FREEDIVING AND MERMAID INSTRUCTOR: I ended up becoming an SSI Level 2 Freediving Instructor and Mermaid Instructor! All of my equalization issues that I had to work through gave me a solid foundation to help others work through their equalization issues. I’m now running courses in both Las Vegas, Nevada and near Port Angeles, Washington. For more information or to schedule a course near you, feel free to reach out! www.aquanautsfreediving.com OCEAN-THEMED ATHLEISURE CLOTHING LINE FOR OCEAN ENTHUSIASTS: For those who have been following my vlog or other social media, you’ll know that I’m a very active person and I love to cram as many activities into my day as possible, from rock climbing, to freediving, to trail running, cycling, acro, and more! I’ve created an athleisure line geared towards freedivers, merfolk, and other ocean enthusiasts. The matching rash guards, leggings, and sports bras provide stylish and color coordinated protection against the sun and jellyfish stings, and they’re a reef friendly alternative to chemical sunscreens! I have merchandise for both men and women. Check out my clothing line at www.aquanautsclothing.com and let me know what you think! DIVING EDUCATION FOR OCEAN CONSERVATION: I recently won the title of Miss Mermaid Nevada 2021, and it has been my goal to provide affordable diving education to get people into the ocean and more passionate about ocean conservation. To learn more about this project, please look up We of the Sea on Facebook.
How did you overcome sinus problem. I have been freediving for almost a year now and this is my first time to experience sinus problem. The ear have no problem ,but my sinus failed to equalize around five meters. How did you solve this problem , and how do you prevent this from ever happening again. Thank you for your advice in advance😊😊😊❤
@@merjunetv1162 Without knowing more about your history, I wouldn't be able to give you a complete answer. My first question would be if you were recovering from a surgery, allergic reaction, or illness. If the answer is yes, chances are that you were diving too soon without giving your body the time to recover. The best advice I can give is to stay out of the water until you are fully healed. I had a sinus infection recently and even though it was hard, I stayed out for a week or two after I had an issue equalizing my sinuses. Hope this helps!
Thanks a lot! Since we have a weekly dive, I failed to give my sinus time to recover. I didn't dive for two weeks, and when I dive , the pain is gone. Thank you very much for the advice. My question now is do you have a routine that save yourself from having equalization problem. Thank you again in advance
When you are going down and try to equalize. Hold your nose, push air (no need too strong) and most importantly (then swallow). Basically, do everything you do but also, don’t forget to swallow. It works instantly when you push some air at the same time. Give it a try. You will be surprised
Failed the 10 m depth too during the course.One 4 hour private training with the instructor a few weeks later got me to 10 m gradually and next private session i did all the required 10 m dives.
I've been there......I understand how exactly it'll feel to fail in level 1, I couldn't equalise too.... because I've smoking before, If you are a smoker it definitely is a tough process, so I realised and quited smoking, since then I've never faced equalization problem......so anybody if you smoke quit it and give it a try again after some days, it'll definitely give you a lot of progress 👍👍
Haha, I don't smoke, but that is possibly a helpful pointer for others. Thanks for sharing. :) To give you an update, I'm now an instructor and have been thankful for the skills I learned in trying to troubleshoot my equalization issues.
Thanks Mike! I've already made tons of progress since the filming of this video. More to come. And congrats on getting down to 30 feet! With those depths, you can check your anchor holding in those remote anchorages. ;)
I am a second level freediver. Took my to courses in '17 and '18. I am now waiting for my instructor to be able to do the third level as we have a third one here in Italy. I'd like to become an instructor. During my first course I had big issues with equalization. I wasn't actually able to go deeper than four meters. I had four sessions in a lake we use for training, only at the fourth one was I able to finally equalize. I remember I suddenly found myself at ten meters, it gave me a heart sank when I realized that, I managed to stop there for thirty seconds and then got back to the surface. It was great. I still have problems sometimes but I manage in a few dives normally. When I see people with the same problems, and it is very common, I suggest them to grab on a rope while descending, to stop when it's not working and relax then to try again even by moving slowly your neck while trying to equalize, you just need to find your method, that's all. But the most important thing is to relax and listen to yourself on how your body reacts to the dive... and enjoy!!
Thanks for the comment! I'm happy to say that I'm now an instructor. If you still dream to be an instructor, don't give up! By solving your equalization issues, you'll be a better instructor as it gives you more experience than an instructor that never had problems.
