PADI
Freediver

HOW IS FREEDIVING DIFFERENT FROM SNORKELING OR SKIN DIVING?

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Snorkeling is the casual act of putting on a mask and snorkel and looking below the surface whilst floating. Snorkelers typically, do not have any training and generally spend most of their time on the surface.

 

Skin diving takes snorkeling a step further by adding short 'duck dives' beneath the surface. Skin divers may have some basic training that teaches skills, such as efficient 'duck-dives' and snorkel-clearing methods like the blast method and displacement clearing.

 

Freediving uses advanced breathing techniques and diving skills to increase both depth and time underwater. Through training, freedivers can learn to conserve oxygen while breath-holding whilst practicing different freediving disciplines, such as static apnea, dynamic apnea, free immersion, and constant weight freedives.

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1. BASIC FREEDIVER

The PADI Basic Freediver course is a subset of the PADI Freediver course. It’s a great first step for developing solid freediving skills. You learn basic freediving principles and focus on practicing breath-hold techniques in a pool or confined water site.

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In the PADI Basic Freediver course, you learn to use a mask, snorkel, and fins, and may also use a wetsuit and weight belt. Using gear designed specifically for freediving is best, however, in this course, you may be able to use snorkelling equipment you already own.

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WHAT WILL YOU LEARN AS A PADI BASIC FREEDIVER?

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The PADI Basic Freediver course consists of two main phases:

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1. Knowledge Development about Freediving principles through independent study at home with the PADI Freediver Touch App.
   (Watch, listen, read, scroll, tap, and interact while you learn to Freedive. It’s fun, it’s easy, it’s portable and it’s your gateway to the aquatic realm as a Freediver. The PADI Freediver Touch tablet app is an interactive study tool that gives you the background information you need to Freedive safely and allows you to learn at your own pace, from the comfort of your own home.
   
   Your PADI Freediver Instructor will check on your progress and make sure you understand important freediving information. The PADI Freediver Touch also includes all learning materials for the PADI Advanced Freediver and Master Freediver courses.)
    

2. Confined Water Session to learn breath-hold techniques as well as static and dynamic apnea, plus proper buddying techniques.
    

• Goal – Static Apnea of 90 seconds

• Goal – Dynamic Apnea of 25m

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This course is open to Club Members only.

 

The course cost is approximately £120 and includes:

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• PADI Certification Fee

• Equipment Hire

• Swimming Pool access​

• PADI Freediver Touch Course Materials

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2. UPGRADE TO PADI FREEDIVER (FULL COURSE)

If you have completed the PADI Basic Freediver program then you will already possess the required PADI Freediver Touch course materials. You will also have covered & met the confined water requirements for this program, so you will only be required to complete the open water section to upgrade to the full PADI Freediver level.

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This course is open to Club Members only.

 

The course cost is approximately £150 when upgrading from the Basic Freediver and includes:

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• PADI Certification Fee

• Equipment Hire

• Open Water Training (Excludes Entrance Fees)

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If you have no previous training or certification in freediving then you would complete all sections of the PADI Freediver program, including, theory, confined water, and open water training.

 

Full PADI Freediver - £250 

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PREREQUISITES:

• No previous experience of snorkelling, skin diving or freediving required.

• Minimum age of 12 years

• You must be comfortable in the water and possess a basic level of swimming ability. During the program, you will need to complete a 200 Metre continuous unaided swim or a 300 Metre swim with mask, fins & snorkel 

• Good physical health. You must complete the PADI Freediver Medical Statement prior to the program start date. Any pre-existing medical conditions highlighted on this form will require medical clearance before any in-water training can take place.