What equipment would you expect on a guided freedive or course?

[karaunscripted]

I'm looking to start a freediving department at the Scuba shop I'm going to work for in a few months. There's going to be an initial investment into gear and safety equipment that I need to look at and I was wondering either what you include or expect to be included when going to dive with an instructor or guide?

We're already looking at rental long fins and a few freediving style masks. One or two of each size depending on how much the investment will cost compared to (probably) the interest displayed at an upcoming dive show.

I'm also trying to get one or two safety tubes for open water dives and working ropes (inflatable tube with cloth covering so items can be placed inside, with a sturdy strap to connect a 30+m rope with a weighted bottom and a couple carabiners). Plus, since the area doesn't see many freedivers, a small bullet float with a dive flag to connect via short tether and lead away from the main float.

There are many things I would like to get that I might leave until after the initial investment (lanyard, nose clip, neck weight) as I can only personally teach Level One and am still getting the owners of the shop to believe that freediving would be a good addition to their dive shop.

What else would you include? What do you like from shops that you frequent or dive with to have? Many of their safety systems are in place for Scuba divers so I'm coming up with plans and ideas for any freedivers.

 

[got lungs?]

Your instructor/guide should easily be able to answer all these questions and point you in the right direction. If they can't, you guys might want to reconsider ( and really have no business ) taking beginners out Freediving or providing "instruction". Get with a competent Freedive professional and you'll have the most important pieces of the puzzle. Good luck.

 

[got lungs?]

I missed the part that YOU are actually the Level 1 instructor that will be doing the guides / teaching. Perhaps get with a more experienced instructor, shadow a couple classes with them and pick their brain a bit. Your questions are all fairly basic and you'll get it sorted out in no time. Good luck again!

 

[growingupninja]

If you are strong then you shouldn't need a counterweight to safety students down to 30M, but simple in water systems are easy enough to build. If you have a boat you can get more involved.

Besides that, lanyards can be a good idea unless you can see a diver all way down to the plate from the surface.

 

[karaunscripted]

Thanks guys. I've been a part of a few courses and guided dives, the main thing I'm considering is I'm setting up the freediving "division" of a scuba company and I feel like I have covered the basics, but I would love to provide a service that has the gear and equipment that can take an 'ok' set up to one that makes you want to return again and again.

I'm definitely wanting to get a lanyard and neck weights, but for now these have to be on my wish list. The reason being I'm still working on convincing the owners investing in the rental gear that freediving is a lucrative sport to invest in!

My goal is to give them a center that freedivers will WANT to return to either for courses or the freediving environment.

 

[growingupninja]

That's easy then, it's entirely about the people.. Great teachers and great captains to get students to cool freedive spots. Because the gear cost of freediving is a fraction of scuba, it isn't a very good margin for a shop. Some boat captains appreciate freedivers since we travel lighter which means less gas and wear on the boat. On a 60' dive boat this is less a factor than on a smaller boat. For a shop you could possibly work an underwater photo/video angle into it as well since freediving allows closer access to wildlife and much more mobility.