Freediving Lanyards: Parts, Care, and Choosing the Right One

At first glance, a freediving lanyard looks like little more than a leash — but there's a lot more going on than meets the eye. 

By Kristina Zvaritch
Editor Deena Lynch & Oliver Christen-Drew

Photo © @andac.kazar

As any freediver will tell you, open water conditions aren’t always perfect (unless you’re diving in a deep pool, of course!). For example, visibility can often be a luxury instead of the norm, and underwater currents can pick up out of nowhere in the middle of a session. An optimist would tell you that this is what makes freediving so fun and unpredictable—and also makes you truly appreciate the good days.

But a realist would pull out a freediving lanyard and tell you that bad conditions are exactly why a freediving lanyard is so important! A lanyard looks like a leash, and honestly functions like one, too. In unpredictable currents, it keeps you from drifting away from the line; in bad visibility (or a flooded mask situation), it gives you an anchor to find the line and pull yourself up.

Perhaps most importantly, if a freediver accidentally blacks out, a lanyard keeps them connected to the line, no matter the current or depth. If the victim blacks out too deep for their buddy to rescue, the buddy can immediately start pulling the line up—with the victim still attached—until they reach a manageable depth for rescue.

But how much do you really know about freediving lanyards? Keep reading and test your knowledge!

Lanyard Anatomy

A Molchanovs instructor holds up the carabiner of a freediving lanyard to show her students. Photo © @andac.kazar.

Carabiner

Every freediving lanyard has a carabiner, which clips around the dive line for the entire dive. This carabiner must be large enough to move freely up and down the rope. It should also have a gate that opens easily and closes automatically when released. Unlike the carabiners used to attach a dive line to a buoy, lanyard carabiners do not include a locking sleeve, so they can be removed quickly in case of entanglement (or other emergencies).

Materials

Generally, there are three types of carabiners: stainless steel (must be marine-grade), aluminium, and carbon. Each material has its own advantages depending on your preferred discipline, and everyone has their own preferences. In short, stainless steel carabiners are heavier, which means they sink quite fast. On the other hand, aluminium and carbon fiber carabiners are much lighter, which means they drift behind you while you dive.

Aluminium carabiner on the 2.5mm Freediving Lanyard.

If you attach the lanyard cuff to your wrist during a free immersion dive, a heavier carabiner will bounce against your hand on every pull of the descent. That’s why many freedivers who specialize in the discipline choose lighter carabiners (either aluminium or carbon), which trail behind them on the dive line. No-fins freedivers also tend to prefer lighter carabiners for the same reason—and because even a small amount of stainless steel can affect buoyancy on the ascent.

A close-up of the 2.5mm Freediving Lanyard's stainless steel carabiner.

But for monofin and bifin freediving, which are typically speedier disciplines than free immersion and no fins, some freedivers might prefer stainless steel carabiners that stay in front (or even sink ahead) of them on their dives.

Cable

The 2.5mm Freediving Lanyard is made to fit your diving style; choose between an aluminium or stainless steel carabiner and 100cm or 120cm cable length.

The cable is what connects the carabiner around the line to the cuff on your wrist. It’s made of stainless steel wires braided together for structural reinforcement, and sheathed in plastic, nylon, or another material to protect from kinks and breakage. Cable lengths usually range from 90–120cm (35.4–47.2in); shorter ones are typically used for CNF lanyards attached to waist belts, while 100cm (39.3in) is a standard length. Taller freedivers who find 100cm too short for their dives might find a 120cm cable more comfortable.

To prevent freedivers from getting entangled in the cable while diving—especially on turns—freediving lanyards include at least one rotation point at one of the ends. Better yet, rotation points at both ends further reduce the chances of entanglement!

Cuff

A freediving lanyard cuff should be wide enough for safety, but thin enough for comfort. Photo © @andac.kazar.

Freediving lanyard cuffs are extra long to fit comfortably around your wrist or ankle. While some have buckles, most typically fasten together with Velcro. Cuffs should be wide (more surface area for Velcro to attach to and give a stronger hold) and comfortable to wear, and include a D-ring to clip the carabiner onto when not in use. 

As for lanyards specifically for no-fins (CNF), these usually include a belt or harness that goes around your waist (independent of your weight belt), keeping your hands and legs free on your dives.

Quick Release

Every freediving lanyard must include at least one quick release. In case you get entangled at depth or need to be towed to safety quickly, the quick release is there for you (or your safety) to easily activate with one hand. The most typical quick releases include either a brightly-colored tab on the cuff that you can pull to open the cuff, or a pin that releases the entire cuff from the cable when pulled. For CNF belts/harnesses, the quick release is usually a pin at the base of the cable. 

Caring For Your Freediving Lanyard

Since freediving lanyards are a vital piece of safety equipment, they should always be inspected closely before each session. At the first sign of wear-and-tear, such as loose Velcro, rusting, or a nick in the cable, the lanyard should be immediately replaced.

When not in use—whether you're swimming out to a dive site, resting between dives, or heading back to shore—always secure your lanyard rather than leaving the cable in an open loop. To do this, make two loops with the cable, thread the carabiner end through both loops twice, then clip it onto the cuff's D-ring to keep everything safe, tidy, and tangle-free. Note that with a thicker cable, like the 3.5mm Freediving Lanyard, one loop is enough; just thread the carabiner end through it twice before clipping onto the D-ring.

As with all freediving equipment that’s been used in salt water, you must rinse your lanyard in freshwater after an open water session, along with leaving it to dry completely in the shade (not direct sunlight) before storing it away. To store, keep the lanyard in a soft loop on a flat surface or hang it by the carabiner to avoid creating kinks in the cable over time.

For proper operation and long-term use, lubricate the carabiner gate regularly, especially when used in saltwater. The correct lubrication agent depends on the carabiner material. 

An instructor demonstrating how a Molchanovs lanyard keeps freedivers attached to the line when they dive. Photo © @andac.kazar.

Just as Molchanovs bifins range from beginner-friendly to competition-grade, our lanyards do, too!

Lifestyle freedivers, who train and/or compete, require a balance between durability and ease of use. For them, Molchanovs created the 2.5mm Freediving Lanyard, which features a thinner cable for a more hydrodynamic feel in the water.

All Molchanovs lanyards include:

• A thin, soft cuff suitable for wrist or ankle placement

• Two rotation points to keep the cable tangle-free

• The choice between an aluminum or stainless steel carabiner

• Two cable lengths: 100cm (39.4in) or 120cm (47.2in)

Always Prioritize Safety

A freediving lanyard is truly an unsung hero: a piece of gear that quietly does its job on every dive, one that you might not fully appreciate until the moment you really need it. So whether you’re just starting out and want something tough enough to survive the learning curve, or chasing personal bests and need to consider every gram of weight, there’s a Molchanovs lanyard built for wherever you're at right now. Because in freediving, the best safety equipment is the kind you barely notice—until it matters most.

Check out the full range of Molchanovs freediving lanyards!