The evolution of Freediving over the last 10 – 15 years has been pretty ‘breath-taking’ especially in depth and competition diving. One area I’m glad we are keeping up is in the area of safety as the performances are increasing year on year and deep line Freediving still remains a very safe sport. The aptly named Evolution II lanyard (belt version) is a good example of the evolution and improvement of Freediving safety on the equipment front.
Previously these lanyards were put together around the world in an ad-hoc way from bits and bobs out of tool boxes, sheds and for the richer Freedivers, maybe even a trip to a local hardware store. Then they would turn up at International events and if they made it past the full weight of the judges testing, some still failed during the dive. This design, which has been ISO tested in the lab, gives us a real chance to maintain of a good level of quality during competition events and deep training.
The main purpose of this specific design is for Constant weight no fins (CNF) but it also a useful belt for those wanting to do Constant weight with fins (CWT) and wish to leave the lanyard off the wrist and on the waist out of the way. The Velcro waist strap comes in three sizes to ensure perfect fit, it has the choice of stainless or aluminum carabiners so you can decide on the weight of the lanyard and how the carabiner sinks, and comes in different lengths and is interchangeable so a very versatile piece of equipment that the Freediver can adapt to their own needs. It has anti-slip material on the inside, and it ships with an optional extra safety webbing for deeper dives as well as a tag pad that may be needed in competitions. It is compliant with AIDA standards and rules so ideal for competition use.
A short video discussing the benefits and how to use the belt can be seen here
John Moorcroft, current UK DNF record holder, who is also one of the UKs main CNF divers after using the equipment during the UKs demanding conditions this season said
“The velcro provides really secure waist fastening whilst being an easy quick release. A bright yellow tag gives a good visual grabbing point to release the lanyard quickly with no fumbling. No moving parts or clip releases mean that you are very unlikely to release it accidentally. The lanyard itself is a plastic coated wire cable attaching to the depth line via a basic aluminum carabiner unlikely to seize or rust. Clipping onto the line is smooth and easy. The plastic moulding with a swivel which encases the attachment of the lanyard to the cable means that kinking or tangling of the lanyard is virtually impossible. When diving with the lanyard the cable provides no perceptible resistance during the dive, so much so that you hardly know you are wearing it. I’ve done numerous dives over 60m both in constant weight and CNF using this lanyard and it is perfect. We have also tested it in recovery and the lanyard holds with no issues. In summary, this is a great product. and I would recommend it to anyone wanting a waist lanyard.”
He also went on to point out that the stainless D-ring on the waist can also be used to use inflation devices to lift the diver, it is substantial enough.
Here is a short video of one of the outdoor tests:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoxluw7VFJI&feature=youtu.be
On recent testing with Stavros Kastrinakis in Greece Tim Oehmingen (athlete from Germany men´s team) said
“We tested it on 40m with CB (2m per second ascent) I expected to bend over with my back and that it would be a very bad position for squeezes and for getting water in the lungs. Actually I was pulled in a way that I sat very comfortable on the lanyard. It was a little bit slightly like in an embryo position. I have no doubts that this is actually the ideal position for being pulled up and I’m surprised this worked so nicely.”
In conclusion, I would say this is a great addition to any Freedivers wishlist for safety, convenience and comfort. A very professionally, well thought out, quality piece of equipment.
Features
- Simple quick-release mechanism
- Worn on the waist
- Inner side of the belt is covered with an anti-slippery material
- Cable length 90 cm
- Sizes: M (waist: 75–85 cm), L (waist: 85–95 cm), XL (waist: 95–105 cm)
Price
- EUR60
Where to Buy
- Visit www.freexperience.com for more details.
