The Dangers of Free Diving | Science of Stupid: Ridiculous Fails

It is easy to forget how dangerous swimming underwater can be, especially when discussing free diving.

About Science of Stupid:
Science of Stupid shows the world's funniest fail clips and uses science to examine them.

About National Geographic:
National Geographic is the world's premium destination for science, exploration, and adventure. Through their world-class scientists, photographers, journalists, and filmmakers, Nat Geo gets you closer to the stories that matter and past the edge of what's possible.

Get More National Geographic:

The Dangers of Free Diving | Science of Stupid: Ridiculous Fails

National Geographic

[NatGeo]

The average person runs out of breath after a little more than a minute. What did you find most fascinating about the science behind free diving?

[jeythegrey]

Sadly, not much is explained here... So let me help:
when you dive, the pressure around you (from the water) compresses your lungs as they are filled with air. This compression leads to compression of the gases as well, which makes it easier for the lungs to absorb the remaining oxygen in it. The pressure also compresses the gases that are usually in solution (like nitrogen) in your blood.
When you now swim back to the surface too fast, because you feel the need to breathe, your lung rapidly decompresses as the gases expand, making it much harder to extract oxygen. You suddenly have way too little oxygen in your system from the rapid pressure drop, making you fall unconscious (brain and muscle tissue are deprived of oxygen). On top of that, gases that were compressed in your blood, also expand quickly, forming bubbles in your blood that can block blood vessels and lead to infarcts.

[hubertmarchand]

Decompression sickness does not happen in freediving unless you are doing multiple deep dives one after the other. Not enought time to accumulate nitrogen

[androopr]

I can’t believe this made it to National Geographic’s page... this guy doesn’t sound like he has ever dove

[lucashandley]

If the intention was to give information to the public in order to educate and make it safer for people; you missed explaining the part which is the most dangerous.... hyperventilating. Taking big breaths before you hold your breath is literally the most dangerous thing people can do for freediving.
No “breath up, ” no yogic breathing, no WimHof... that’ll kill you if you mix it with freediving. Tell people not to do this and you’ve done your job.

There, now people are safer.

[stoicfreediver]

Click bait — poor quality content. Deleting this is a great idea. Do some research with actual freedivers next time.

[darling_]

Imagine diving and and all of sudden you hear something says: *Detecting multiple leviathan class lifeforms in the region. Are you certain whatever you are doing is worth it?*

[michenesi]

Freediving is a real discovery. You can feel so much while underwater. Is it dangerous? Yes it is. That is why you have to take a serious course and never do it alone. To say that it is too dangerous and not fascinating: that is stupid!

[pattravels]

Superficial and misleading info about freediving. Really a shame.

[DonutMaple]

Wow... I was expecting more when I saw the Natgeo logo

[MargoIndigo]

“flippers”
us divers: *imma take my gear and head out*

[ElNietoPR]

This video feels like an early 2000’s discovery channel segment

[Ali]

This video needed to be fact checked. The guy lists a bunch of dangers that are only present for scuba divers 😂

[zachwalker]

I don’t like the approach. The title is definitely click bate but they are driving fear. The shark chasing the diver after his turn in the cartoon is a clear representation of this. Freediving must be performed with safety, knowledge and a buddy but this seems like more of a smear campaign then science video. Plus who names a series Science of stupid. What a negative name for something meant to be educational.

[DeshaunD]

Just hearing the term *free-diving* reminds me of Audrey Mestrè & gives me chills. RIP 🙏🏾

[nexofilipe]

I remember when discovery channel resonated with knowledge rather than clickbait and silly scripted text.

[wildeast]

Neither neitrogen narcosis nor decompression sickness are a problem of free divers. At least not if not done extremely. For both you have to spend a significant amount of time in the depths, which can not be reached easily by apnoe diving.

[juniorsmith]

I doo spearfishing for a living and every freediver know the depths they can dive to .your body tells you when to stop .or when to tho back up ⬆️.

[l.h.g]

Free diving seems very fun, but I couldn't try it because I didn't have a chance. I admire the fact that the free diver in the video broke his record. After watching the video, I wanted to give it a try. It was surprising to see the free diver in the video diving across the size of a soccer field while holding his breath. When a beginner diver dives, he learns that oxygen is supplied to his head and delivered to his vital organs.

[Bigfoot_With_Internet_Access]

This is why we bigfoots never go free diving