You explain things so well that even though I'm not a free diver I understood everything you said. I do scuba diving and dive down as a snorkeler though.
Thank you immensely for your outstanding videos Gert. I've been free-diving for about 10 years but have recently realized I know nothing about proper free-diving principles including basic EQ. It's been frustrating as I only free dive to collect seafood for my family (urchins, abalone, crayfish etc.), and there have been a few times I've come up empty handed on a trip out because of my struggles with the basics. After watching a few of your videos however, my confidence and morale has been boosted and I can't wait to get back out there in the water. God bless you mate!
@@gertleroy , I’m working on that. 😊They are my very first pair of “ long “ fins. I saw some OMER plastics that looked a bit more thoughtful in design, like the angled foot pocket and sturdier looking material . Just a bit more money. Hopefully someday I’ll be looking at some modular style with carbon fiber
Question about beginner packing during dry static? After diving for almost 35 years I am only now learing about 02 and CO2 tables and things like packing. I have been using packing during dry static apnea training and I feel like I have expanded the volumne of my lungs, I also feel safe, only once have I become dizzy to the point that I immediately stopped. This seems to also have translated into better pool workouts (no packing). I am loving learing all these techniques and enjoying more time underwater. Thank you Gert, really love watching your videos while it is snowing outside!!
Also, my delusion is that training during the winter while it's cold somehow simulates deeper diving and that training above 4,000 feet increases stress somehow which makes me control my thoughts even more, would you agree with any of that?
@@ajperry82 I'd say these assumptions are what they are: assumptions. I don't think there is evidence that altitude training has a long lasting effect on breath hold performance. And training in cold water can be beneficial to get used to cold water. Whether it simulates a deep dive, I don't see how that can be, except for the possible thermocline that can happen at depth.
Great tutorials, I keep having to start from square one due to work, life and bloody covid, these tutorials are definitely good to have, especially when I'm a solo diver, cheers mate, from NZ
funnny that when i would go snorkling around the reef tours here in Florida I would hold my breath and down a bit. I did not realize I was already a free diver (begginer) lol
@@gertleroy if you are ever planning on a trip to southern California, we have a vibrant freediving community that would love to take on yah some fun dives / line dives. Our certified only freediving group is on Facebook "Southern California Freedive Buddy Network".
Thanks. The less visibility, the less safe off course. If you can't see a hand in front of your face than how can your buddy see you? Your buddy might even get desorientated under water.
@@shiroyasha4995 That's true in Hawai'i too, sharks are more likely to bite in murky water because they can't clearly see what you are from a distance. They can mistake you as a seal or something else to bite first and ask questions later.
Great video! But I have a question: in regards of the gear, do you know any good brands that aren't too expensive? And also, my coach told us that we need to try equipment in store before buying it, especially the mask. Is that true?
A wetsuit is always good to try in store before being. That being said, when you buy online you can always return. Mares is the wetsuit in the video for about 80usd. Cressi has also good ones for affordable price. Masks for about 20usd on decathlon. There are no specific brands that are better than others. Just search for available gear on sites that sell from different dealers. I'll be mking future videos on gear soon. Cheers
Definitely the mask. It can be a tough one depending on the shape of your face. My first freediving mask I thought was going to be great and seemed fine on a dry fit and my first time in the pool. But it turned out to not seal under my nose with _any_ facial hair, it *required* a fresh shave, and the inside corners of the lenses ended up pressing against my forehead under any pressure. Filling the mask with more air didn't work, because it also slipped up my forehead, making it press into my brow even more. But this same mask my son loves, so it is still a good mask, just a poor fit for me.
Hi Gert, I am an amateur underwater dancer and since yesterday I am a certified ssi level1 freediver :) can you suggest a TRANSPARENT freediving mask with the smallest volume ever? I would like to look pretty, but with no super obvious mask, and also I don’t want the equalisation to be so hard, because I am a beginner 😅
Amazing video, well I would prefer quality not just price. But to be honest, asca diver you can get quality for a fair price, so I believe free diver would also be able to get something with a high quality but a fair price. Beuchat for exaple or Cressi, I got a Cressi shorty it's still fine even if it's 18 years old, it's just too small if it wasn't, I would still use it.
