Welcome to the second part of my series on finding the best freediving equipment for beginners. This series is aimed at guiding total beginners through the pieces of equipment you’ll need to get started confidently …

So, just in case you’ve been living under a rock, I’ll explain things in simple terms. Plastic is bad. We once thought it was great because it’s cheap and pliable.

Freediving with the seals at Montague Island has been a bucket list item for me ever since I arrived in Sydney 3 years ago. Last year, during a scuba diving trip, we had the chance to dive with seals at Jervis Bay.

The year is 2020, and the month is April. This means that there’s a good chance that you too are stuck at home, not able to access pools, open water, and freediving courses.

You’ve heard of it (at least now you have), but you might still be wondering how freediving works. How can divers hold their breath for so long and dive so deep?

‘Why can’t I equalise’ is maybe the most popular question in all of freediving. I’m happy to say that you definitely, definitely are not alone. Equalisation can be an absolute bitch.

The most common complaint I hear from new divers is ear-related freediving equalisation problems, ear pain, or just knowing how to equalise.

Over the last couple of years, lots of people have asked me what the benefits of freediving are, and why I do it. Isn’t it just sustained torture / snorkelling / a deathwish / falling asleep in water?