|
|
|
|
|
Reviewed by Rik Rösken Terry Maas and David Sniperly's book on breath-hold diving is already a widely discussed and revieuwed book since its release in 1998. With the book however still in circulation and the recent release of new manuals as Andres-Brümmer's Apnoe Tauchen and Pelizzari's Manual of Freediving a fresh revieuw of the book could assist the reader searching for information. When revieuwing the book, the first impression is its dimension. While most breath-hold diving books come in small handy sizes, Freedive! suprises with its coffee-table size and over 150 illustrations. The book adresses the history of breath-hold diving, physiology, the gear, technique, photography, underwater hockey, monofins, Game gathering and competitive breath-hold diving. As the content might already suggest, Freedive! describes breath-hold diving in its broadest sense, it further has a practical approach where theory is accompanied with experiences of the authors and their friends. This specifically make the chapters on physiology easy to read and to grasp and some of the suggestions can be eventually inspiring for already established breath-hold divers. Eventually the overvieuw of the different disciplines of breath-hold diving can be inspiring for readers skilled in one specific discipline, but having the wish to learn more about their 'sportive relatives' in the water. In the past years, monofinning techniques have conquered the competitive breath-hold diving scene and it is shortshighted not to change ideas and intrests with other breath-holding sports enthousiasts. While breath-hold diving can be a quite intreging sport, freedive! enthousiasm and technique of telling it from a practical approach might perhaps sometimes irritating for those divers searching for a plain and straight forward book. It also misses the structure and step by step approach that turns Apnoetauchen in such a formidable book and Snorkeling fun in such a addition for skindivers. The practical and experience background also have effects on its content when regarding the content on training and competitive breath-hold diving. While the techniques presentend in the book could be a worthwhile asset to breath-hold diving sessions, it has a conservative approach towards competitive breath-hold diving and training and might not satisfy divers in search of the magic bullet. Pelizzari's Manual of Freediving could be more informative on that subject. Conclusion Overall, while the book dates from 1998, it still proves to be worthwhile attribution to the divers library, especially when for those who have a broad intrest in the sport. For those who are more medically intrested or are searching for increasing their performance, the earlier mentioned books might answer their questions better. Terry Maas, David Sniperly Other revieuwed freediving manuals on this site: A Overvieuw of Free Diving Manuals Sold trough Amazon.co.uk, DiveNow.nl
|