@@gertleroy I have a Waterproof W50 for diving in Switzerland a 3mm Aqualung and a Beuchat 3mm shorty. I can recommend all of them. In fact diveinn has an amazing price for diving staff, so as you already recommend, it's really worth to check there. But sometimes you want to buy something in a store, so I recommend to check the prices in diverent stores, this is how I saved CHF 50 for my neoprene. Same City different stores. 😯
Thanks man. Every video is different and always a question mark for me whether people are gonna like it or not. Glad to see this one is doing well ✌️✌️
@@gertleroy You make videos simple, accurate ... I'm always looking forward to them. I learn something new from every single video ... from every single one. Personally, I'm glad I came across your channel.
Not related to that video but what about one video about how to choose fins? I was advised to buy carbon medium type fins at the store. But my trainer then told me I should have gone for the soft version. So how the medium can affect speed, oxygen availability, performances? 🙏 pros and cons… just a proposal
Like I said in the video you don't need carbon fins. If you do buy them it's because you want them not because you need them. So the question whether you should go for medium or soft kindof becomes irrelavant. Unless you're an advanced freediver (50m+). Then I would recommend soft for deep diving and medium for pool.
@@gertleroy thanks for your feedback 🙏. You can conclude from my question the need for clarifying all that :) btw: bought the fins before that video otherwise i might have not haha
I mean imagine a beginner/beginner+ (30m) going to a store. The sellers sound very confident and advise you what to buy. Many of us im sure just go for what the seller say (even though in fact they have no idea about freediving)
@@freedivefreemind absolutely. Even advanced freedivers don't really know what to buy. It's a huge problem in freediving. Manufacturers should do a better job in explaining. Probably they dont even know themselves..
@@gertleroy in here, guys from the store donno but they look confident! So u can fall into some trap. Wish u come dive in Amed Bali so we can meet. All the best. All my respect. Peace in every breath!
It's OK. It depends on the temp of the water. In very cold water people use over 7mm. It's not ideal for disciplines like no fins but hey, better be warm right?
@@RAMA-gu8cs any standard scuba or snorkel fins can easily get you to 20 meters. In my level 1 class I saw several people fin down and up at 20m with no issues. Just don't go for any short swim, travel, or body boarding fins; shorter blades require a faster kicking cadence and increases your heart rate, the opposite of what you want while holding your breath. When swimming with no fins, most of your propulsion comes from your hands and arms instead.
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You explain things so well that even though I'm not a free diver I understood everything you said. I do scuba diving and dive down as a snorkeler though.
thank you 🙏
Thank you immensely for your outstanding videos Gert.
I've been free-diving for about 10 years but have recently realized I know nothing about proper free-diving principles including basic EQ.
It's been frustrating as I only free dive to collect seafood for my family (urchins, abalone, crayfish etc.), and there have been a few times I've come up empty handed on a trip out because of my struggles with the basics.
After watching a few of your videos however, my confidence and morale has been boosted and I can't wait to get back out there in the water.
God bless you mate!
thank you so. much! all the best 🙏
Fantastic advice as always Gert. Many thanks from a beginner in South Africa. Keep up the excellent work for freediving education and safety!
thnaks Deon all the best 🙏🙏
I still got my mask from decathlon and it fits perfect, no leak ever. And plastic Mares fins. Tested in diferent water conditions, working goood :)
Plastic Mares fins are superb especially for the price
true !
awesome! use it till they fall apart hahah
@@gertleroy , I’m working on that. 😊They are my very first pair of “ long “ fins. I saw some OMER plastics that looked a bit more thoughtful in design, like the angled foot pocket and sturdier looking material . Just a bit more money. Hopefully someday I’ll be looking at some modular style with carbon fiber
@@michaeltaylors2456 many choices on the market! All the best ✌️
I've been doing RV since I was a kid because I've always thought I looked very cool walking on the bottom of the sea at about 3-6 metres.
haha cool. but be careful !
Question about beginner packing during dry static? After diving for almost 35 years I am only now learing about 02 and CO2 tables and things like packing. I have been using packing during dry static apnea training and I feel like I have expanded the volumne of my lungs, I also feel safe, only once have I become dizzy to the point that I immediately stopped. This seems to also have translated into better pool workouts (no packing). I am loving learing all these techniques and enjoying more time underwater. Thank you Gert, really love watching your videos while it is snowing outside!!
thank you! glad my vids are useful 🙏🙏 all the best and stay warm 😁
Also, my delusion is that training during the winter while it's cold somehow simulates deeper diving and that training above 4,000 feet increases stress somehow which makes me control my thoughts even more, would you agree with any of that?
