Diving at Håkonsvern, 14.-16. March

Every freediver’s dream is to have a deep pool in the back yard to go training, even when the sea is too cold. The 18m deep tank located at the diving school of the Norwegian Navy in Håkonsvern, Bergen, is exactly this kind of place.

This is where I had my first monofin experience two years ago. Last weekend, I and 5 other freedivers from Oslo Freediving Club, went back to Håkonsvern for some fun diving and training in the wonderfully deep pool.

It’s not every day that civilians gain entry to Håkonsvern and especially not to go diving in the tank, but with the help and good connections of Trond Klimek, a freediver and teacher at the diving school, we were set up with two diving sessions both Saturday and Sunday.

After a briefing about the tank and the training that goes on there, we got the swim suits on and went to jump into the 33 degree hot water. Then silence fell, only interrupted by breathing sounds and fins breaking the water.

I used the chance to practice some frc dives (breathing out), equalization and “no-fins” diving. I realized that in order to do some proper breast strokes, I will have to use my nose clip instead of the mask and maybe get a pair of fluid googles. Good experiences in preparation for the deep diving in Dahab in April!

My sinuses were giving me some problems equalizing both the last session on Saturday and on the first one on Sunday. But still, just being in the nice, blue water, blowing air rings from 7m or hanging around at 10m was making me very happy.

Of course on a club trip like this, we were chatting about techniques and training, equipment and gossip. We watched the extended edition of The Big Blue and had a big portion of Italian pasta. All in all a very nice weekend and a big thanks to those who make it happen (Steinar? Gordon? Noen andre?) and to Trond of course J Hope to see the Oslo freedivers again soon!