Freediving

Ocean Spirits

Freediving

The History of Freediving
The planet is approximately 71% water (97% salt, 3% fresh) in terms of surface
area. While on land, life is generally confined to within a few thousand feet
above sea level; however, life is found at all depths in the ocean. For example,
scientists have discovered bacteria at a depth of 6.75 miles. While they appear
similar to surface bacteria, these particular bacteria cannot survive at pressures
less than 1000 atmospheres (the pressure at sea level is 1 atmosphere). It is
estimated that 4/5 of all living things exist in the ocean.
I believe it is a basic human drive to explore life and to further discover the
extent of the underwater world. Evidence exists that points to the fact that
people have been diving in the oceans for a long time. Some of the earliest
diving was done in the Aegean Sea area to harvest sponges from the ocean
floor. Aboriginal North Australian wall paintings depict men swimming with
spears and strings of fish. The original inhabitants of the Bahamas were
accomplished spearfishers and pearl divers. The Greeks used divers in naval
warfare. The Cretan civilization were also skilled free divers, collecting murex
shells for their imperial purple dye. Archaeological evidence shows that natural
diving was done off the shores of Korea and Southern Japan before the 4th
century. Originally, the diving was for pearls, but soon developed into a source
for food. Modern female divers from Korea and Japan, called Ama divers,
harvest shellfish and edible seaweed from the ocean floor.
Soon you can read more about freediving on this page. I'm working on it...