Freediving and scuba diving both offer incredible ways to explore beneath the surface, but they’re vastly different experiences. Some love the simplicity and physical challenge of an apnea freedive, while others prefer the extended bottom time that comes with a scuba tank. So, which one suits you best? Let’s break it down.
The Basics: What’s the Difference?
Freediving is about holding your breath and diving as deep as you can on a single inhale. No tanks, no bubbles, just you, the water and your lung capacity. It relies on proper breath-holding techniques, equalization and mental control. Many freedivers describe it as a pure, almost meditative experience.
Scuba diving, in contrast, allows you to breathe underwater using a tank and regulator. With the right training, you can stay submerged for long periods and explore depths that would be impossible on breath-hold alone. It’s less about pushing physical limits and more about enjoying extended time underwater.
Both require proper training, but the learning curve, equipment and costs differ significantly.
Training and Certifications
If you’re keen to start, you’ll need the right training. A basic freediver course introduces you to breath-holding techniques, static apnea and essential safety skills. More advanced options, like the PADI Freediver Certification, allow you to dive deeper and refine your technique. Some freedivers take it further with competitive training, developing skills for deep dives and static apnea events.
For scuba divers, the journey begins with an Open Water Scuba Certification. This covers essential diving skills, safety protocols and underwater communication. The Advanced Open Water Diver course builds on this, allowing for deeper dives and specialized experiences. Scuba training also offers pathways into wreck diving, night diving and technical diving.
Freediving courses are often shorter and more affordable, but scuba training provides access to a wider range of environments and depths.
Equipment: Minimalist vs. Gear-Heavy
Freediving is simple. You don’t need much gear, just a mask and fins. Although depending on water temperatures, a wetsuit may be necessary and a weight belt can be very useful, allowing you to descend with ease. Wetsuits make you much more buoyant, so you will pretty much need a weight belt if you’re going to wear a wetsuit. As there is not an extensive list of equipment, this makes it easy to travel light and get in the water quickly.
Scuba diving requires more gear. Along with a mask and fins, divers rely on a buoyancy control device (BCD), regulator, alternate air source and a scuba tank. A dive computer helps track depth and air supply and depending on conditions, a wetsuit or drysuit may be necessary. The extra equipment means more setup time and maintenance, but it also allows for longer, deeper dives.
For those who value simplicity, freediving is the clear winner. But if you enjoy the security of a steady air supply and the ability to stay underwater for extended periods, scuba is the better option.
Health Benefits: Is One Better for You?
Both freediving and scuba diving have physical and mental benefits, though in different ways. Freediving strengthens lung capacity and improves CO2 tolerance. It also enhances cardiovascular fitness and builds mental resilience, as staying calm is essential for a successful dive.
Scuba diving is fantastic for stress relief. The slow, rhythmic breathing required to conserve air has a meditative quality, helping to lower stress levels and improve focus. It also strengthens muscles, especially when carrying gear or swimming against currents. Scuba diving is open to a wide range of people as once in and under the water, there’s no impact and you can feel weightless, meaning it’s not only an amazing experience but also accessible to those with physical disabilities as well.
If you enjoy pushing your body’s limits, freediving may be more appealing. If you prefer a relaxed, immersive experience, scuba might be the way to go.
Cost: Which One Is More Affordable?
Freediving is generally the cheaper option. A beginner freediving course costs less than an open water scuba certification and the gear is minimal. Once you have the basics, there are no ongoing costs apart from travel.
Scuba diving involves more investment, not just in training, but in equipment and ongoing expenses like tank fills, gear maintenance and boat dive fees. That said, for those who want to explore wrecks or cenote freediving locations that require deeper depths, scuba diving offers more opportunities.
The Experience: What’s It Like?
Freediving is about feeling at one with the ocean. There’s no sound except your heartbeat and every dive is a personal challenge. Gliding effortlessly through the water, relying solely on your body’s abilities, creates an unmatched sense of freedom.
Scuba diving allows for a different kind of experience. You can hover weightlessly over a coral reef, watch marine life up close, or explore a sunken wreck. With a tank on your back, there’s no rush to surface, you can take your time and observe everything in detail.
Tom Wilson from Australia, a PADI scuba instructor, says, “Scuba lets you slow down and appreciate everything. I’ve spent an hour watching a single turtle. You just can’t do that freediving.”
Meanwhile, Lisa Müller from Germany, a freediving club member, shares, “There’s something pure about freediving. No tanks, no noise, just you and the water. I never felt more alive than during a deep sea freediving session in the Philippines.”
Which One Is for You?
Freediving is for those who love minimalism, physical challenges and mental focus. It’s about pushing your limits and learning to trust your body whilst exploring the underwater realm like you belong there.
Scuba diving is ideal for those who want to explore underwater environments at a relaxed pace, with the security of a steady air supply. If you dream of deep wrecks, reef dives and long bottom times, scuba is the way to go.
Of course, you don’t have to choose just one. Many divers enjoy both, using freediving to improve their breath control and equalization while still enjoying the extended dives that come with scuba.
FAQs
Is freediving more dangerous than scuba diving?
Both have risks, but proper training reduces them. Shallow water blackout is a concern in freediving, while scuba divers must manage decompression sickness and air supply.
Can you do both?
Absolutely! Many divers start with scuba and later take a freediving course to improve breath control and equalization.
How long does it take to get certified?
A basic freediver course can take a weekend. An open water scuba diving course usually takes 3-4 days.
Which one is harder?
Freediving requires more physical and mental control, while scuba has more technical skills to learn.
Do I need to be super fit?
No, but freediving benefits from better lung capacity and fitness levels. Scuba is accessible to most people, regardless of fitness.