What to Pack for Your First Freediving Trip
By Kristina Zvaritch
Finally - it’s time to leave the real world behind and go on your first-ever freediving trip! But wait - what to bring?
It can be an exciting week leading up to your first freediving trip, but it can also be stressful if you’re unsure what to pack! You definitely don’t want to get caught far from home and not have the gear you need - but you also don’t want to overpack because freediving gear is heavy, and airlines have hefty fees for overweight bags.
Talk about pressure!
But take a breath, freedivers - we know the struggle is real, which is why we’ve compiled a list of essential and location-specific gear, plus how to travel with it all. Check it out below!
If you have anti-fog spray, pack that as well - if not, spit should do the trick! Just remember that while brand-new masks with glass lenses can be pre-treated with toothpaste to remove the protective inner layer, masks with plastic lenses should NOT be pre-treated with anything since toothpaste will scratch and ruin the lenses. Masks with plastic lenses already come ready to go diving - you can use spit or anti-fog spray to prevent fogging if it is an issue!
Remember, the Molchanovs CORE Freediving Mask comes with an EVA mask case and hook attachment for strapping it outside your bag!
But even if you’re only fun diving, you can use your lanyard to secure something to your wrist (hello, underwater camera!). Plus, you never know if a surprise line training opportunity will pop up - so pack your Molchanovs PRO Freediving Lanyard 2 just in case!
Wetsuits are essential for colder waters and protection against jellyfish stings (not to mention sun protection). So, if you’re venturing into these types of conditions, you better pack a wetsuit just in case! Plus, even in warmer waters, if you get too hot, you can always take the pants off and dive with just the top (if you have a two-piece wetsuit).
Don’t have a wetsuit yet? Check out what type of wetsuit you should buy for freediving!
PRO TIP: If you haven’t yet invested in a set of Bifin Blade Protection to shield your blades from scratches in your bag, you can wrap your wetsuit around the blades for added protection. Just make sure the wetsuit lining is on the outside if you have a smoothskin- or glideskin-coated wetsuit!
The Molchanovs Lead Weights paired with the Molchanovs CORE Silicone Weight Belt can add splashes of color to your freediving getup.
Okay...now comes the not-so-fun part - packing your equipment and taking it with you to the airport. We know it’s hard, which is why we created a whole guide on how to travel with your freediving bifins and monofin.
Remember that there are a ton of Molchanovs products that can help you travel worry-free!
Short Bifins Bag: Perfect for carrying your CORE Silicone Bifins or short bifins + mask, snorkel, wetsuit, and more!
Lightweight Bifins Bag 3: This bag is ideal for short, quick trips to the pool or dive sites and easily packs away into your suitcase on big trips.
Lightweight Monofin Bag 3: This is the lightweight solution for carrying your monofin and other gear for short distances - you can easily pack it up when you’re not using it.
Semihard Monofin Bag 2: Presenting the sturdier solution for your monofin - removable plastic inserts give the bag a tough half-shell, and extra pockets can store other equipment!
We can’t talk about a freediving trip without mentioning the #1 rule in freediving - never freedive alone, only with a trained buddy! This is sometimes disregarded by some if they are snorkeling with partners or friends who don’t freedive...but you need to remember that your partner/friend won’t know how to help you if something goes wrong - and the same goes for scuba divers at a dive site.
So skip diving to depth unless you’re with a certified freediver - your family and friends will thank you for it.
Bookmark this guide for your next freediving adventure to guarantee a well-prepared gear bag and a freediving adventure you’ll (hopefully) never forget!
Finally - it’s time to leave the real world behind and go on your first-ever freediving trip! But wait - what to bring?
It can be an exciting week leading up to your first freediving trip, but it can also be stressful if you’re unsure what to pack! You definitely don’t want to get caught far from home and not have the gear you need - but you also don’t want to overpack because freediving gear is heavy, and airlines have hefty fees for overweight bags.
Talk about pressure!
But take a breath, freedivers - we know the struggle is real, which is why we’ve compiled a list of essential and location-specific gear, plus how to travel with it all. Check it out below!
Essential Gear
Below are the must-have items in your gear bag, regardless of where you are going!Photo by @akivis
Mask
You’ll definitely want to see everything in the deep blue sea (or lake!), so get that mask in your bag! But if it’s a plastic mask, make sure to put it into a case because plastic lenses scratch easily!If you have anti-fog spray, pack that as well - if not, spit should do the trick! Just remember that while brand-new masks with glass lenses can be pre-treated with toothpaste to remove the protective inner layer, masks with plastic lenses should NOT be pre-treated with anything since toothpaste will scratch and ruin the lenses. Masks with plastic lenses already come ready to go diving - you can use spit or anti-fog spray to prevent fogging if it is an issue!
Remember, the Molchanovs CORE Freediving Mask comes with an EVA mask case and hook attachment for strapping it outside your bag!
