10 replies to this topic

[annasea]

Have I never noticed this before, or are these new forums...

SNORKELING and FREEDIVING

PROTECT and SERVE OUR EARTH, WATER and CHILDREN

[WreckWench]

Yes they are new...I was just about ready to announce them! -ww

[Walter]

SNORKELING and FREEDIVING

It's under the Department of Redundancy and Repetition Department.

[annasea]

Yes they are new...I was just about ready to announce them! -ww

Oopsy!

[WreckWench]

SNORKELING and FREEDIVING

It's under the Department of Redundancy and Repetition Department.

Guess that makes you the head of the dept!!!

But seriously...we will be having lots of activity in these forums soon! -ww

[annasea]

SNORKELING and FREEDIVING

It's under the Department of Redundancy and Repetition Department.

Not that I'm in any position to question the wisdom of the mighty *Yoda*, but doesn't snorkeling entail wearing a snorkel and moving along the surface, whereas freediving is diving to great depths on a single breath?

[TraceMalin]

SNORKELING and FREEDIVING

It's under the Department of Redundancy and Repetition Department.

Not that I'm in any position to question the wisdom of the mighty *Yoda*, but doesn't snorkeling entail wearing a snorkel and moving along the surface, whereas freediving is diving to great depths on a single breath?

Well, the terms are really about ego. Accomplished breath hold divers don't want to be called "snorkelers" usually because the connotation of a snorkeler is someone who possesses less adequate breath hold diving skills and isn't either SCUBA certified or capable of becoming a SCUBA diver. So, those who are avid and skilled breath hold divers are happy being referred to as "spearos", "freedivers", "skin divers", "breath hold divers", "apnea divers" etc., but detest the snorkeling term. Also, many breath hold divers forgo snorkels for safety or because of personal preference. So, to say they are snorkeling would be incorrect. Before the general public and even the diving public became more educated about diving related terms after the advent of SCUBA, even the term "free diving" once meant any dive not requiring a tethered umbilical for surface or diving bell supplied air/gas. "Skin diving" was used for both SCUBA and breath hold divers. People in our world today like to categorize everything to the last detail and people are also very careful to use terminology that won't offend others or want to clarify their level of skill. Because breath hold diving became a competitive sport, people now often hear terms like apnea or freediving since these are most often used in competition circles. Technically if you're using a snorkel you are snorkeling no matter what depth you are diving. Philosophically speaking, if you're on the surface when making a 200 foot breath hold dive you might be a "snorkeler", but once you've begun a breath hold descent you might then be a "freediver".

Trace

[Dive_Girl]

Trace, great detailed explanation. I do not find the terms redundant or repetitious.

[TraceMalin]

I forgot to mention that freediving skill is not depth related. Some freedivers are exceptional when it comes to breath hold time, but they might not even dive below 30 to 50 feet. I know some truly skilled spearos who spend the majority of their dives from the surface to just 10 or 20 feet. They have the ability to cavitate very little when moving thus not scaring away the fish they are hunting. You can have a snorkeler with little grace and fluidity who can reach 40 to 50 feet, but he/she would not be considered a "freediver" by those who use the term to describe skilled breath hold diving. While some may find this a discussion of semantics to the passionate breath hold diver these are definitive terms.

Trace

[WreckWench]

Here is an update on our new category of forums... PROTECT and SERVE OUR EARTH, WATER and CHILDREN:

We have 3 forums in this new category...Fun & Amazing Facts, General Discussions and Worthy Causes. Please note that if you'd like SD to support a cause that you think is worthy, please let us know. You can send your cause and reason for our support to CommentsandConcerns@singledivers.com or you can pm us at comments&concerns via the board.

You'll find fun and amazing facts about our earth, water and the children of our world...all of which we are dedicated to serving and protecting.

Use this forum for general discussions in this category. Thank you for being socially aware and for your efforts to educate, protect and serve our Earth, Waters & our Children.

SD is committed to serving and protecting the world we live in, the ocean we dive in and the children of the world that provide its future. Our worthy causes are listed here. If you want to list a cause here, send an email to CommentsandConcerns@singledivers.com and requet our input. Or you can pm comments&concerns via the board. -Thank You SD Staff

[normblitch]

If Trace needs Comedic Relief at the January Ginnie Clinic & HH, he can "school me" using my brand-ie new Cressi Gara's... (now WHERE did that Snorkel get stuffed?) I'm getting them wet for the first time this coming Sat at Crystal River...

Norm

I forgot to mention that freediving skill is not depth related. Some freedivers are exceptional when it comes to breath hold time, but they might not even dive below 30 to 50 feet. I know some truly skilled spearos who spend the majority of their dives from the surface to just 10 or 20 feet. They have the ability to cavitate very little when moving thus not scaring away the fish they are hunting. You can have a snorkeler with little grace and fluidity who can reach 40 to 50 feet, but he/she would not be considered a "freediver" by those who use the term to describe skilled breath hold diving. While some may find this a discussion of semantics to the passionate breath hold diver these are definitive terms.

Trace