@@ajperry82 I'd say these assumptions are what they are: assumptions. I don't think there is evidence that altitude training has a long lasting effect on breath hold performance. And training in cold water can be beneficial to get used to cold water. Whether it simulates a deep dive, I don't see how that can be, except for the possible thermocline that can happen at depth.
Thanks, I appreciate the input and you taking the time to reply.
@@ajperry82 🙏
I can hold my breathe for 2:30 on my couch. I struggle with 40 seconds in the 72° spring water, even with a suit.
Any tips on making that transition?
i'll make a dedicate video about it. short answer: learn to properly freedive :-)
Great tutorials, I keep having to start from square one due to work, life and bloody covid, these tutorials are definitely good to have, especially when I'm a solo diver, cheers mate, from NZ
Glad you like them! But don't solo dive !!!!!!!!
Don't solo dive!
funnny that when i would go snorkling around the reef tours here in Florida I would hold my breath and down a bit. I did not realize I was already a free diver (begginer) lol
hahah beginner freediver !
Very informative, thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
I have always had an interest in diving and freediving but have no idea where to start living in a landlocked state
you can start in a swimming pool..
This helped a lot.
good to know !
Great videos. Informative, entertaining and about freediving! Top notch mate.
Thanks Justin. Always good to know 🙏🙏
@@gertleroy if you are ever planning on a trip to southern California, we have a vibrant freediving community that would love to take on yah some fun dives / line dives. Our certified only freediving group is on Facebook "Southern California Freedive Buddy Network".
@@spectrex709 thanks man. Maybe one day I'll get there 🙏
Beautiful, thanks!
Nice video! What do you think about freediving in murky water? Is it safe?
Thanks. The less visibility, the less safe off course. If you can't see a hand in front of your face than how can your buddy see you? Your buddy might even get desorientated under water.
@@gertleroy ok, thanks 👌
here at my place bullsharks are more aggressive in murky waters I dont know about other places
@@shiroyasha4995 That's true in Hawai'i too, sharks are more likely to bite in murky water because they can't clearly see what you are from a distance. They can mistake you as a seal or something else to bite first and ask questions later.
Great video! But I have a question: in regards of the gear, do you know any good brands that aren't too expensive? And also, my coach told us that we need to try equipment in store before buying it, especially the mask. Is that true?
Mako was a great choice for me.
Great customer service and returns if something doesn't fit right.
A wetsuit is always good to try in store before being. That being said, when you buy online you can always return. Mares is the wetsuit in the video for about 80usd. Cressi has also good ones for affordable price. Masks for about 20usd on decathlon. There are no specific brands that are better than others. Just search for available gear on sites that sell from different dealers. I'll be mking future videos on gear soon. Cheers
@@gertleroy thank you for the insight. I am waiting for these videos on gear to be posted 😁
@@kalypsodeepsea982 🙏
Definitely the mask. It can be a tough one depending on the shape of your face. My first freediving mask I thought was going to be great and seemed fine on a dry fit and my first time in the pool. But it turned out to not seal under my nose with _any_ facial hair, it *required* a fresh shave, and the inside corners of the lenses ended up pressing against my forehead under any pressure. Filling the mask with more air didn't work, because it also slipped up my forehead, making it press into my brow even more. But this same mask my son loves, so it is still a good mask, just a poor fit for me.
Hi Gert, I am an amateur underwater dancer and since yesterday I am a certified ssi level1 freediver :) can you suggest a TRANSPARENT freediving mask with the smallest volume ever? I would like to look pretty, but with no super obvious mask, and also I don’t want the equalisation to be so hard, because I am a beginner 😅
salvimar incredible mask. they have it in different colors also transparent 🙏
@@gertleroy thank you soooo much 🙏
@@TheSchneeeewitttchen 🙏
Hi, are earplugs advisable to wear while free diving ? I’m a beginner of this hobby.
Not at all.
Cool, i have learnt a lot! I dont do any advanced breathing. But i did buy expensive gears haha
I knew it 😉
@@gertleroy haha indeed. Thats the excitement of beginners :)
Amazing video, well I would prefer quality not just price. But to be honest, asca diver you can get quality for a fair price, so I believe free diver would also be able to get something with a high quality but a fair price. Beuchat for exaple or Cressi, I got a Cressi shorty it's still fine even if it's 18 years old, it's just too small if it wasn't, I would still use it.
