By Beth K
I just read your great post on how we freedive as snorkelers, and I’ve had the same issue with trying to explain what WE mean when we say “freediving.” So I want to share my thoughts on other terms we can use.
Emma (the amazing instructor who works with your trips partner on their freediving trips – HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!) calls her course “shallow freediving,” which is actually pretty perfect, but my favorite term so far is one I heard from another old diver, who likes to call it “reef-crawling” 🤗.
But – since that could also be misinterpreted (as *touching* the reef?) – maybe we just bring back an established, explicit, correct – but somehow abandoned?- term that separates what we do neatly from all the assumptions that go along with saying “freediving” (as in, deep-as-you-can, long-as-you-can, down the line, extreme sport, etc, etc): Skindiving.
I first saw this written on a waiver that I had to sign before going out on a (scuba) dive boat with my weights and long fins. It’s an old word (shades of the 50’s), but I looked it up – and it’s *exactly* what we do.
And, bonus, the only misunderstanding this one brings up is that we’re diving naked – which is a way more fun conversation🤣.
Happy skin-diving, everyone! 🤿
Another term is “underwater swimming” from the “Know the Game” book series that I received as a young boy 50 years ago. I have been snorkeling and diving since. I have also obtained a “freediving” certification to be able to be “allowed” to dive under the water when on organized trips!