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Step 1
Wear a wetsuit. Although it may seem a good set of lungs is all you need to free dive, wearing specific gear helps. Wearing a wetsuit will help prevent hypothermia and use fins which will help make swimming easier.
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Step 2
Bring a buddy along. You should never free dive alone. It's important to bring someone along who understands what to do in a diving emergency. Your diving companion should know signs of shallow water blackout such as a diver's head dropping forward.
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Step 3
Prevent shallow water blackout. Avoid breathing in and out too fast when preparing to do a breath hold. This causes the carbon dioxide level in the body to drop too low. The low level reduces the urge to breath and a diver may not ascend when they should. The oxygen levels continue to decrease and a loss of consciousness will result.
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Step 4
Take a lesson. Free diving is more than just diving underwater and holding your breath. Classes teach breath holding and relaxation techniques. Classes also provide information on the proper speed to descend and how to ascend safely. Contact the International Association of Nitrox Technical Divers to find classes.
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Step 5
Increase diving depth slowly and know your limits. By descending slowly you give your body a chance to adjust to the changes in pressure. Do not try a dive at a depth you have never done before. Keep in mind safety is your first priority.
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Step 6
Use a safety vest. They inflate after a set amount of time. Know your breath holding limits and set the timer. If you were to get into trouble and blackout the vest automatically inflates when the timer goes off. This will cause you to float to the surface.