Yep. No need for expensive gear ⚙️
@@gertleroy I have a Waterproof W50 for diving in Switzerland a 3mm Aqualung and a Beuchat 3mm shorty. I can recommend all of them. In fact diveinn has an amazing price for diving staff, so as you already recommend, it's really worth to check there. But sometimes you want to buy something in a store, so I recommend to check the prices in diverent stores, this is how I saved CHF 50 for my neoprene. Same City different stores. 😯
@@benheckendorn2696 🙏
Nice presentation. Thanks
hope it was helpful 🙏 thanks
Perfect video.
Thanks man. Every video is different and always a question mark for me whether people are gonna like it or not. Glad to see this one is doing well ✌️✌️
@@gertleroy You make videos simple, accurate ... I'm always looking forward to them. I learn something new from every single video ... from every single one. Personally, I'm glad I came across your channel.
@@lukasstec1512 good to know! 🙏 And thanks for the. Positive energy ⚡
Do you think shaving off the moustache necessary? Very often water gets into my mask and my coach said it was because of the moustache.
The upper part of it yes
Absolutely agree
🙏🙏
Hi Gert, any advice on mundial one-50 vs long fins?
Fan from the Philippines!
they seem to be a good deal for that price !
thanks great info. how do you know if I am doing a frenzel or a valsalva?. some exercise that opens the soft palate? thanks again greetings from italy
hi. please watch these videos: ua-cam.com/video/aYr3aV9VusM/v-deo.html and ua-cam.com/video/i-f2-Rsw_sg/v-deo.html
Not related to that video but what about one video about how to choose fins? I was advised to buy carbon medium type fins at the store. But my trainer then told me I should have gone for the soft version. So how the medium can affect speed, oxygen availability, performances? 🙏 pros and cons… just a proposal
Like I said in the video you don't need carbon fins. If you do buy them it's because you want them not because you need them. So the question whether you should go for medium or soft kindof becomes irrelavant. Unless you're an advanced freediver (50m+). Then I would recommend soft for deep diving and medium for pool.
@@gertleroy thanks for your feedback 🙏. You can conclude from my question the need for clarifying all that :) btw: bought the fins before that video otherwise i might have not haha
I mean imagine a beginner/beginner+ (30m) going to a store. The sellers sound very confident and advise you what to buy. Many of us im sure just go for what the seller say (even though in fact they have no idea about freediving)
@@freedivefreemind absolutely. Even advanced freedivers don't really know what to buy. It's a huge problem in freediving. Manufacturers should do a better job in explaining. Probably they dont even know themselves..
@@gertleroy in here, guys from the store donno but they look confident! So u can fall into some trap. Wish u come dive in Amed Bali so we can meet. All the best. All my respect. Peace in every breath!
Do you go to spearfishing time to time !!?
never went spearfishing but i want to !
is 5mm suit to much for freediving?
It's OK. It depends on the temp of the water. In very cold water people use over 7mm. It's not ideal for disciplines like no fins but hey, better be warm right?
@@gertleroy ofc thank you for answer
@@canberkdinleyen9818 🙏
Buenos contenido saludos desde cuba 12:52
hello Cuba ✌️
Why is reverse packing not called unpacking?
Naw I think I will just snorkle.
it's a start 😁
But i mean you could try it right like its not forbidden or anything because i interested to try diving with just nose clip
Don't use nose clip. It's not for beginners. It can be dangerous for beginners. Use mask and snorkel.
@@gertleroy ouh ok and surprisesingly snorkel gear is WAYYY cheaper than like even entry level freediving gear
@@RAMA-gu8cs any standard scuba or snorkel fins can easily get you to 20 meters. In my level 1 class I saw several people fin down and up at 20m with no issues. Just don't go for any short swim, travel, or body boarding fins; shorter blades require a faster kicking cadence and increases your heart rate, the opposite of what you want while holding your breath. When swimming with no fins, most of your propulsion comes from your hands and arms instead.
Things you shouldn’t do
Does everything along with 🤪🤦♂️😂😂
just to be sure you know exactly what not to do ;-)
I want to translate into Arabic for this video
Good. 💪💪