Didn't reach the 20m goal in my level 1 course but came close (had been freediving for years casually so possessed some skills when I took the course), still got my cert. Freediving brings so many joys to my life I will always keep trying to progress & dive when I can : ) Best wishes & good luck to you!
Your Video inspired me to do this course as well, just passed the course yesterday.. Thank You.. I had no issues , but my other dive buddy had.. so its a common thing I guess , to have problems with equalizing
Congratulations on passing Zarko! I've heard the failing rates for level 1 courses being as high as 50% in some places! Where did you take your course?
I now have issues clearing (especially my left ear) from years of scuba diving and surfing in 50-65 degree water. I have been to a ear doctor and was told I have boney growth “surfer’s ear”. Sometimes I can’t go under more then 20 feet when it won’t clear.
Oooh, that’s rough. Sorry to hear that. I have a doctor friend who went through photos of tympanic membranes, what looks normal, what doesn’t, etc. do you have any hearing loss if you don’t mind me asking? I’m all about preventing injury as I progress!
I’ve been freediving for about a month now and don’t know how but I picked up equalizing my first time ever going which is surprising because I always have congested sinuses. Deepest I’ve dove is 30 feet. My brother and I just went to a spring called blue hole spring and was 40 feet deep and couldn’t get to the bottom. I was really disappointed but at the same time just accepted it because the current was so strong coming out of the hole it was impossible to get a proper breath up.
Hey dont get disheartened by ur eq! I failed my first open waters last dec due to my eq too. i continue practicing my eq on dry land and went out to open water to try. It really helps! Just ytd I retook my level 1 and I am finally certified! Practice and relaxation are really impt!
The secret to scuba diving is to breath and relax. Count 4 in and count four out. You a relaxed when you can hear every thing even your own heart beat! Try freedive breath training. That way you can't cheat your self! When you reach two and a half minutes holding your breath. You will be at one with nature!
How were you able to fix it?? My wife has the same problem!! Ots very frustrating for here because she has 15 years swimming experience, but can EQ past 5m
I just started basics of freediving and sucked at equalization too. Sometimes good but most of the times i failed. I guess I need to work on my breathe hold and equalization especially in head first position
As they say, success isn't measured by the heights you achieve but the obstacles you overcome. I'm a heavy set guy, with heart problems and can't do any of the normal sports I used to do since I've had so many injuries from sports in my life which is part of the reason why I'm fat and fucked up now haha. Swimming is the only sport that I can do since it's extremely low impact on the joints and it is good cardio so it will help my heart. I started learning about freediving and have seen that there are competitive free divers and spear fishermen in their 60's. I'm 35 now so if I can rock it hard for the next few years I could be competing within the next few years which would be great. That's the hope anyways but either way it's a blast talking to freedivers. I met the previous national record holder for Canada about a week ago and had a great chat with him about it. His PB was 90m my pb is the bottom of a pool so it was great to pull in a wealth of knowledge and get pointed in the right direction for how to get started.
@@thesailingsiren I should have all the gear needed coming up into next spring if all goes well. Learned a lot, like how you should NEVER dive without a wetsuit unless you want to drown and all about how to be properly weighted so you are neutrally buoyant at 10m. Lots of good divers drowned by screwing up one of those two things. First thing I need to do is find a dive buddy though. Working on that :p keep on keeping on. Love the videos!
I like to dive with a nose clip. Much more relaxing to not use my hand and it prevents overpressure as it doesn't lock the nose 100%. I would also recommend Frenzel instead of blowing into your nose.
Hi @dariusoutdoors, thanks for the comment. Just an update, this video was created several years ago. I've successfully become an instructor and am now dabbling in competitions. :) It's crazy looking back on this video and seeing how much I've grown as a freediver! Hopefully it inspires others to keep at it when they have equalization issues or other road blocks in their freediving journey.
The note about our anatomy betraying us got me - I desperately want to free dive but expect my doctor wouldn't likely sign the medical release. Subscribed to live vicariously through your channel ❤
Hey Giordi! Don't give up on the possibility of freediving! There is so much to be said about learning your body and how to work with its strengths and weaknesses. There are networks of doctors who are trained in both freediving and medicine who may be able to help you with your health concerns!
