Freediving Lanyard

The freediving lanyard and safety accessories for freediving

The freediving lanyard is the safety cable that connects the freediver to the descent line during deep dives. This category includes safety accessories dedicated to freediving: the Mares lanyard with quick release. 

The lanyard is mandatory equipment during recognized freediving competitions and is strongly recommended in all courses and open-water training sessions. Its main function is to ensure that the freediver remains attached to the descent line in the event of deep-water blackout or loss of control, allowing the safety team to locate and recover the athlete quickly.

Types of safety accessories available

The available model is the Mares Freediving Lanyard with Quick Release, featuring a braided steel cable with yellow PVC coating, 100 cm length, wrist strap with quick-release system, stainless steel carabiner, and two swivel joints at the ends. The yellow color of the cable meets a technical/regulatory requirement: visibility in the water, allowing safety divers to immediately identify the athlete’s position. The swivel joints, positioned at both ends of the cable, prevent it from twisting around itself during descent and ascent, helping avoid any potential interference with movement.

How to choose safety accessories for freediving

Choosing safety accessories starts with identifying the intended use: competition, course, or independent training.

For those practicing competitive freediving in dynamic and depth disciplines (CWT, CNF, FIM), the lanyard is required by regulations. In this context, a model with quick release is the most suitable technical choice: the system allows the safety diver to free the freediver from the line quickly in an emergency, without having to get close to the wrist strap or manipulate the closure under stress. 

For those diving in open water during training or federation courses, the lanyard is strongly recommended for all line dives beyond 12 meters. Italian federation regulations (FIPSAS-DS) require the use of a lanyard even in poor visibility, regardless of depth. In these contexts, combining the cable with a signaling light provides a more complete safety setup.

One factor to consider is the wearing point: in constant weight with fins (CWT) descents, the lanyard is worn on the wrist; in free immersion without fins (FIM), it is worn on the ankle; in constant weight without fins (CNF), it is worn on the belt. The available model is compatible with all three methods of use.

Materials and technical features

The braided steel cable with PVC coating combines mechanical strength and flexibility. The braided stainless steel maintains high holding strength even under tension, while the yellow PVC coating protects the metal from the marine environment and ensures visibility in the water.

The 360° swivel joints are technical connection components positioned between the cable and the wrist strap on one side, and between the cable and the carabiner on the other. Their function is to allow the system to rotate freely in both directions, eliminating the torsion that naturally builds up as the freediver’s body rotates in the water. A twisted cable can create resistance to movement and, in more serious cases, interfere with an emergency recovery.

The quick-release system on the wrist strap allows the cable to be released from the wrist with a single, direct action, even while wearing gloves or under pressure. This feature is critical during emergency procedures, where release speed is essential to the athlete’s safety.

The 100 cm length is the standard used in international competitions and in the teaching protocols of the main federations: a size that provides sufficient freedom of movement along the line without creating excessive bulk.

Practical use

During an open-water training session or competition, the lanyard is prepared before the descent and worn at the correct point according to the discipline practiced. The wrist strap is fastened around the wrist or ankle with enough tension to ensure a secure hold without restricting circulation. Before the descent, the carabiner is clipped to the descent line: from that moment, the freediver can descend while maintaining a physical connection to the guide line.

During the descent, the cable slides along the line following the freediver’s movement. At the surface, the safety diver always has visual contact with the yellow cable and can intervene immediately if needed. In an emergency, the quick release allows both the athlete and the safety diver to free the system in just a few seconds.

In federation freediving courses, using the lanyard is an integral part of the teaching curriculum starting from the basic levels. Learning how to wear it correctly, manage the carabiner along the line, and perform the quick release efficiently are skills developed in the pool before being applied in open water.

Available brands

Mares is the brand offering the Freediving Lanyard with Quick Release in this category. Mares is an Italian manufacturer with a long history in the underwater equipment and freediving sector, and its lanyard is available in two versions: the classic model with standard carabiner and the model with quick-release system. 

Conclusion

The Freediving Safety category at Deep Blue brings together technical accessories designed for the freediver’s personal protection during deep dives: the Mares lanyard with quick release for connection to the descent line. This product meets concrete technical requirements and federally recognized safety protocols, and is an essential item in competition as well as a recommended device for every open-water freediving session beyond 12 meters of depth.