Free Dive Aotearoa - LEARN • BREATHE • EXPLORE New Zealand

BASIC FREEDIVER

Learn basic freediving principles and focus on practicing breathhold techniques in a pool or confined water site.

Description

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 breathhold techniques in a pool or confined water site.

To enroll in a PADI Basic Freediver course you must be 12 years old or older. You need adequate swimming skills and need to be in good physical health. No prior experience with snorkeling, skin diving or freediving is required.

Academic

The PADI Basic Freediver course consists of two main phases:

Knowledge development through independent study with the PADI Freediver eLearning (or your instructor may conduct class sessions if not available in a language you understand).
Confined water session to learn breathhold techniques as well as static and dynamic apnea, plus proper buddy procedures. Goal – static apnea of 90 seconds and dynamic apnea of 25 metres/80 feet.

Equipment

In the PADI Basic Freediver course, you learn to use a mask, snorkel and fins, and may also use a wetsuit and weight belt.

ADVANCED FREEDIVER

Designed to refine and improve your freediving skills, allowing you to progress slowly while learning how your body performs during apnea (suspension of breathing).

Description

Achieving a new freediving time or reaching a new depth is an incredible feeling. It satisfies that very personal desire to do your best and be proud of what you can accomplish. The PADI Advanced Freediver course is designed to fulfill that personal need to refine and improve your freediving skills, allowing you to progress slowly while learning how your body performs during apnea.

To enroll in a PADI Advanced Freediver course you must be at least 15 years old and have a PADI Freediver certification (or a qualifying certification from another freediver organization). You also need to have Emergency First Response Primary and Secondary Care (CPR and First Aid) training within the past 24 months.

Academic

The PADI Advanced Freediver course consists of three main phases:

Knowledge development about advanced freediving techniques and equipment. You’ll study independently using the PADI Freediver eLearning (or your instructor may conduct class sessions if not available in your language).
Confined water session to learn stretching and relaxation techniques as well as refine static and dynamic apnea. Goal – static apnea of 2 minutes, 30 seconds (2 minutes for freedivers younger than 18) and dynamic apnea of 50 metres/165 feet (40 metres/130 feet for freedivers younger than 18)
Open water sessions to practice deeper free immersion and constant weight freedives, along with additional buddy procedures and rescue techniques. Goal – constant weight freedive of 20 meters/65 feet (15 metres/50 feet for freedivers younger than 18)

Equipment

You need to have a freediving mask, snorkel, bifins, wetsuit and weight belt. Your instructor may allow you to use monofins. You’ll also need a surface signaling device and a freediving computer (or depth gauge and timer).

MASTER FREEDIVER

For advanced freedivers who want to approach elite freediving levels. You'll learn to bring your static apnea, dynamic apnea, free immersion and constant weight skills to the next level.

Description

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.

To enroll in a PADI Master Freediver course you must be at least 18 years old and have a PADI Advanced Freediver certification (or a qualifying certification from another freediver organization). You also need to have Emergency First Response Primary and Secondary Care (CPR and First Aid) training within the past 24 months.

Academic

The PADI Master Freediver course consists of three main phases:

Knowledge development about nutrition, relaxation and advanced breathing techniques. You’ll study independently using the PADI Freediver eLearning (or your instructor may conduct class sessions if not available in your language). You’ll also complete independent research as part of the Master Freediver Assignment.
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.

Equipment

Vision

Freedive Aotearoa is an evolving educational and community hub, focusing on social, environmental and personal wellbeing.

Helping people get into the ocean, feel awe, find their why while being strong, resilient water(wo)men, in the way we were designed to, by offering an experience through different activities, nature-based, to re-connect with yourself, one another and with our natural environment, in a playful way.