Don’t look at free diving it as something that you have to pass, treat it as an experience and enjoy every moment of it. Though, I haven’t been free diving but have talked to some diving instructors over the years and the key is to enjoy, don’t overthink. 😅 You cannot fail at something that you do as a recreation. 😊 Also, the diving community are one of the cool and most relax people I know of.. unlike in the corporate world, where some are very toxic individuals. 😂 Someone once said to me in my job once, “You weren’t supposed to be here!” I just looked at her, with a blank expression on my face and a wry smile. Thinking to myself, so you just need me to sign the job offer and then submit my requirements?! Because that’s what the specific instructions were, to send my signed job offer and other clearances! Lol! Some people who had something to do with it were people from my first job in manila! 🥴😏 Plan uncovered! What am I a ghost employee then? So who’ll be receiving my salary if I wasn’t supposed to be here?! Lol! You cannot believe how people can be so GREEDY and VILE in the corporate world. But, their karma will be coming for them. Whatever they took that weren’t theirs, they’ll loose 10x of it, including interest. If there’s anything I am thankful for is that I am out of their reach. Those people are scum! I know that they’ve been tracking me through my phone throughout these years! Real scumbags! I now know who those people are!
Wow thanks for sharing this awesome video about freediving. Im starting also and i love it.. continue sharing looking forward to see more of your upcomming videos😊👍
I’m 13 and can hold my breath for 1 minute out of water and I want to do my freediving class I hope I can do it I don’t think so though. I’ve been practicing a lot lately so we will see. I am scuba certified and can go 70ft easily so I don’t think equalizing will be an issue
Congratulations on being able to hold your breath for over a minute dry! You're off to an amazing start. What is keeping you from doing a freediving class? Just so you know, equalizing when freediving vs scuba diving are a bit different (I'm a divemaster and had trouble equalizing with freediving). You have to have perfect equalization as the pressure is changing so quickly. I hope you take a course! Freediving is a sport that I think people of all ages can enjoy. :)
Sailing Siren well my mom probably won’t let me and also thanks for the tip! Do you have any advice for improving time underwater because I do pretty good dry but when I practice in the pool I can only get to 20seconds🤔
Equalising with scuba and free are quite different because in scuba and all most other situations, your head is in an upright position. Air naturally flows up so you don't need very much skill, and any kind of equalisation is acceptable since you have air from a tank. In freediving, your head is pointed straight down, so some muscle awareness and control is required to manipulate the air down to your head cavities. I know dive instructors who require quite some practise to get it right, and leisure divers who get it almost immediately. So it's really about your anatomy. I wud suggest finding somewhere that you can hang so your top half of your body is pointing straight down to get a feel of it
hi just pass free-diving exam like 3 weeks ago. had the same problem with sinus, i had no choice like to take antibiotics, finally i could go to 10m in super cold water o 9c. keeping fingers cross for You and I hope to see You at some competitions :)
Sailing Siren yes sinus infection... Start feeling pain for 10 in a row, i thought this is only cold but the pain was worst and worst i couldn't breath like always... So i had no choice like to take medicine flash my nose with warm water wit sea salt. Finally i was free of pain could breath normally and i got to 10 meters with out siuns pain. :)
Sailing Siren. I learned a lot. Do not dive as long you have sinus infection other way recovery can take months. Thank You for the vlog. Keep us post it. Freediving family.
Bahaman coral farmers are trying to save the remaining 25 percent of coral reefs. It is crucial for the future of earth. Seeing the ocean before complete destruction is worth it.
Giving people the tools to safely see the ocean is definitely a goal of mine. I firmly believe that people who get in the ocean and see it first-hand will be more motivated to take care of it.
When did you get your level1 cert? Edwin is my instructor too and i think when i was in Freedive+ you started to get your Level2. I failed on that attempt as well but i will try to get back in few months to finish. Hope i can :)
I have gone to 30m with ease! Some thing is stressing you if u can't hold your breath! When your relaxed. You can hear and feel the vibration of a pin falling. U can hear your heart beating.
I know this video is a couple of years old and you may not respond but I'm curious: I've been in and around the water my entire life and am very comfortable in most environments so what I think is "normal" usually isn't. My first question was going to be "why would you commit to a freediving course if you hadn't already tried to free dive on your own?" 10 Meters seems really shallow/easy to me and I would've thought you'd already have known you had EQ issues and attempted to figure them out. Then I read through the comments and read where you were already a dive master. Had you not had previous difficulties with EQ and this was a surprise? I've done both and don't recall the EQ process being that much different for me. Everyone is unique and I get that but I was just wondering. I love Scuba but prefer freediving simply for the mobility and quiet.
