Freediving, Embodiment and Humanity – Joanna Rutkowska
Joanna Rutkowska explores the relationship between freediving and the human experience in her article. She discusses the physical and psychological aspects of the urge to breathe while diving, emphasizing the tension between the desire to stay underwater and the body's instinct to breathe. Rutkowska suggests that understanding and managing these sensations can enhance one's experience of freediving and, by extension, life itself.
- ▪Freediving allows individuals to explore underwater without the use of tanks, providing a sense of freedom and unity with the environment.
- ▪The urge to breathe (UTB) is a primordial reflex that can be managed by understanding its physical symptoms.
- ▪Most humans experience UTB symptoms due to rising carbon dioxide levels rather than falling oxygen levels.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
19 Mar 2026 16 min read Freediving, Embodiment and Humanity In this post I'd like to utilize my experience with freediving as an excuse to talk about a bunch of seemingly contrasting qualities and emotions, which together — I feel — illustrate some deeper aspects of experiencing humanity. For me, at least, freediving has turned out a surprisingly useful tool in this endeavor.Freediving is a curious activity. You take a deep breath and off you go — a few tens of meters under water: 30, 40, 50m, maybe more if you're really good. Or maybe just 20m deep, but for a more relaxed fundive, enjoying flying in 3D space among rocks, coral reef or wrecks. We don't need all those clunky tanks with air or other gases, which scuba divers are so dependent upon.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Traces Of Humanity.
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