Freediving Series in South Africa
About The Event
NAUI to conduct various Freediving courses throughout South Africa in March. Course to be led by NAUI Freediving Coordinator Dan Semrad and Talya Davidoff, 6-time National Freediving Record Holder.
Freediving Course
Learn to freedive down to a maximum depth of 20m/66 feet - Intermediate Freedive down to a maximum depth of 40m/132 feet!
This program teaches fundamental freediving techniques for comfortable enjoyment in the aquatic world to depths of 20m/66ft. You will also practice Static Apnea to help develop your breath-holding abilities and in-water comfort.
Locations:
- 2/28-3/1, 3/3-3/4 Intermediate Freediver/Instructor Crossover (Capetown - Exact Location TBD)
- 3/9-11 Freediver Course (Location: Mossel Bay - Exact Location TBD)
- 3/20-22 Freediver Course (Location: Plett - Exact Location TBD)
- 3/27-29 Freediver Course (Johannesburg - Exact Location TBD)
For more information or questions: Contact Dan Semrad, dsemrad@naui.org or 503-724-1501.
Topics Covered:
- Essential safety procedures for breath-holding at Freediver Level
- Proper breathing techniques for freediving and snorkeling
- Confined water skill development i.e. Static Apnea
- Open water skill development i.e. technique for deep diving
- Equalization for deep diving
- Equipment for freediving and snorkeling
- The fundamental physics and physiology of freediving to understand what happens to your body at depth
IS THIS COURSE FOR YOU?
- You’re interested in learning the fundamental techniques of freediving
- You’re new to freediving
- You typically dive in the shallows
- You want to dive safely
- You want to hold your breath longer
- You want to dive deeper
Download and review the NAUI medical form. If you answer YES to any question, you need to get a doctor's approval to take part in the course.
Format/Duration - Freediver - 2-2.5 Days, Intermediate Freediver - 4 Days
This course is taught by highly trained NAUI Instructors at locations all over the world. The Freediver course includes:
• Classroom sessions
• 2 Confined Water sessions
• 2 Open Water sessions
The schedule and layout/order of these sessions vary slightly by location. The program is typically run over 2/2.5 days depending on the location of your course.
SKILLS
There are many skills that will be practiced repeatedly, simulated, and taught throughout the duration of every course. It should be noted that in order to pass the course, a student must complete all the classroom sessions as well as the pool and ocean sessions. In accordance with participation, a student will receive a certificate based on the skills and objectives they complete even if it is lower than the course they are currently taking. There are pool and ocean qualifications to pass in each NAUI course. If a student only wants to pass the pool section, instructors are happy to accommodate but will need to be informed before the class begins.
By the end of the Freediver course, a student will be able to perform the following skills:
- Adequate safe buddy skills, showing how to perform a rescue to NAUI standards
- Perform a 1:30 static in the pool with opportunity to increase to maximum capacity, Intermediate - 3:00 static in the pool
- Dive with proper technique to 10 meters constant weight and free immersion using NAUI method of entrance and exit with proper recovery breathing
- If only receiving pool certification, must complete 25 meter dynamic plus the 1:30 static
CLASSROOM
- Attend all classroom teaching sessions
- Stretching and equalizing workshops
- CO2 and 02 workshops
- Complete all quizzes in manual
- Complete pre-learning quiz before class
- Pass final with 80 percent or more
WATERMANSHIP & STAMINA
- Prepare freediving equipment without instructor assistance
- Proper entry procedure (select best local option)
- 25 meter no mask snorkel swim without surfacing
- Snorkel blast clearing
RECOVERY BREATHING AND COACHING
- Minimum of four consecutive static breath-holds without any hypoxic symptoms minimum of 1:30
- Recovery breathing and coaching for a buddy
- Pool only: Complete a minimum of three dynamic apnea performances with no hypoxic symptoms to a minimum distance of 25m/82 feet plus 1:30 static
OPEN WATER
- Recovery breathing and coaching (hooking)
- Six target constant ballast dives reaching minimum 10m/33 feet
- Four free immersion dives to a minimum depth of 10m/33 feet
- Emergency rescue and problem management (rescue scenarios)
- Managing a LMC and blackout on surface and underwater blackout
- Full mask flood and ascent from depth
PREREQUISITES
- Swimming or snorkeling experience
- Good health and fitness–see NAUI Medical Form
- 10 years of age with guardian permission, Intermediate 12 years of age with guardian permission
WHAT TO BRING: BASIC SNORKELING AND SCUBA EQUIPMENT CAN BE USED BUT WE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT FREEDIVING SPECIFIC EQUIPMENT IS USED FOR THIS COURSE
For this course, each diver is responsible for bringing his or her own equipment:
- Mask, snorkel, fins
Full wetsuit (3mm for warm water locations; 5-7mm for cold water locations)
Rubber weight belt and small number weights - Timing device or Freedive Computer
COURSE INCLUDES:
- Personalized instruction from highly trained freediving specialists, national and world record holders, and/or trainer
- 1 instructor/assistant : 5 student divers ratio
- NAUI Freediver student manual & workbook
- Pool & classroom sessions
- Open water instruction
- Certification card
If a boat is required for open water sessions at your location, a boat fee may be required in addition to the course tuition. This fee, if applicable, will be described on specific course location pages.
By registering for a course you will also receive:
- Student Starter Kit
- Access to the online portal including training tips, email access
- Communication with staff/ instructor to answer any questions ahead of time
- Access to e-learning / pre-learning online course
For more information or questions: Contact Dan Semrad, dsemrad@naui.org or 503-724-1501.