Hey! All I can say is that you are one of the lucky people who are blessed with no equalization issues. Not everyone has as easy of a time with it as you do. To give you an update, I am now an SSI Level 2 freediving instructor, and having to work through my own equalization issues has been an invaluable skill in helping my students avoid the issues I had! As a divemaster, I had essentially an unlimited source of air to clear my ears and sinuses with. If your E tubes lock up, you just move up in the water column a bit, equalize, and carry on with your dive. You don't have that luxury while diving on one breath. After learning the differences between Valsalva and Frenzel in my courses, I learned that I actually wasn't even doing either to clear my ears while working as a divemaster, and a lot of the habits I picked up while teaching myself actually ended up creating counterproductive habits that I've had to overcome. To answer your question, I knew that I had equalization issues prior to the course, which is why I decided to learn from people with more experience than me. I can tell you that one of the main reasons that students take longer to complete their course is their inability to equalize to depth, and I'm thankful that my experience has been essential in helping me troubleshoot equalization issues in my students. Thanks for your question! :)
So one of the main lessons I learned so far is that just because you don't get a certification in the time frame dedicated to your course doesn't mean that you should quit. Freediving isn't about certificates. It's about learning the skills to make you a safe and competent diver, and different people have different time scales to learn! All of my instructors say that the worst thing to do is to compare yourself to others. Your journey is your own. I'd love to hear the stories of other freedivers so we can learn from you! Was the course easy or did you have challenges? If you had challenges, how did you overcome them? If you are a new freediver, do you have any questions I can answer at this point? Let me know in the comments below!
Hello there! Wondering the time that you failed your level 1 were experiencing pain in your ears? I failed my level 1 as I can't equalize well. Is anyone here tried taking decongestant before the dive to have clear nose?
❤thank you so much for sharing your journey, i was disheartened being stuck at 4-5m, wasnt able to equalize, and of course couldnt get the certificate, almost to the point thinking i should quit, i stumbled upon your video. I’ll take my time and just enjoy freediving…! Big hugs and many thanks!!
I've completed my SSI level 1 yesterday and I've done -25m without any problems. I'm equalizing with Frenzel Technique. Just don't quit world down there is more than amazing ;)
Hey hey! Good question. I was diving in tropical water when I took my level 1, so we weren't diving with hoods. Just an update, this video is several years old! I was fortunate to make it through a lot of the beginner freediver challenges, and I'm now an instructor that often teaches and trains in colder water. I teach students to flood their hood as part of the pre-dive protocol if they decide not to put a hole in their hoods. :)
Hi Will, thanks for the info! This video was at the beginning of my freediving journey, and I'm thankful to say that I've made a lot of progress since then! I'm now a freediving instructor and competing in the CMAS World Championships for Team USA. I'm definitely not one of the deepest divers, but a 50 meter dive is super comfortable now! I hope the update is inspiring for others who think that freediving isn't for them because they're encountering an obstacle in freediving. Practice, mentorship, and patience is key. :)
I have never hold my breath in water and I have never also did a free diving but I usually do co2 and o2 table, now I can hold my breath up to 4 minuts. Will this help me if I did free diving courses?
Hey Zach! Nothing is ever a dumb question. No, you're not going to have to do static breath holds for scuba training as they're completely different disciplines. One of the cardinal rules of scuba is to never hold your breath.
@@thesailingsiren ahh I *just* got to that chapter. Wild how many dangers there are. Is the juice worth the squeeze with diving? Narcosis seems scary, making bad choices and feeling good about it? Yikes!
@@MrZachalewel I'm a divemaster and a freediving instructor, and if you learn your gear, dive physiology, and you think before you blindly act, you have a fairly low risk of accidents. Always check your gear, always be thinking about what you would do in an emergency scenario. If you have to act quickly, then it'll be easy. Getting narcosis as a freediver is unlikely unless you're getting to competition level depths. I once got scared about narcosis when diving. I kept checking my depth and air, made sure my breathing was regular, and ascended slowly. Nothing bad happened. That's also why you dive with a buddy. Don't let fears of manageable issues hold you back. Know the risks, know how to minimize them, and gain the confidence to get yourself out of anything you get yourself into. :)
No no no! You can do it! :) Your first freediving course teaches you how to safely extend your breath hold! Many students learn how to double their breath hold time over just a few days. Where are you based? I know plenty of reputable instructors in the Philippines that I can connect you to!
The one that was holding me back was being able to dive down to 10 meters or 33 feet. I was having trouble equalizing. Equalizing as a freediver is very different than equalizing as a scuba diver because 1) you only have the air in your lungs to equalize your mask, ears and sinuses, and 2) you have to do it quickly as you're changing depth pretty quickly.
awesome video! i learned how to freedive at a young age, so equalization comes naturally to me, other then having to use the air you take from the surface to equalize your googles, how is equalization different while freediving compared to scuba? is it body positions? is it pressure? wishing you find solutions to your equalization issues.
