Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
WHAT DIVING SKILLS ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE A FREEDIVE COURSE?
Skill requirements necessary to pass the course for certification are taught, learned, and practiced in the course itself. There are no skill requirements needed to enroll in a freediving course. ;-) The PADI Freediver course is the entry-level course designed to provide a solid foundation for a relaxed, comfortable, fun and safe freediving experience. Blue Water Freedivers’ entry-level students have ranged from individuals brand-new-to-freediving to avid snorklers to freedivers of all levels, spearfishing enthusiasts, and elite forces of the U.S. military (Navy Seals, Green Berets, Army Rangers, and U.S. Air Force Special Warfare Pararescue (PJ) specialists).
Freediving is a very niche and rewarding sport that is practiced using unique abilities that are learnable by anyone with an interest in exploring it.
HOW IS FREEDIVING DIFFERENT FROM SNORKELING?
Snorkeling is the casual act of putting on a mask and snorkel and looking below while floating. Snorkelers may not have any training and generally spend most of the time on the surface. Freediving uses advanced breathing and relaxation techniques and diving skills to increase depth and time underwater. Through training, freedivers learn to conserve oxygen while practicing various freediving disciplines to greater depths and longer breath-hold durations.
HOW DO I LEARN TO FREEDIVE?
The PADI Freediver, Advanced Freediver, and Master Freediver courses contain three phases – knowledge development, a confined water sessions and open water sessions. During knowledge development you learn about how your body reacts to breathholding and how water pressure affects you as you dive. You also learn about freediving equipment, critical safety practices and dive buddy safetying procedures.
In confined water, such as a swimming pool, you learn breathing techniques, then practice breathholds while floating (static apnea) and while swimming (dynamic apnea). You also practice basic rescue techniques and learn your role as a buddy.
During open water sessions, you practice diving while breathholding, either by pulling yourself along a line (free immersion) or diving while following a line (constant weight). You learn to gradually increase your depths by relaxing and enjoying each dive. It is very common for students to surprise themselves with their newfound (and previously hidden) aquatic abilities. Rescue practice is another key part of these fun open water sessions.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET FREEDIVE CERTIFIED?
The PADI Freediver courses are flexible and performance based, which means that Blue Water Freedivers is able to offer a wide variety of schedules, organized according to how fast you progress. The standard courses are two days in duration, with the option to continue training and improving your skills post-course.
During confined and open water sessions, I’ll focus on helping you become a confident and comfortable freediver, not on how long it takes. You earn your certification based on demonstrating you know what you need to know and can do what you need to do. This means that you progress at your own pace – faster or slower depending upon the time you need – to become a competent freediver. Freediving training and development options are available once your certification course is completed.
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR LEARNING TO FREEDIVE?
The minimum age is 15 years old for the PADI Freediver course and 12 years old for the PADI Basic Freediver certification. PADI Basic Freediver is a subset program on the PADI Freediver course that only includes knowledge development and a confined water session.
All student divers complete a medical history form that asks about medical conditions that could be a problem while freediving. If none of these apply, you’re ready to start. If any of the conditions apply to you, your doctor must, as a safety precaution, assess the condition as it relates to freediving and sign a medical form that confirms you’re fit to dive.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT PADI FREEDIVER CERTIFICATION LEVELS?
PADI Freediver Course – Develops the knowledge and skills for basic static apnea, dynamic apnea, free immersion and constant weight freediving from 10-16 metres/30-55 feet. When completing open water training is not feasible or desirable, students complete just the knowledge and confined water skill portion of the PADI Freediver course (6 metres/20 feet maximum) to earn the PADI Basic Freediver certification.
PADI Advanced Freediver Course – The Advanced Freediver course expands further and deeper (pun intended) into your freediving body knowledge and circle of abilities. The advanced freediving theory session begins with a discussion about advanced equalization, common freediving injuries (and how to avoid them), stretching, fitness, and nutrition for freedivers. The theory session continues with a deep look into breath-hold training principles and exercises, mental strategies for breath holding, relaxation techniques, and diaphragmatic contraction management.
