[samdive]

that's in interesting one - as an AIDA IT who wrote most of the original AIDA courses, I guess I'm biased.

Whilst the Apnea Academy courses are excellent, and their manual of freediving is by far the best book to buy if you are learning, I'd recommend the AIDA courses over the AA ones primarily on the fact that they seem to be taught in much smaller groups.

In AIDA, we only take a maximum of 4 students in open water at a time, I have seen AA groups in action with around 20. As freediving is such a personal thing, everyone learns differently and hits different barriers along the way, I'd say that the size of the group you are taught in will be incredibly important. Any less than 3 or 4 and there's a bit too much stress on the individual to perform. Beyond that, and it's hard to get the attention you really need.

Let us know what you choose and why!

Sam