Freedive course – AIDA 2 – Pool Freediver
Having watched the freedivers at our pool sessions, read about freediving in dive magazines and watched various Guillaume Nery videos (Guillaume Nery base jumping at Dean’s Blue Hole, filmed on breath hold by Julie Gautier – YouTube) and ‘Defending the Vandenberg’ (Defending the Vandenberg – YouTube),
Also, between diving and on holidays I try and have a snorkel, when possible, and I have always wanted to stay down longer.
I, like most people in a pool, have tested myself to see how long I can stay under the water and so I finally decided it was time to try it out and see what it is all about.
After a chat with Steve Millard (who runs and organises the freediving at our pool) I signed up and read through the knowledge booklet and completed the knowledge reviews.
It is quite interesting how many similarities there are with Scuba but the differences are quite distinct.
Arriving for part one we had an hour’s theory and then changed for the pool. This was going to be the static session and was about learning how to breath hold. I met Steves comment of ‘The target is two minutes breath hold’ with distinct scepticism. However, he introduced us to the techniques and set our targets and after the second attempt I hit 1 minute 15 seconds, within the hour I had broken 2 minutes and finished the evening with a smile and a 2 minutes 15 seconds breath hold.
It is well worth investigating and having go, if you want to, have a word with Steve (contact details below).
Amazing and onto the Dynamic apnea next week.
These are the details of the AIDA 2 Freediving course.
Certification: AIDA 2 – Pool Freediver. Allows you to dive with a club in the pool environment.
The course builds a solid foundation of good technique, knowledge and safety necessary to enjoy freediving competently and within the limits of your experience. On completion you receive a certification by AIDA, the worldwide industry standard for freedivers.
DAY 1: POOL & THEORY
We start by doing theory, either online initially or straight into the classroom. We then go to the swimming pool where we cover Static and Dynamic Apnea and cover how to safety each other and rescues so that you can start to dive in our established club structure.
Even the most experienced swimmers, snorkellers and scuba divers are surprised how much they learn in this entry level course, it’s not just about holding your breath!
Knowledge development (classroom theory), Static Apnea and Dynamic Apnea (pool).
Requirements: Be 18 years or older, have a completed medical statement and be able to swim at least 200 metres non-stop and 300 metres with mask, snorkel and fins.
Steve Millard
07940998915