It's body position and having essentially an unlimited air supply to pull from with scuba diving. Since taking this training, I've found that I've been using VTO (or isolating and moving the tiny muscles around my eustachian tubes) to equalize. And while it sort of worked, I struggled to get down to 5 meters and my max was 10 on an extremely good day. With freediving on a line, you're diving head down rather than belly down as you would be with scuba diving. Lastly, since you're diving with one breath when freediving, you have to learn to equalize much faster and more efficiently, which is why I've been drilling perfect equalization.
Haha if there's anything I've learned about freediving, it's that so much of it is mental! I'm training at Freedive+ in Panglao, Philippines. What about you?
@@thesailingsiren I agree it's more of mental control. I haven't tried any formal training yet. I'm just training on my own in a swimming pool and doing tables/apnea, duck dives etc with the help of UA-cam. I've tried 10 meters though and breaking the 1st rule of diving :/ (not a good way to start) That's why I'm looking for individual/group that I can join to do freediving.
@@marc1047 Please Please Please don't train alone! I had a blackout while doing pool training and not knowing my limits. I'm thankful that I had someone safetying me. I'll be talking about it in a later vlog post, but definitely find someone who can safety you.
@@thesailingsiren Thank you! I can't resist it especially when the water is so clear but I won't do it again :) yes please! Share your vlogs. so far I didn't feel that I went over my limit.
@@marc1047 I'll tell you a bit more from the blackout I've had and the blackouts/LMC's I've seen. It takes less than 10 seconds to go from conscious and competent to a samba/blackout during static training. I've seen people black out in less than 5 meters during a dynamic when they were fine just a bit before. By all means though, train away and dry training is your best friend! Where are you based?
so...what does a freediving course give you qualification for... sure I can just go out to the sea and start freediving myself, whats the point in this certificate?
Hey and thanks for the question! As someone who has taken a course and moved into the more professional side of freediving, I'm always going to advocate for the safety aspects of learning so other people can continue to enjoy the sport. When you hear of a freediving accident or death on mainstream media, a deeper look will often reveal that the person was diving alone, didn't have the proper training, and didn't have proper safety protocols in place. When you are just getting into the sport, you don't know what you don't know and can miss blind spots in a DIY freediving education. Freediving courses aren't just about holding your breath longer and diving deeper. They help you become a well rounded freediver and a competent safety for your dive buddies. Hope this answers your question!
Depending on whether it is free immersion, constant weight, or there is a hang at any point, the time could change. But usually, it's safe to say less than 30 seconds. Why do you ask?
Don't concentrate too much on how long you can hold your breath, but focus on how much you enjoy being under the water. And soon you will find out spending 5 minutes under the water is easy as you think.
Hi Albert, thanks for the kind words. I've been an instructor for a few years now and freediving has become a huge part of my life! This is the video that I use to motivate people to not give up on freediving if they are worried about "failing" a freediving course. Appreciate you interacting with my content!
Hello Rachel, thank you for the video! I have been spearfishing for the last year and have the same equalization problems that you explain on the video. Can you describe a little bit more how to train with the nose-balloon? What makes me feel insecure to go deep is that sometimes on the ascent I can feel that the pressure is not releasing inside the ear causing a lot of pain and a "beep" noise that can last for a few days. I normally dive on 0-18 meters deep, and sometimes can really feel that the passage between the ear and the nose is partially block as equalization takes longer than usual and different time on each ear. Any tips?? Have been on the doctor a few times, but as long as my hearing is correct, they don't care that much about my freediving or equalization problems.
Hello Javier, don't go deep until you can equalize comfortably. When I was taking my level two course, I remember getting blocks and pain on the way up. My guess is that you are not getting complete equalizations on the way down and as a result, your body compensates by bringing blood and other body fluid to the area to equalize the pressure. That causes inflammation and blockage in the area, which is why you get the pain/noise on the way up. Many doctors don't have an understanding of dive physiology. Unless they dive themselves, their primary experience comes from people with ear, nose and throat problems at normal atmospheric pressures.
Hi, thank you for your video. I am looking for doing the SSI level 1 too. And i already know that my sinuses would probably be a problem because I am often getting a cold. So my question if you solve the problem with your sinuses and if yes what is the solution please ? =) Thank you very much.
