PADI FREEDIVER LEVEL 1 COURSE

Freediving is about inward power, discipline and control. If you’ve always wanted to enter the underwater world quietly, on your own terms, staying as long as your breath allows, then freediving is for you. Taking the PADI Freediver course is your first step toward discovering why freediving is becoming a popular way to explore beneath the waves.

To enroll in a PADI Freediver course you must be at least 16 years old. You need adequate swimming skills and need to be in good physical health. No prior experience with snorkeling, skin diving or freediving is required.

The PADI Freediver course consists of three main phases:

1. Knowledge development about freediving principles through independent study with PADI Freediver eLearning. A basic theory session will be covered on Saturday morning in the DUC Boardroom at 08h00. The theory session is approximately 2 to 3 hours.
2. Confined water session to learn breathhold techniques as well as static and dynamic apnea. Goal – static apnea of 90 seconds and dynamic apnea of 25 metres. Confined water sessions will be held at Kings Park Pool on Saturday afternoon 11h30 – time will be confirmed at the theory session with your instructor
3. Open water sessions to practice free immersion and constant weight freedives, plus proper buddy procedures. Goal – constant weight freedive of 10 metres. Open water (ocean) session will be done via DUC on Sunday – launch time will be confirmed with your instructor during the course and subject to weather conditions. The launch will most likely be early morning.

In the PADI 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 snorkeling equipment you already own. While there is no pressure for course requirements to be met during the course, the certification will only be issued once signed off with your instructor. If required, additional diving days will be arranged at an extra fee.