The confined water session static apnea goal is 2 minutes, 30 seconds and dynamic apnea of 50 metres/165 feet
The open water session focuses on free immersion warm-up techniques and breath-hold hangs, improving CWF technique, along with advanced buddy safetying procedures and rescue techniques. Goal – constant weight freedive of 20 meters/65 feet.
PADI Master Freediver Course – The Master Freediver course develops your skills even further with a focus on mind control, superior relaxation, and depth adaptation. If you're an advanced freediver who wants to learn how to fine-tune your lifestyle and training so that you can approach elite freediving levels, then the PADI Master Freediver course is for you. Through focused sessions, you'll bring your static apnea, dynamic apnea, free immersion and constant weight skills to the next level.
Confined water session to improve static and dynamic apnea attempts, including a no fins dynamic apnea. Goal - static apnea of 3 minutes, 30 seconds and dynamic apnea of 70 metres/230 feet.
Open water sessions to practice mouthfill equalization and perform warm-up and workup dives for free immersion and constant weight freediving. Goal - constant weight freedive of 32 metres/105 feet.
HOW MUCH DO FREEDIVING LESSONS COST?
Compared with other popular adventure sports and outdoor activities, learning to freedive isn’t expensive. For example, you can expect to pay about the same or less as you would for:
a full day of surfing lessons.
a weekend of rock climbing lessons.
a weekend of kayaking lessons.
a weekend of fly-fishing lessons.
about three hours of private golf lessons.
about three hours of private water skiing lessons.
one amazing night out at the pub!
See course descriptions and course costs
WHAT GEAR WILL I NEED TO FREEDIVE?
Choosing and using your freediving gear is part of the fun. I can help you find the right mask, snorkel, fins, wetsuit, weight belt, etc. that are specifically designed for freediving and best suited for your skill level. If you do NOT have any of the necessary items (listed above), I have equipment you can borrow for this class. Please indicate your equipment needs in the pre-course survey that you’ll receive to secure your spot in the class.
HOW DO I FIND THE BEST FREEDIVING GEAR?
There’s not necessarily “best gear,” but there is the best gear for you. I can help you find equipment that best matches your preferences, skill level, fit, and budget.
MY EARS HURT WHEN I GO TO THE BOTTOM OF A SWIMMING POOL OR WHEN I DIVE DOWN SNORKELING. WILL THAT PREVENT ME FROM BECOMING A FREEDIVER?
No, assuming you have no irregularities in your ears and sinuses. The discomfort is the normal effect of water pressure pressing in on your ear drums. Fortunately, our bodies are designed to adjust for pressure changes in our ears – you just need to learn how. If you have no difficulties adjusting to air pressure during flying, you'll probably experience no problem learning to adjust to water pressure while freediving. If you have problems equalizing during the class, I’ll assist you in working to overcome those issues.
WILL A HISTORY OF EAR TROUBLES, DIABETES, ASTHMA, ALLERGIES OR SMOKING PRECLUDE SOMEONE FROM FREEDIVING?
Not necessarily. Any condition that affects the ears, sinuses, respiratory or heart function, or that may alter consciousness is a concern, but only a doctor can assess a person’s individual risk.
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON INJURIES OR SICKNESSES ASSOCIATED WITH FREEDIVING?
Sunburn, seasickness and dehydration, all of which are preventable, are the most common problems freedivers face. Injuries caused by not equalizing ears do occur, but these can be avoided by using proper technique and returning to the surface if your ears are not equalizing easily.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE Health Benefits of Freediving?
Relieve stress
Brings you closer to marine life
Boosts adrenaline
Improves focus
Therapeutic for the joints
Strengthens the lungs
Strengthen the muscles
Boosts endurance
Teaches discipline
Pushes you to your limits
(I would add:) Incredibly satisfying
(Also): Super fun
(Healthfitnessrevolution.com)