Consensus on Performance Freediving Classes: Worth it?

[soahc]

Performance Freediving | courses |

Are they worth the money? I am new to free diving and am looking at what my best options would be to start out. Should I just get gear and find people to go diving with, or should I start with a course?

[soahc]

I know I sound very green but I am entirely serious about learning free diving and I would like to know my best options for education, as I have next to no experience and know no one who could teach me.

It seems that here in the U.S., Performance Freediving | home | offers three levels of classes, which is different from AIDA International who offer four levels and instructor courses.

Anyone have thoughts on either?

[flying_spanner]

I have no experience with either of those courses. I did a course over here in New Zealand, run by a local group called No Bubbles.

Best thing I ever did. The technique I learned and not to mention safety made the course invaluable regardless of the price.

Set your goals ie "I wanna dive to 20m before the end of the year" and do what ever it takes to get there.

Good luck

[soahc]

Thanks for the advice! I think another important aspect of taking a classs is perhaps simply being around like minded people. I don't know anyone that free dives!

[flying_spanner]

Yeah I totally agree, also join a club.

I'm presently in the throws of trying to get info/book a spot on a course to take my freediving to the next level. The course I did was equivilent to an AIDA level 2 course, so yeah bring on level 3.

Having trouble finding anywhere handy that it's taught tho.

I haven't really pushed my PB's much of late and I wanna see what -40m feels like. Besides if I've committed to a course that should give me the motivation to get off my arse and train more often than I do at present.

This next one will be expensive. Flights from Christchurch New Zealand to Sydney Australia $119 each way, accomodation, course, food etc etc etc

My Mrs is gonna kill me!!!!!

Oh well what can you do

[ahmad]

Start with a course. I took my AIDA** 2 months ago in Dahab, Egypt and it was a blast. I learned a lot about my body and freediving in general. It was great fun.

[ILDiver]

You won't go wrong with PFI or FIT (FIT - freediving, monofin, breath hold, spearfishing, snorkeling). It's the best way for a new diver to start. The money spent is more than worth it.

[Tony Babowicz]

Yeah, I would definitely take a course. Check out DiveFit.com . I took their level 2 course last summer. I exceeded all of my goals really quick. I now dive 50-75feet recreationally and never made it past 55feet before I took their course. Most important, learning to dive safely. They really emphasize being a safe freediver and the skills you learn will undoubtedly save your life and possibly someone elses.
Tony

[cdavis]

Ditto on the safety. A good course is priceless.

I'll take a slightly different opinion from some in saying that you will get more out of the course if you get some modest experience first. If you can dive with somebody else for a few months or a year, your capabilities will be much higher and you will absorb more of what they teach. I've seen some people who took the PFI course as the first thing they ever did. They liked it and thought they got a lot out of it, but I could see that they could and should have gotten much more. I say modest experience, because, if you have been diving a long time, you have a whole bunch of bad habits to get rid of (personal experience).

Connor

[monkeyhatfork]

the PFI course is the best money i've spent on freediving so far, I took the intermediate course after a year of learning on my own, made a huge difference. If you have questions about your ability and wich course, I suggest just send them an e-mail they a very cool and can point you in the right dirrection. the cool thing about intermediat course is you can re-take it as many times as you like for a fraction of the original course cost, as m,entioned before divefit is probably equally as good but mainly in Florida, wereas PFI you have a option of traveling a few hours to newport beach,---though very worth the extra bucks for hawaii or cayman

[billieball]

I'm sure PFI would be a good way to go, though I can't speak from experience. I took a FIT Level II course last summer, and went into it a jaded, cocky technical scuba diver. I came away from it with my entire life changed. My hubby and I signed up for Level III as soon as we got back in town. Now I HATE to put my technical dive gear on, and can't wait for the chance to dive in even shallow water.
We learned how to pay attention to what our bodies are telling us; SAFETY, SAFETY, SAFETY; certain nutritional elements; and techniques to add depth to our dives...and our lives.
Not to mention, it is really nice to be surrounded by people who have the same passion as you do...and who will ultimately become friends.
Take a course! You can't beat the benefits!

[drunkinbda]

Ive done the pfi twice now and it is definititely recommended. Itll surprise you how mental freediving can be, and when you get all the knowledge of physiology, the effects of it, safety, and buddy confidence... its amazing the end results, especially if its your first time.

highly recommended.

[Frank O'Donnell]

I took what PFI now calls their intermediate class five years ago, and it was a really big help. Though I'd done some easy freediving on my own, it kind of made things click in and pushed me further. I also retook the course a year or two later. So, I'd say by all means go for it.

[jay cluskey]

always listen to all information on thease courses it is the best way to improve as a diver
you will dive safer ,deeper and longer the more you learn the diving gets better
put a value on your life and your buddies life a course fee is a small price to pay

[surinate]

I would say Performance Freeding is the way to go. From someone living in Northern Canada, scared of the water and never been below 13 feet before. I took the Intermediate course last June and they took me from a 2 minute breathhold to over 5 Min and down to 16M in Constant Ballast. I practised some last summer (July and August then everything starts to freeze) recreationally then decided to go back this last June. I made 32M in Constant Ballast with ease incold murky water. At PFI they are so professional and they have taught so many people they just knew how to make me comfortable in the water. They are probabley some of the safest people to be diving with on the planet. They've trained multiple worldrecord holders so their not just talk but know how to get results. It's like Jay says in the whole realm of things it's a small price to pay.