I'll have to view the video from home- Youtube is blocked at work.
I took Perfomance Freediving's Intermediate class last year with Martin as one of the two main instructors. Here's a testimonial I sent to Martin based on his teaching:
Martin,
Congratulations on forming your own company. I consider myself privileged to have attended the PFI course in Malibu last summer with you and Kirk as instructors. As I started considering the upcoming summer and doing some diving I found the announcement of your separation from PFI on the web.
I think that no matter how compatible the goals and ideals may be, as you mature both personally and professionally it is only natural to look to change and self determination. I hope that you didn't have to burn bridges with PFI or they with you in the process.
Testimonial for your new endeavor:
An easy customer testimonial from me would be this: Before signing up for the class with Martin I had worn snorkel and fins only twice; had never been deeper under water than a 9' pool; and had probably never held my breath more than a minute. Four days after meeting Martin I had held my breath more than five minutes and descended 66 feet below the ocean surface.
The longer customer testimonial goes much deeper (though not farther underwater): I came to the course newly fascinated with snorkeling and wanting some safety training. The training did that but much more. My perceptions of the possible were exploded. My confidence and passion for life was renewed. I had never been much of a swimmer or all that comfortable in water. Many would consider a freedive class overkill for someone just wanting to get into snorkeling- but I felt a need to get good instruction. A few weeks later I went diving with a classmate who is a very experienced diver. After the dive my classmate mentioned that if he didn't know better he would have assumed that I had been diving for years due to my apparent ease and comfort in the water.
Martin Stepanek was the biggest surprise of the class. I expected him to be the physical model and demonstrate flawless form. He did that. What I didn't expect was his engaging speaking style in the long classroom sessions and in-water instruction- not what I expected from a jock who hadn't learned English until recently. The combination of personal humility with unmistakable expertise on the subject make him a great teacher.
Please feel free to let any prospective students contact me for a referral.
Jim