Snorkel
Even though snorkels don’t always look that cute in freediving photos and videos, you’ll definitely still need one at the surface and for safetying! Check out the Molchanovs CORE Freediving Snorkel in 4 eye-popping colors!Fins
Get to where you’re going faster with freediving bifins! Whether you’re rocking the CORE Silicone Bifins, SPORT Bifins 3 Fiberglass, or the PRO Bifins 3 Carbon, you’re guaranteed to pop in your underwater photos and videos!Lanyard
Line diving or not, you can never go wrong with a lanyard! On a line, a lanyard keeps you connected to the line, protects you from floating away in the current, and stops you from losing the line in darker waters. It’s an essential piece of safety equipment and will keep you attached to the line if a blackout happens, enabling your buddy to pull you back up to the surface.But even if you’re only fun diving, you can use your lanyard to secure something to your wrist (hello, underwater camera!). Plus, you never know if a surprise line training opportunity will pop up - so pack your Molchanovs PRO Freediving Lanyard 2 just in case!
Sunblock
Protect your delicate skin - sunblock is a must, and your skin will thank you after your dive session and when you’re older! Pack reef-safe sunscreen or zinc for skin protection (if you’re using zinc, consider bringing a special cleanser or make-up remover for easy removal).Location-specific Gear
Okay, so we’ve covered essential gear. But depending on where you’re going, you might have to take things one or two steps further!Wetsuit
Photo by @akivis
Wetsuits are essential for colder waters and protection against jellyfish stings (not to mention sun protection). So, if you’re venturing into these types of conditions, you better pack a wetsuit just in case! Plus, even in warmer waters, if you get too hot, you can always take the pants off and dive with just the top (if you have a two-piece wetsuit).
Don’t have a wetsuit yet? Check out what type of wetsuit you should buy for freediving!
PRO TIP: If you haven’t yet invested in a set of Bifin Blade Protection to shield your blades from scratches in your bag, you can wrap your wetsuit around the blades for added protection. Just make sure the wetsuit lining is on the outside if you have a smoothskin- or glideskin-coated wetsuit!
Dive computer
If you’re going line training or fun diving in deeper waters, you’ll need a dive computer to monitor how deep you’re going, how long you’ve been under, and how long your surface interval is. Even if you’re going fun diving in shallower waters, a dive computer can be very useful on your wrist. So play it safe and strap that expensive baby onto your wrist!Weights
If you are wearing a wetsuit, you’ll definitely need some freediving weights to offset that extra buoyancy. But if you’re training or fun diving with a school, it’s a great idea to ask them if you can rent them or if they’re included in your training/trip first! Otherwise...we wish you luck carrying those heavy little guys around and protecting the rest of your gear from them!The Molchanovs Lead Weights paired with the Molchanovs CORE Silicone Weight Belt can add splashes of color to your freediving getup.
Other helpful gear to consider
These are optional things you can bring depending on where you go and how you’re diving:- Extra carabiners: Useful for attaching extra things to the buoy
- Floats for open water training: Bring a surface marker buoy (SMB) to float on if you like to do your relaxation breathing vertically or an inflatable neck pillow if you like doing your relaxation breathing on your back
- Gloves: Useful for protection against jellyfish, and you can cut off the pointer finger and thumb fabric, so nose clip removal is a breeze
- Vinegar in a spray bottle: Spray on your skin immediately after jellyfish stings
- Calamine lotion: Apply to your skin if those pesky jellyfish have already done their damage
- Coconut oil: Since coconut oil a hydrator, long-haired freedivers can rub it into their hair before diving to protect their hair from absorbing pool or salt water
Traveling with your Gear
Photo by @kuenok
Okay...now comes the not-so-fun part - packing your equipment and taking it with you to the airport. We know it’s hard, which is why we created a whole guide on how to travel with your freediving bifins and monofin.
Remember that there are a ton of Molchanovs products that can help you travel worry-free!
Bifins
Short Bifins Bag: Perfect for carrying your CORE Silicone Bifins or short bifins + mask, snorkel, wetsuit, and more!
Lightweight Bifins Bag 3: This bag is ideal for short, quick trips to the pool or dive sites and easily packs away into your suitcase on big trips.
Monofin
Monofin Blade Protection: The same protective blade insert as the Bifin Blade Protection, but big enough to shield your delicate monofin from bumps and bruises!Lightweight Monofin Bag 3: This is the lightweight solution for carrying your monofin and other gear for short distances - you can easily pack it up when you’re not using it.
Semihard Monofin Bag 2: Presenting the sturdier solution for your monofin - removable plastic inserts give the bag a tough half-shell, and extra pockets can store other equipment!
Bifins and Monofin
Hard Case: The Hard Case is the ultimate solution for long-distance travel with lots of freediving gear. A 100-liter hard luggage case on 4 wheels can easily hold all of your equipment, including bifins and a monofin (at the same time!). Perfect for air travel!Never Freedive Alone
Photo by @akivis
We can’t talk about a freediving trip without mentioning the #1 rule in freediving - never freedive alone, only with a trained buddy! This is sometimes disregarded by some if they are snorkeling with partners or friends who don’t freedive...but you need to remember that your partner/friend won’t know how to help you if something goes wrong - and the same goes for scuba divers at a dive site.
So skip diving to depth unless you’re with a certified freediver - your family and friends will thank you for it.
Final Thoughts
After reading this post, you should be fully prepared for your first freediving trip with all your essential gear and location-specific gear - and know how to travel with it! Remember, the more efficient you are with planning and packing your gear, the less you’ll have to spend on surprise rental gear, and the easier your transit will be.Bookmark this guide for your next freediving adventure to guarantee a well-prepared gear bag and a freediving adventure you’ll (hopefully) never forget!
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