Freediving uses advanced breathing techniques and diving skills to increase depth and time underwater. Through training, freedivers learn conserve oxygen while breath holding while practicing different freediving disciplines, such as static apnea, dynamic apnea, free immersion and constant weight freedives. The PADI Freediver course contains three phases – knowledge development, a confined water sessions and open water sessions.

Knowledge Development

During knowledge development you learn about how your body reacts to breathholding and how water pressure affects you as you dive down. You also learn about freediving equipment, important safety rules and buddy procedures.

Confined Water Dives

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.

Open Water Dives

During at least two open water sessions, you practice diving down while breath-holding, either by pulling yourself along a line (free immersion) or duck diving head first while following a line (constant weight). You learn to gradually increase your depths by relaxing and enjoying each dive. Rescue practice is another key part of the open water sessions.