The extreme sport of Freediving has Montrealers holding their breath
Global News
Holding their breath for minutes at a time, the extreme sport of freediving is growing in popularity as more and more Montrealers look to push their body to the limits.
Holding their breath for minutes at a time, plunging to incredible depths — the extreme sport of freediving is growing in popularity as more and more Montrealers look to push their bodies to the limit.
“The sport is exploding basically,” ApneaCity Freediving school president François Leduc said.
Leduc is an advanced freediving instructor and has been practicing the sport for over two decades. Over the past two years his school has seen a tsunami of interest.
“It’s probably the fastest growing water sport in the world right now.”
On a weekly basis pools across the greater Montreal area are turned into practice facilities for divers looking to hone their underwater skills.
The equipment is basic, a mask, snorkel and fins. No breathing apparatus or tanks needed.
Filling their lungs with air, divers can hold their breath for lengths of up to four to nine minutes at one time.
Tapping into the human bodies mammalian dive reflex, swimmers learn to fight off urges to breath plunging 60 to even 90 meters deep.
