7 Reasons Why Freediving with a Monofin is Unique
By Kristina Zvaritch
When you hear the word freediving, what image comes to mind?
For many of us at Molchanovs International, we picture Alexey Molchanov, our co-founder, diving an incredible 131m (430ft) of depth wearing his signature gold-accented monofin. The monofin itself is a perfect representation of grace, speed, and depth as its shape is so similar to that of sea mammals, our very distant diving cousins. Molchanovs International is also well-known for the monofin, which was the first piece of freediving equipment created by Alexey and his mother, Natalia Molchanova, even before the Molchanovs International brand was created in 2010. Since the birth of the Molchanovs monofin, dozens of national and world records have been set with it.
It is safe to say that we are obsessed with monofins, and we want to share this obsession with our beloved freediving family. Check out 7 reasons why freediving with a monofin is so unique below!
We can’t forget the one reason to love monofins that everyone thinks about but doesn’t always say out loud - the photos are breathtaking! They make for truly ethereal memories (or social media profile photos) that stun our friends and family, bringing us closer to looking like true underwater beings.
Whatever your reason is for wanting to try diving with a monofin - accept it, embrace it, and bring out your wild side with our selection of Molchanovs monofins.
When you hear the word freediving, what image comes to mind?
For many of us at Molchanovs International, we picture Alexey Molchanov, our co-founder, diving an incredible 131m (430ft) of depth wearing his signature gold-accented monofin. The monofin itself is a perfect representation of grace, speed, and depth as its shape is so similar to that of sea mammals, our very distant diving cousins. Molchanovs International is also well-known for the monofin, which was the first piece of freediving equipment created by Alexey and his mother, Natalia Molchanova, even before the Molchanovs International brand was created in 2010. Since the birth of the Molchanovs monofin, dozens of national and world records have been set with it.
It is safe to say that we are obsessed with monofins, and we want to share this obsession with our beloved freediving family. Check out 7 reasons why freediving with a monofin is so unique below!
Amazing feeling
Whether you are diving on a line at an international competition or cruising along a glorious coral reef, there is just something supremely satisfying about undulating your body like a dolphin. It may be that using a monofin underwater feels like you’re flying weightlessly through space - or it might just be that the monofin awakens a hidden part of us that dreams of being a mermaid or merman!Fantastic photos
A new adventure
The best part of freediving is the seemingly endless journey towards self-improvement. With so many different disciplines to learn, techniques to practice, and places to train, you can never get bored! Learning monofin technique is a fantastic adventure - it takes time to perfect the movement, and that movement will take you to deeper depths that require further equalization and relaxation training. It’s a new beginning!Increased speed
Monofins are synonymous with speed. From their mighty origins in finswimming to the incredible dive times of some of today’s freediving athletes, it’s safe to say that monofins will get you where you need to be - and fast. Free Immersion (FIM) and Constant Weight No Fins (CNF) are known for their longer dive times, and bifins only translate into so much power. So if you want to significantly reduce your dive times to depth, set your sights on the monofin.More power
A single monofin = more surface area than 2 bifins. The math is simple! Additionally, more muscles in the torso are engaged with a monofin, while bifins use mostly lower body muscles. Of course, you need proper technique in order to truly harness the full power of the monofin in an efficient way. That is why we introduce the dolphin-kicking technique in the Molchanovs Wave 2 / Lap 2 course and continue perfecting it in further courses. Be warned though, it may be hard to go back to bifins after speeding through the underwater world with a monofin!Deeper depths
With the power and speed of the monofin, depth is only natural. While the longer dive times of other disciplines push the limits of your oxygen-carrying capacity, monofins get you to your desired depth faster and in a more efficient way - with the right technique, of course! That’s why all of the deepest freediving records of today are all in Constant Weight (CWT) with a monofin.More efficiency
Lactic acid build-up is only natural, but it presents less of a problem with the monofin when it comes to speed vs. effort spent. In FIM, your arms feel the burn the most, with bifins it’s your legs, and with CNF, both arms and legs suffer. But if you have a soft monofin and excellent technique, your finning efforts are spread over more muscle groups (such as the back and abdominals), making the build-up of lactic acid slower across specific muscles. You can still feel the burn, just later!Whatever your reason is for wanting to try diving with a monofin - accept it, embrace it, and bring out your wild side with our selection of Molchanovs monofins.
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