Freediving is a broad term that refers to a
number of aquatic activities that involve the extended holding of one's
breath. Included in this category are spearfishing, freedive
photography, "apnea" competitions and sometimes snorkeling. The activity
that attracts the most attention is Competitive Apnea, an extreme
sport where divers attempt to dive as deep as possible on a single
breath without any sort of breathing aid. Competitive Apnea has been both dangerous and controversial, with a handful of high profile
deaths among participants in recent years. Some events are held in
pools where the contest is based on time underwater, while others (and
the more dangerous) are based on depth.
Still, the popularity of
the sport is growing with regularly scheduled training courses available
for freediving enthusiasts of all levels. 