Daniel Koval spent much of his youth in the waters off of Southern California. He loved the ocean and took to surfing, but did not love competing with grown men and waiting his turn for waves. Then, when he was 12, his father gave him a speargun.
"The first time I went out spearfishing it was a whole other world. There was nothing like it. There was no waiting in a lineup for your turn, like with surfing," Koval said. "It was just me and ocean. In Southern California they have these underwater kelp forests, and it's such a beautiful environment. After a few times out, I actually speared a fish, brought it home and we ate it for dinner. It was such a cool experience, I was hooked."
Today Koval is one of the top American freedivers, holding his breath for six minutes under water, and hitting 273 feet during the 2016 Caribbean Cup freediving competition. In 2011 he started his own freediving school in Oahu, Deep Freediving Instruction.
Hawaii has some of the best freediving locations in the United States, according to Koval. On the Kona side of Hawaii Island, "it drops off deep and the volcanoes block the wind, it's perfect conditions year round," he said.
Oahu is a good spot to start the sport, he said, because even though the drop-offs are not generally as deep, there are several shipwrecks in shallow waters that are perfect for exploring. Koval says he prefers total novices, because they don't have to unlearn poor technique.
"People who are just beginning are a sponge, but someone who has been spear fishing for five years may have some bad habits you have to break first," Koval said. "People right off the street can sometimes do better than other, more experienced divers."
In a day and a half Koval teaches beginner students the skills needed to hold their breath for three minutes, and dive as deep as 66 feet. Although Koval says when he is teaching rookies he focuses on safety and technique, and does not strive to hit any predetermined depth or length of time underwater.
"Once you have the technique down, the depth will come," he said. "Safety is the most important thing in freediving."
Unlike the tank and tubes that are required for scuba, with freediving you simply wear a snorkel, wetsuit and fins. You can move more easily, hear sounds underwater much better and dive more quickly. Still, there are safety precautions that must be taken to avoid injuries and other problems related to changing pressure as divers descend and ascend. Koval starts to students off with a primer on physiology and what happens to the body when humans dive holding their breath.
Many people have a moment of panic when learning to scuba related to the unnatural state of breathing underwater. While freediving takes practice and acclimation, Koval said there isn't as much of a mental barrier.
"You're not supposed to be able to breathe underwater, but people are supposed to hold their breath and dive. People have been freediving since 5,000 B.C.," Koval said. "People have a hard time realizing they can actually hold their breath for this long. It takes a little while to get over that."
For more information on freediving, and to find a certified instructor at your destination, visit Freediving Instructors International.