Scuba Diving vs Freediving: Which Should I Choose?

Many diving enthusiasts often wonder: I’ve heard about scuba diving and freediving, but if I’m new to diving, which one should I learn first? What are the differences between these two?

If you share these doubts, then take a look at the following content! In just three minutes, we’ll help you understand scuba diving and freediving!

Firstly, the simplest method of differentiation! In the left image, divers wearing a full set of equipment and a tank is engaging in scuba diving; in the right image, the person not carrying any equipment is participating in freediving.

Scuba Diving vs Freediving

	Scuba Diving	Freediving
Overview	Scuba diving involves using equipment like tanks for continuous breathing underwater, offering longer dive times and access to deeper depths	Freediving, however, relies on breath-holding techniques without equipment, limiting dive duration but providing a more natural and quiet underwater experience focused on personal breath control and interaction with marine life.
Main Difference	Continuous breathing underwater	Descend underwater in one breath through self-regulation, can’t breath underwater
Dive duration	One tank lasts approximately 30-60 minutes (depending on individual air consumption and dive depth)	Typically lasts from half a minute to three minutes (depending on individual dynamic apnea ability)
Entry Level Requirements	Requires good health and comfort in water	Requires good health and swimming skills
Activities	Activities include underwater sightseeing, diving among fish schools, and filming marine life	No fins freediving, spearfishing, and competitive freediving
Cool Skills	Possibilities include cave diving, wreck diving, and deep diving	Freedivers can move quickly to keep up with fast-moving fish
Potential Risks	Risks include running out of air, underwater currents, and decompression sickness due to rapid ascent	LMC, BO
Diving Equipment	Equipment includes BCD (Buoyancy Control Device), air tank, regulator, weight system, mask, snorkel, fins, wetsuit, dive computer	Mask, snorkel, fins
Ear Equalization	Valsalva maneuver (Pinch Your Nose and Blow)	Frenzel, BTV
Water Entry Methods	Giant stride and Back roll	Duck dive entry

Difficulty of Diving

Scuba Diving < Freediving

Scuba diving requires minimal swimming skills; even non-swimmers can try it as long as they’re comfortable in water. Breathing is maintained underwater. In contrast, freediving demands swimming proficiency since it relies solely on natural abilities, making it easier for those with better aquatic skills.

Duration Underwater

Scuba Diving > Freediving

A single tank of air in scuba diving can provide breathing for 30-60 minutes. In freediving, dive duration depends on individual breath-holding capacity; divers surface to breathe between each dive, repeatedly diving on a single breath.

Diving Preferences

Scuba Diving

Allows continuous breathing underwater, longer dive times, primarily for sightseeing. It’s easy to leisurely explore the underwater world, observing coral reefs and marine life.

Freediving

Enables diving in stylish swimsuits, unrestricted movement for better photo opportunities. Some freedivers enjoy spearfishing, but adherence to local laws is essential.

Diving Expenses

Scuba Diving > Freediving

Scuba diving requires more equipment, although many divers opt to rent a full set from dive shops.

Course Difficulty

Freediving > Scuba Diving

Scuba diving’s entry-level OW course includes 48 skills, with a pass rate of over 95% for those unafraid of water and committed to learning.

Freediving relies more on innate talent and practice, with the main challenge being ear equalization, requiring higher aquatic proficiency.

Course Details

Whether you prefer scuba diving or freediving, we offer corresponding courses. Welcome to choose Ocean Divers as the starting point for your diving journey. We look forward to meeting you!

Ocean Divers has a range of experienced staff and Instructors on hand, some who have been in the industry for over 35 years. We have 5 full time staff members, both English and Chinese speaking, and 13 part time Instructors who teach with us on the weekends.

Amongst our team we have 3 PADI Course Directors,  2 IDC Staff Instructors, 3 Master Scuba Diver Trainers, 2 PADI Tec Instructors, 2 CDAA Advanced Cave Instructors, and 10 OWSI Instructors.

And we are all as passionate about your success as you are!

For more information on what to do next, to make a reservation or to ask us a question, fill in our online contact form or send us an email to: info@oceandivers.com.au and we will get right back to you.

We look forward diving in Melbourne with you soon!