I'm going to make a trip to the Yucatan soon, and I am once again confronting the need for freediving certification.
I was certified as a PADI divemaster in 1996, and later as a scientific diver with Nitrox training. I was hooked when I worked as a rescue diver for a freediving contest in Utila, Honduras. As far as I know there was no certification available when I began seriously freediving in 1998. During the summers of 98 and 99, I worked in the ocean daily for my graduate studies in marine science; freediving became a much better option than strapping on a heavy tank and breathing in dry air. My average dives were around 90 seconds to 2 minutes, and my deepest dive was 114 feet (retrieving a dropped weight belt). I continue to freedive whenever I get to the tropics.
But maybe none of that experience matters now that certification is available? Is there a way to get a certification quickly for more experienced divers like myself? What sort of certification is normally required to go diving with freediving shops?
I was certified as a PADI divemaster in 1996, and later as a scientific diver with Nitrox training. I was hooked when I worked as a rescue diver for a freediving contest in Utila, Honduras. As far as I know there was no certification available when I began seriously freediving in 1998. During the summers of 98 and 99, I worked in the ocean daily for my graduate studies in marine science; freediving became a much better option than strapping on a heavy tank and breathing in dry air. My average dives were around 90 seconds to 2 minutes, and my deepest dive was 114 feet (retrieving a dropped weight belt). I continue to freedive whenever I get to the tropics.
But maybe none of that experience matters now that certification is available? Is there a way to get a certification quickly for more experienced divers like myself? What sort of certification is normally required to go diving with freediving shops?