Don’t risk it for a photo: Veteran diver warns of health, safety risks as freediving takes off in Vietnam

Recently, freediving – an extreme sport that requires participants to master proper diving techniques – has gained popularity in Vietnamese coastal destinations with coral reefs and beautiful sandy beaches such as Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, and Phu Quy.

The underwater sport involves diving to depth on a single breath, without using compressed-air tanks or other breathing equipment.

The sport has become particularly trendy this summer, with many attempting to capture eye-catching photos and videos for social media.

For a picture-perfect moment that could attract millions of views online, participants often dive to depths of six to ten meters and need to master techniques such as fin kicking, treading water, equalizing ear pressure, and static breath-holding.

With more than 10 years of diving experience, Nguyen Thuy Vu, project director of the Van San Dao Coral project, which aims to restore and regenerate coral reefs in Nha Trang Bay, Khanh Hoa Province, said freediving is an internationally recognized extreme sport within the diving sector.

According to Vu, freediving is not a sport for everyone.

Participants must hold their breath and keep their airways closed while following proper safety techniques for breathing, breath-holding, and diving.

“People should not put themselves at risk just for photos or videos for social media, because pressure changes significantly as the body descends underwater, directly affecting the cochlea and creating pressure on it,” Vu said.

Those who attempt to capture attractive footage without mastering proper techniques can easily suffer from middle-ear infections, a perforated eardrum, and other injuries.

To minimize risks when freediving, Vu advised participants to pay attention to their cardiovascular health, blood pressure, vestibular system, and other health conditions.

Freedivers should always have a companion with them, remain mentally calm and stable, get enough sleep, and maintain a nutritious diet.

People with a history of being easily startled should avoid the sport, he said.

Vu also highlighted the importance of protecting the marine ecosystem.

Freedivers should avoid using sunscreen,as it can affect coral reefs, and should control their fins carefully to avoid touching or damaging marine life.