Can't seem to find a class in WI?

[Dmitri.C]

So for the last few days I have been pouring over this forum trying to figure out what I need to get started freediving. I have found two things that keep coming up: dive with a buddy and take a course. So I'm on a mission now, because I need to find both. :t So here I am trying to find a class in my area, and in my area I mean like the tri-state area (I really want to do this!). I wish that I had seen this like a month earlier; I would have been able to go to Freedive-a-palooza. I live like a hour and a half from that lake. :vangry
Help me out here I really do want to try this, and like I said I'm willing to drive.
Dmitri

 

[deanspahic]

I dont know that much about the Freediving courses available in your area... Sorry. What I can tell you is that there are a lot of good schools located around the world. If you are up for some traveling there is a good school in Thailand called We Freedive (We freedive - Quality freedving courses and training in Thailand, Malaysia and south east asia - AIDA, Apnea Academy). There is also one school in Mexico that I am aware of. In addition to that there are many schools throughout Europe, and then of courses there is Dahab where we are based (AIDA Freediving School - Freediving courses and training). If you are looking for something a little closer to home, I know that there are several AIDA instructors located in Eastern Canada as well. They are not up on the web yet, but if you are interested send me an email and I can find an email address for one of these guys for you. You can also check out AIDA International for some info on freediving and instructor locations around the world.

All the best,

Dean

 

[Dmitri.C]

Thanks a lot Dean. Unfortunately I don't have that kind of money. I am planning on taking a gap year next summer though, but I really wanted to learn before I went.
Well thanks again; looks like I'll have to keep up the search.

 

[deanspahic]

Ill keep my ears open for you too. If I hear of anyone in the area then Ill post it here. Good luck.

 

[SteveM54]

You need to send Mark Lozano from FII an e-mail

Mark@freedivinginstructors.com

asking where his next class is to be held. He is someone that travels around the U.S. and will bring a class to your location.
I was lucky to stumble across the post early enough to get into the "freedive a palooza" and for me it was worth the 6 hour drive from St. Louis, MO.
I was so impressed with the information that was taught and the improvement that I made -- I'd love to take the class again.

Make sure you have the correct gear before the class starts (freediving mask, snorkel, long fins, rubber weight belt, full body suit and a dive watch)

I wish I could find someone to train with here in the St. Louis area as it will be a couple of more years until I can move to Wilmington, N.C. and hunt the blue water.

Good luck

 

[Dmitri.C]

Thank you very much everyone for the help. I think that I've found somone in Ohio that will help me out.
SteveM54: I heard about freedive a palooza just a few weeks too late. :head Whatever though. Oh and I think that I have you beat for distance. I have to drive like eight and a half hours.

 

[shrek]

SSI offer freediving courses.try looking up them for a course locally as i know they are training instructors in the US at the moment

 

[deanspahic]

Hello Dmitri.C,

The FII options is a good one. You can also check out PFI (performance freediving) and AIDA. They all run high quality courses and you can ensure that with these people you will get quality training. I would be a little cautious of the SSI guys though. Im not a big fan as Shrek knows, and their programs are at a lower standard than most other ones out there. If you do take a SSI program make sure that the instructor is an experienced one with some time in the water as a freediver before he/she became a freediving instructor. SSI has started a concerning trend which allows scuba instructor to become freediving instructors with little freediving training. They are not held to the same standards as most freediving instructors and I believe they lack the experience that is needed to provide a high quality freediver courses. Just be cautious of this and don't be shy to ask any instructor that you are learning from, for his credentials. That goes for all agencies not just SSI. If your instructor is a 20m diver(as is the standard for the SSI crossover for SCUBA Instructors) then I suggest you look for another instructor.

Good luck with your search, and as I said if I hear of anyone teaching in your area Ill send you a PM. All the best,

Dean Spahic

 

[shrek]

Comercial competitiveness rears it's ugly head again. Loosing work to SSI?

 

[deanspahic]

Hey Shrek it’s always good to see you trying to dig for a negative response. Not overly interested in arguing with you about this though. This cases is simply a matter of ensuring that a new freediver doesn’t end up with a second rate instructor and waste their time. There is little to learn from someone who was not a freediver before they became a freediving instructor. I think that just makes sense. You wouldn’t learn to ski from someone who is snowplowing his way down the hill and just leaned how to put his boots on. Don’t you think?



On the note you made about commercial competitiveness, well I’m not sure that is a term that you should use every time someone disagrees with what SSI is doing and presents information that is accurate to inform potential students. It’s important the individuals know where there instructors are coming from. As for losing customers thanks for your concern, but we are doing quire Ok. Last season I re-taught something like 10 SSI students that were quite disappointed with the low quality of their instructors and a number of others that wanted nothing to do with it at all. SSI freediving actually promotes AIDA instructors with the way they run things. Thanks for that guys!

Just a note for you Dmitri.C, at the end of the day it’s the instructor that is important not the agency so check the instructors credentials before you dive with them.


All the best,
Dean

 

[Fondueset]

Dmitri - there are some very experienced freedivers in Wisconsin.

I disagree with judging your instructor based on how deep he or she dives. I am not making criticism of anyone - but would like to point out that the orientation that freediving is about depth and competition is sort of implicit in these kinds of judgements. I am not saying that was what was intended - I just want to make sure that a new diver does not get what I consider to be the wrong idea.

I know some extremely competent divers who have various problems that limit their depth.

If you look at the Apnea Academy (the standard by which freediving courses are measured, in my opinion - and founded by Umberto Pelizzari) their first level wants you to make 8 meters, 2nd 15 meters and 3rd; 25 meters. The emphasis is on being at ease in the water and developing one's skills and appreciation of the underwater environment - not on depth. In fact I would go so far as to say the reason for skills - in this approach - is to enable safe appreciation.

To enter the instructor course one need only dive to 30m with a 75m dynamic (among other things). The course is quite demanding - but the emphasis is on teaching ability.


Otherwise I would agree - if the instructor is a scuba diver who teaches a little freediving on the side you might better just read up on these forums and talk to people - save your money for a more intense course - maybe next year they'll do another one at Palooza. Meanwhile ease into the underwater world at your own speed - work on equalizing and come up when you want air. NEVER dive without a flag and buy a depth gauge last.

 

[fishstick22]

Anne Bates is an instructor out of Milwaukee I found off of FII she said if we could get five or six people to take the class we could have one here. I know some others that WANT to take it, now as far as them being comitted enough to fork up the coin we will see. I was at the one in Black River but not til the second day and I was already doing AOW scuba the next weekend so I was short on cash I for sure want to to take the class and I will see who else does im sure we can get something going just need to reach out a bit and make it happen.

 

[fishstick22]

We can have a level 1 FII class at lake wazee either the weekend of the 1st 8th or 15th cost is roughly 325 and can have up to 6 ppl if anyone one is interested let me know i want to do this!!!