Learn to freedive – Why the first thing to do is take freediving lessons

We have had a spate of enquiries of late asking about what to do before enrolling on a freediving course. This is a common question, always had been, people feel like they need to prepare for their first freediving course, either physically or mentally.

My answer is always the same, ‘just come along and let us teach you how to freedive, then go a away and train… not before’.

Freediving is a deceptively complicated sport, from the outside it seems simple and that the only real challenge that you will face will be forcing yourself to hold your breath for longer than usual. The reality is there are so many little details that need to work in harmony that it is almost always counterproductive to try and learn entirely on your own.

The idea that you need to prepare is understandable but unfounded. The first courses in the AIDA system are designed for outright ‘green’ beginners. They are not only for those who already have some skills or experience in freediving. Prospective students want to know if there are some exercises that they need to do before the course  which may make things easier. There undoubtedly are, but the problem is, if we were to hand them over there is a strong chance the exercises will be done wrong and probably put the student in danger. Expect all of your other fellow students to be on the same page, i.e they are beginners.

As instructors we always prefer a group of total beginners with no experience whatsoever (except perhaps a bit of snorkeling). This gives us a clean slate to work with, and importantly no bad habits to untrain.

So, what do you do before a freediving course?

1. Stay healthy – Eat well, stay well hydrated and if you want do some light exercise (maybe at the pool?).
2. Stay healthy – Avoid people with colds, viruses or anything that might make you ill for your course. The biggest cause of failure in freediving courses is a failure to equalise (the pressure in your ears etc), this is normally due to congestion.
3. Stay healthy – In mind, not just body. Do your best to arrive relaxed and calm, prepared… not scared.

Here at FreediveUK we have years of experience in teaching people how to freedive, from the Special forces to students and everything in between. We know that enrolling on a  course can be daunting. The fear of failure, of exposing weakness… we all have that in us. Don’t worry, let it all go and let us help you break those barriers!

This is why the first thing to do, when you want to learn to freedive, is to enrol on a freediving course!

Freediving courses are on sale now and are held twice a week from May till September, get booked on and sit back and relax until the big day!

Click here to check out the details of our most popular first freediving course.