Happy Woman’s Month!

Janet Rudman

03/08/2022

Reflecting on how the face of freediving has changed over the passed few years.

Approximately 8 years ago my freediving journey began. A female on the boat was limited. Usually surrounded by men or Spearo’s.

The boys used to laugh at the base layered mask after the dive, and used to ask how the liquid eyeliner and lipstick stayed on throughout the dive….. colour stay!

As much as I love my male freediving friends it has also been great to have lovely female friends on the boat too…. Who also do their make up before the dive.

It was interesting to note that at this years South African Freediving Nationals that there were more female competitors than men.

From boring coloured green or black weight belts, and black masks … the suppliers have also changed with the times. So we now have a selection of pretty colours to choose from. With custom floats and wetsuits including pink is even now an option.

What is also something to consider is that woman’s jeans and belt buckles in clothing is on the opposite side to mens. Although it is taught to wear your weight belt right hand release, you can actually wear the belt either right or left hand release, as way less equipment compared to scuba. Probably a good idea to show your buddy before you enter , but if your dominant side is the left as on most woman’s clothing , then that’s the side it’s going to be safest for you.

Mermaiding has also become popular of late. And this is essentially a form of freediving while looking pretty & graceful at the same time.

It has been wonderful to see freediving growing as it has over the past few years! Keep it up girls !

#freedivingjohannesburg #freedivingjoburg #jhbmermaids

Mermaiding Level 2

Lindi Eksteen

31/07/2022

Early spring can already be sensed in the air as certain plants start flowering such as the lovely Jasmin. Grateful for the less icy early morning, we arrived to start our mermaid level 2 course at 8 am. The kettle was boiling and treats were brought as we also celebrated our instructor, Janet's birthday coming up. Quiche, snacks, cakes and doughnuts were then served with delicious coffee and tea while Janet started teaching us the Naui Mermaiding Level 2 course theory where after we had to write a test, which I am happy to report we all passed! Then there was a quick opening of presents brought for Janet before we jumped into the water for the practical.

We started off with a 200m swim, a 10 minutes float preceded by a 2 minute static breath hold and rescue techniques. Some of the girls were quite worried about statics, but to their own surprise they all achieved the 2 minute goal and many created new PB's! A quick lunch break was had where after we swam a dynamic monofin swim of 25m which was followed by a challenging 30m rescue swim.

One more test to pass was removing your tail and monofin and then putting it all back on again afloat in the water. Every student was thrilled to have passed the course and even though we have been in the water for a couple of hours, there was always time for a quick fun swim afterwards where we did lots of tricks. Some of the mermaids wore their new tails for the first time ever which they were delighted to show off.

Finishing off at around 4pm we were ready to head home and kick up our feet. I cannot emphasize enough what an incredible instructor we have. Janet Rudman, our lives truly are so much better with you in it!

Freedive Baitball Photo Dare

Lindi Eksteen

25/07/2022

Have you ever seen 16 freedivers in one photo each visible and in frame? Well you're in luck because this close-knit community of Freediving Johannesburg made it happen!

On Sunday 24 July 16 freedivers head out to Miracle Waters on a sextuple dare from Janet, founder and instructor of Freediving Johannesburg to dive the chilly winter waters for the freedive baitball photo challenge. This, after 13 freedivers accepted a quadruple dare the weekend before at Bass Lake diving waters at a very chilly 13 degrees Celsius.

We all arrived extra prepared. Those who didn't have hoodies before now had them, and not forgetting gloves either. To our relief the waters were quite a bit warmer than Bass Lake measuring temperatures at a pleasant 17 degrees C.

Janet had new students there who were doing their open water practical for the freediving course that they were attending over that weekend, and all did exceptionally well.

We all suited up and wasted no time to get in the water and submerge as far down as possible. Dirk Botha and Gene van Heerden were diving to the sunken mini-bus with witch I joined in. A few others were diving at the big sunken platforms with Adam Bown. Then we heard the call, "come it's time" !

Underwater photographer Albert Smuts is ready with his gear. There were three buoy lines next to each other for the photo 'bait-ball' attempt. I directed, grouping people into 4 groups counting them in when to dive down, and explaining how and where they should be positioned. As I shouted to the divers to go, I went down on the last count to get my spot. I remember looking over to the whole group to observe the sight and what a splendid view it was! Everybody positioned perfectly, and we got the shot on the first try!

I can only imagine what we will get up to next ..