Master Freediving Physiology

Seminar

Explore the advanced physiological mechanisms that influence deep and high-performance freediving. This seminar examines breathing efficiency, equalization, lung protection, hypoxia management, nutrition, decompression sickness, and the physiological challenges encountered in elite freediving.

The diving reflex

The diving reflex (auto – equalization of the lungs).
Diving reflex and training

Breathing

The air volume of breathing: calm breathing, normal breathing and deep breathing.
The full breath and its three volumes: diaphragmatic, lateral and high thoracic breathing.
The value of diaphragmatic breathing in freediving.
- Diaphragmatic breathing and increase of vital capacity.
- Diaphragmatic breathing and inducement of bradycardia, calmness and relaxation, as preparation for diving.

Lung Squeeze

Lung Squeeze – pulmonary barotrauma in freediving.
- Lung descent barotrauma (injury from excessive compression of the lungs).
- Lung barotrauma of ascent – Lung over-expansion injuries.
- Useful tips on avoiding a lung squeeze.

Equalizing the Ears

The 2 reasons to avoid the Valsalva equalization in deep freediving.
The Frenzel mouth-fill: a variation of the Frenzel method for deep freediving.
The “Hands free” equalization (Voluntary Tube Opening – VTO):
- Direct contraction of the soft palate.
- Indirect contraction of the soft palate.

Apnea

The single “biochemical formula” of apnea duration (all apnea factors).
Oxygen consumption in the brain during freediving: a possible new era of future research and great discoveries.

The hypoxic freediver

The body’s ten minute recovery break between two freedives.
The impact mechanism of hyperventilation.
- The establishment mechanism of hypoxia.
- Depletion of carbohydrates, combustion of lipids and inducement of hypoxia.
  The mechanism of hypoxia – when the freediver is threatened by hypoxia:
The hypoxia (or shallow water blackout) “barrier” of 7 or 10 meters during ascent.
How to distinguish “pressure contractions” from “thoracic contractions” and from “diaphragmatic contractions”.
The avoidance of hypoxia: the valuable tips of world freediving champions.

The secrets of the diet in freediving

The energy needs in the sea
The diet during a day of freediving.
- The problem of dehydration
The breakfast: The diet shortly before entering the water.
The diet of the previous days before the diving day.
The diet between two freediving days.

Pathophysiology of Record Freediving

Glossopharyngeal breathing and “lung packing”: a dangerous technique.
- The quest for the causes of decompression sickness in freediving.
- Freediving patterns – diving profiles implicated in causing decompression sickness.
- A historical review of the incidents and relevant research on decompression sickness in freediving.
- The problem of correctly addressing and curing the freediving decompression sickness in the following years.
  The freediving decompression sickness.
The nitrogen narcosis and generally the issue of the narcotic effect of gases in deep freediving and record freediving.
- The problem of narcosis for the amateur freediver.
- The problem of narcosis in top-level freediving.

Learning outcomes

Participants will learn:

How the diving reflex influences performance and adaptation
Advanced diaphragmatic breathing techniques and their physiological benefits
Methods for increasing breathing efficiency and vital capacity
Causes, prevention, and management of lung squeeze and pulmonary barotrauma
Advanced equalization techniques for deeper diving
The limitations of Valsalva equalization in deep freediving
The physiological factors that determine breath-hold performance
Mechanisms of hypoxia, blackout risk, and recovery
How to recognize different types of contractions during apnea
Nutritional strategies that support freediving performance and recovery
Hydration requirements and dietary planning for diving days
The physiological risks associated with lung packing and advanced techniques
Current understanding of freediving decompression sickness and nitrogen narcosis
Physiological challenges encountered in deep and record-level freediving

This seminar is intended for advanced and master-level freedivers who want a deeper scientific understanding of the body’s response to extreme breath-hold diving. It combines physiology, nutrition, safety, and performance science to help divers train intelligently, reduce risk, and maximize their long-term development.