Wrist-wear, Dive Computers and Watches

In freediving, a watch or dive computer is an essential piece of equipment for improved performance and safety.

Depth training:
I like to use the Aeris F.10 with a water resistance of 100m.  It has all of the characteristics of a great dive watch with a very visible / large display, great backlight and audible alarms.

It activates as soon as it gets wet and tells me my depth in real time, as well as my maximum depth for a dive and also my surface interval, which is critical to ensuring that you take adequate time on the surface in between dives. 

These retail for $400, but can be had for $250 if you know where to go / who to ask.

Depth competition:
In competition, as official gauge will be provided to the competitor which is calibrated and shared amongst all divers.  I will put my Aeris F.10 watch inside my hood so that I can hear the alarm loud and clear which will tell me when I am at 25m when I can stop kicking, bring my arm by my side, equalize my mask and take a mouthfill and relax / freefall to my target depth and just focus on equalizing.

Pool and depth competitions: 
Each diver is provided a specific starting time for which we can not be late or succumb to penalties or disqualification.  As a result, we often take out starting time and work backwards with a series of steps / processes and preparation that we want to perform at specific times in order to allow us to have the best chance of a successful  maximum attempt.


On my wrist you will find a Seiko "Orange Monster" which is water resistant to -200m.  It has an automatic movement with a screw-down crown.

I like the sweep motion of the automatic movement and the large centre seconds hand is key to ensuring that I know exactly when my start time is so that I can time my last 4-6 mins of breathe-up and more critically my last 3 breaths, including my final inhalation and any "lung packing" that I must perform before the "official top" starting time.

It's not overly fancy but it is legible and comfortable and can be found for less than $250.

 

Dry / land-based training and daily reminder:
Omega Seamaster Apnea - Jaques Mayol - WR 300m

On land for dry training, I like to use my Omega Seamaser- Apnea limited edition watch to time my breath holds.  It is designed for this very purpose and when worn daily in my "normal life", it serves as a good reminder to stay focused on freediving and to train regularly.  I often keep my latest "long" breath hold on the face to serve as a reminder.  Each dot fills with red over the course of a minute and the red hand indicates progress towards the next full minute.  It is a modified chronograph movement.

A picture of my personal best 5:31 breath hold, timed on the Omega Apnea watch

Jacques Mayol (first man to -100m) helped in the design of the watch and it features his name and insignia / logo on the case back

The Omega can be dressed up and I found these cuff links to be quite fitting, for a freediver...  :D