invasive with all the bubbles, equipment and disturbance that causes. Freediving allows you to get close without disturbing the marine life and gives a totally different interactive experience.

I am writing a little bit about my own observations with 5 of my favourite marine life, all of which can be found by freedivers and snorkellers around the Maltese Islands. Click the highlighted links for more detailed descriptions and video footage.

1) Ornate Wrasse (INFO):
One of my favourite fish, and one which surprise most people as their bright colourings make them appear almost as a tropical species. They are teritorial and will circle and get agitated if you (or nearly anything else alive in the water!) gets too close to them or their nest. Often overlooked because of their small size, they make up for it with vibrant colour and fun interaction.

2) Fried Egg Jellyfish (INFO):
One of the most beautiful jellyfish, as well as 'friendly' (they do not sting), they appear in later summer and early autumn sometimes in large congregations, floating past like an alien space ship (see photo below). And this spaceship often has a passenger... They have a symbiotic relationship with juvenile Amberjack who use the jellyfish for shelter and protection and who keep them clean in return.
Fried Egg Jellyfish VIDEO

3) Common Octopus (INFO):
One thing fairly numerous in Maltese waters are the common octopus. These can be super curious and I have observed them using pieces of glass as a shield to cover the entrance to their den and even with coins as they like to collect shiny things. See the video of a curious octopus grabbing my camera, below.
Common Octopus VIDEO

4) Grouper (INFO):
This fish can live up to 50 years and reach up to1.5m in length! Though as with octopus, that maturity is rare now around Malta. They are also very inquisitive and often watch you as you dive and if they back away, they still turn around to observe from the shelter and safety of a cave or other shelter.
Grouper VIDEO

5) Scorpionfish (INFO):
There are 3 species around Malta with the bigger version sometimes displaying a vivid red colour (which looks more brown underwater). They have a venomous spine so you must respect them, and they are often sitting still waiting for prey (normally small fish), to pass by. They don't get it all their own way though. I once observed a scorpionfish being hunted and eaten by a cuttlefish!

Click HERE for more detailed information about the species listed above, and many of the other marine life of the Maltaese Islands:

Fried Egg Jellyfish

By David Watson, Owner, Founder & Head Instructor / AIDA Instructor Trainer at One Breath Freediving

Freediving & Effects of Sea Conditions / Weather

29/8/2022

One thing that I get asked about by students and customers often, or find that there is a lot of confusion around, is sea conditions and how the weather effects us as free divers. When I talk about "waiting to see how the weather is on X day" a new diver or non-diver will often think about if the sun is out or if it might rain, which is of much less importance to us than the wind strength. Lets be clear: freediving in strong wind is not fun! For scuba divers, they can get in and go down and not feel the effects too much, while trying to relax on the surface can be quite a challenge in even moderate wind or chop.

So lets look at 4 of the main sea conditions that can be experienced:

Wind (Chop): The effect of the wind passing horizontally over the surface of the water causes localised waves which can range from small and insignificant to large and powerful (see Beaufort Wind Scale). Wind does not necessarily cause sea current and can often be in completely the opposite direction!
Wikipedia WIND information HERE

Tide: The rising and falling of the sea, usually twice in one lunar day due to the attraction between the moon and sun. Therefore tides are a predictable factor and in many parts of the world regularly updated and accurate 'Tide Tables' are available, mainly to help with shipping and other sea traffic.
Fact: The Mediterranean Sea does not get strong tides due to the narrow inlet at the Straits of Gibraltar that connects it to The Atlantic Ocean.
Wikipedia TIDE information HERE

Current: The movement of the water, often in a horizontal direction, often caused by water temperature differences. There can be ocean currents on a predictable global scale as well as more local currents
Wikipedia CURRENT information HERE
NOAA information HERE

Swell: This comes from distant weather conditions rather than local. Often in the sea it is experienced as the residual effect after a period of strong wind, where it is no longer locally windy but there is still a distinct up and down movement of the water, most noticeable on the shore line. Swell can travel thousands of kilometres through the sea.
Wikipedia SWELL information HERE

To efficiently read the weather, an app such as Windfinder (and more so the 'Pro' version which gives more detailed information). is a must for anyone that is in or on the sea on a regular basis. Also, the use of the 'Beaufort Wind Scale' is an invaluable way to gauge prevailing wind conditions purely by sight. Wikipedia information HERE

I hope you found this blog post interesting, let me know your thoughts in the comments.

By David Watson, Owner, Founder & Head Instructor / AIDA Instructor Trainer at One Breath Freediving

5 Useful Items for your Dive Bag (that could Save the day!)

24/6/2022

By David Watson, AIDA Instructor Trainer & Owner & Founder at One Breath Freediving

We all know the main equipment we need for a successful freediving session or to go exploring in the sea. It's a pretty standard kit list: mask, snorkel, wetsuit, weights & belt, fins.
Maybe if you are an extreme 'minimalist freediver' you might go in the water with only a swimming costume and mask / goggles (see an extremely impressive take on this in the video below!)

But in this blog post I wanted to share with you all 5 pieces of equipment I keep in my dive bag or in the car that could potentially save your freediving session:

(Johnson's Baby) Shampoo -A cheap and little known way to keep your mask from fogging up. Apply inside the lens before getting in the water, and rinse out before putting on, to guarantee a clear view all session! This has saved the day for me or my students more than once after masks that should have been good after multiple treatments with the flame of a lighter, still fogged up.
Fin Retainers - Cheap and small these can mean that if you forget your neoprene socks you can still use your fins and dive. If someone else with smaller feet needs to borrow your fins they can still be used. I use them all the time as it gives a more secure fin fit and transfers more of the power each kick to the blade (See: https://massdiving.com/products/full_foot_fin_retainers)
Emergency Whistle - Small and discrete I have these attached to all the buoys I use for teaching. Perfect to attract attention or give a warning in an emergency situation (See: https://www.ndiver-rescue.com/peeless-whistle)
Mask strap - Can save the dive session if you mask strap breaks, and it will take up almost no room in you mask box! A must have.
Lanyard - Even if not diving deep or diving off the line I keep this in my dive bag. If used as a backup lanyard on a line training session it gives an option to secure bi-fins or monofin as they can be threaded through and kept secure when not in use (diving no fins for example). It also provides a spare carabiner that is always useful to have.

Have I missed anything? Let me know in the comments section if you have any more to add.