the FREEDIVER
course
Level 1
Duration - 3 days
Cost - $680
Minumum age - 12 years old*
This course sets the foundation of proper knowledge, technique and safety for Freediving.
Diving to depths of 20m.
By learning breathing methods, safety and technique you will develop the neccessary skills to train your body to be more efficient with oxygen that will take your Freediving to the next level.
Through the yoga aspect of a Salty Hearts course, you will connect your breath to the mind/body connection while gaining thoracic flexibility.
When you book a Freediving course you will be given access to the RAID online training to learn at your own pace. However in class we go over theory in all the aspects of Freediving to ensure the knowledge sinks in.
The goal for this level is 10 metres. However we at Salty Hearts give ourselves a goal for every student... That is to bring out the Freediver in every student via a relaxed approach to comfort and breath holds.
There are some skills to practice from 10m, the main one being a rescue. Every course we teach has a huge emphasis on safety.
Every step in our coaching is preparing you for the next step. We can dive up to 20metres in this course. You will be mind blown at how comfortable the human body can be in just a few days. Keeping in mind, numbers don’t mean as much as how good it can feel.
Day 1
Morning - Welcome and in-depth classroom theory on physiology, technique, safety, Equalisation workshop and a breathwork session.
Arvo - Pool / 2 Confined Water Sessions.
Static breath holds working on comfort, mental strategies and mindfulness
Dynamic swimming to work on technique and streamlining.
Rescues, practising rescue techniques in the pool for a variety of situations.
Day 2
Morning - Further theory, Yoga for freediving, for our lungs, body and mind.
Arvo - Boat session. The First session on the line to familiarise ourselves and practice Equalisation, technique, and comfort.
Day 3
Morning - Boat session, on the line again for some skills, bottom time, perhaps depth. after the line session, we will go to a reef site, chosen on the day to suit conditions, for a "fun" freedive, to place everything we learnt into practice.
Early arvo finish - Come back off the boat, sign off and celebrate.
*schedule can be changed to suit weather
All participants must complete a medical questionnaire. if any of the questions are answered with a ‘yes’ you may need a medical certificate prior to participating.
You must be able to swim 200 metres without stopping, with no time frame.
Students are expected to use their own personal equipment as learning in the gear you use will create more comfortable freedivers.
We will touch base prior to your course with what equipment you own and what you will borrow or hire
We also can point you in the right direction if your in the market for some equipment.
Pool / Confined Water Training
From static breath holds, Dynamic, streamlining, and safety, the pool or confined water sessions are where we get comfortable and introduced to new techniques or spend time on further training in Advanced levels and above.
Also, a space to come together as a club, meeting new buddies, always learning and expanding knowledge training and safety.
Ocean / Open Water sessions
For our Freediver level 1 course, from day 2 we are introducing the open water. Freediving off our boat, we choose the dive sites and times of dives according to the weather and required depth. During the boat sessions, you will complete several dives and have the time to adapt to new skills and techniques while in the safest environment. After successful completion of your open water training dives you will become a certified Freediver.
For Advanced Freediver levels and beyond, Open Water sessions are used to work on Freefall, deep EQ techniques, coaching amongst other skills to create more comfort, further knowledge and training.