More Than A Sport: What Freediving Taught Me About Focus & Connection

A quiet descent into breathwork, focus, and a deeper sense of stillness in a world full of noise.  

By Joshua Ngugi
Editor Zowie Palliaer

Otherworldly: freediving gives you no choice but to slow down, find stillness and connect with yourself. Photo credit © @carlosluna.films.

I discovered freediving when Booking.com sent me to Watamu to write about excursions along the Kenyan coast. At the time, my life was hectic, and I was sinking in digital noise and deadlines. A copywriter by profession, my world was all about words. It was during this work trip that I realized the people I met were leading far more interesting and fulfilling lives.

In my search for grounding and deeper meaning, I found an incomparable – albeit unconventional – way to reconnect to my own breath and silence the mental chatter in my wake. The answer lay beneath the water’s surface, that tranquil space where words are silenced and a new world discovered. 

Simple curiosity kick-started my freediving journey. I learned to stop reaching for the next breath and start leaning into the one I already had. During my early experiences, I was surprised by how much of the challenge was in my mind. I eventually found that mental focus was the key to unlocking the great deep blue that I craved. 

A freediver dances along the line, capturing the balance between movement, relaxation, and ocean connection. Photo credit © @akivis.

The Shift Beneath the Surface

My transition into freediving happened gradually. I started my freediving journey with breathwork, which was a masterclass on the true capabilities of my body. Deep in the water, the frantic pace of everyday life dissolved, replaced by an intense connection to the ocean that felt both empowering and humbling. I also learned that the deeper I went, the calmer I became.

“Freediving taught me that when you quiet the mind, the body follows, revealing a state of self-awareness that I had yet to find on land.”

Freediving has changed how I relate to myself and the world around me. Today, I can confidently say that what started as a trial has become a mindset-shifting lifestyle that I’ll subscribe to forever. Beyond the water, I now use freediving as an internal compass to regulate myself – a reminder that I can always find center even in the most overwhelming of moments.

Freediving teaches you how to remain calm under pressure, a life skill you can bring beyond the ocean. Photo credit © @andac.kazar.

A Path Curved for All

An early lesson from my foray into freediving was that you don’t need to be an extreme athlete to hack it. Like any sport, freediving skills can be taught and trained. You just have to be willing to take that first wade into the water. Whether you’ve been searching for a way to connect with your inner self or an alternative physical discipline, the water welcomes all. 

So, if you’ve ever been curious about the mental benefits of freediving or found yourself getting overwhelmed by the mundanity of the daily grind, I encourage you to give it a go – wherever you are. It’s one of the most incredible ways to build awareness while connecting with your true potential.

Accessible from anywhere in the world, the Beginner Online Freediving Course was designed to let you dip your toes before diving in. You’ll learn the foundations of freediving – from breathwork and relaxation to safety and equalization – until you’re ready to transfer your skills to the water.