Hi Batiste! If you get the chance, check out a video I made specifically about ways to minimize your issues with equalizing. If you don't want to watch the whole thing, skip to 4:14. Hope this helps! ua-cam.com/video/yWZybKx4byc/v-deo.html
The Level 1 course costs about $350 USD where I took it, but there are different prices depending on where you go and whether or not you do more than one course at a time. Hope this helps!
It takes about 3 - 3.5 months if you have some basic level of fitness in the water, but this is only if everything goes well and you don't have any trouble. I think that it is more realistic to book out 5 months, because you're not doing yourself any justice if you rush through the training and go for the bare minimum for certifications. I've heard of shops that won't hire instructors that have gone through a zero to hero program as they feel that the training is rushed and they don't have enough experience. From being in the middle of a program and speaking from my experience, take your time. I've made a bunch of friends since starting this program, and many of them have incredible amounts of experience and are excellent mentors. At the conclusion of my internship, I will make a video of what I liked and didn't like about the experience, as well as tips for those who are looking to do a program like this! Is one of these programs of interest to you or are you already a freediver?
@@LuisviCristofori That's awesome! I'm a divemaster, but I joined the dark side haha. I still love scuba, and it taught me a bunch about customer service, group management, comfort in the water, and dive theory. There are a lot of differences between the two though. Where are you doing your instructor course?
The second u do an ssi dive master course you fail! With ssi you have to own shop or work for an ssi registered business. Become a padi dive in structure and u can either open a small shop or work off a boat(meat at the boat). As a padi instructor your signature is your business!
Why train to level of freediving instructor not done more than 10m simple equalization? To be blunt this can be learned without paying any instructor but the instruction divrcenter industry sell the idea that you will make career in making money on teaching freediving. Hell there is few basic bicycle training centers..... Should be the same in freediving. I thing different physiology and ear canals and ability to click eartubes open or use toung plate to equalize is just not training and knowing those muscles control. I equalize ears withoutmoving jaw and no pinching of nose. This is maybe what should be taught and coached not found out reaching 4 to 6 meters.
Hi and thank you for your comment! I understand what you are saying, but several years later I'm very thankful for the decision to take the course. Since the filming of this vlog several years ago, I've worked underwater stunts in a major motion picture, become a commentator and athlete in freediving competitions, and all of the issues I had when I was first starting out, I am now able to help my own students through as an instructor. :)
I learned to Free dive in Cebu City in 1979. I didn't know it was called Freediving. I use the Badjao Breathing Technic because that's how i learned to freedive with the Badjao. Dive Safe and Take Care!
I have never hold my breath in water and I have never also did a free diving but I usually do co2 and o2 table, now I can hold my breath up to 4 minuts. Will this help me if I did free diving courses?
Yes, it would! It is great learning to hold your breath for longer, but it is super important to learn the safety side and equalization, which are also important aspects of freediving.
FREEDIVING AND MERMAID INSTRUCTOR: I ended up becoming an SSI Level 2 Freediving Instructor and Mermaid Instructor! All of my equalization issues that I had to work through gave me a solid foundation to help others work through their equalization issues. I’m now running courses in both Las Vegas, Nevada and near Port Angeles, Washington. For more information or to schedule a course near you, feel free to reach out! www.aquanautsfreediving.com
OCEAN-THEMED ATHLEISURE CLOTHING LINE FOR OCEAN ENTHUSIASTS: For those who have been following my vlog or other social media, you’ll know that I’m a very active person and I love to cram as many activities into my day as possible, from rock climbing, to freediving, to trail running, cycling, acro, and more! I’ve created an athleisure line geared towards freedivers, merfolk, and other ocean enthusiasts. The matching rash guards, leggings, and sports bras provide stylish and color coordinated protection against the sun and jellyfish stings, and they’re a reef friendly alternative to chemical sunscreens! I have merchandise for both men and women. Check out my clothing line at www.aquanautsclothing.com and let me know what you think!
DIVING EDUCATION FOR OCEAN CONSERVATION: I recently won the title of Miss Mermaid Nevada 2021, and it has been my goal to provide affordable diving education to get people into the ocean and more passionate about ocean conservation. To learn more about this project, please look up We of the Sea on Facebook.
How did you overcome sinus problem. I have been freediving for almost a year now and this is my first time to experience sinus problem. The ear have no problem ,but my sinus failed to equalize around five meters. How did you solve this problem , and how do you prevent this from ever happening again. Thank you for your advice in advance😊😊😊❤
@@merjunetv1162 Without knowing more about your history, I wouldn't be able to give you a complete answer. My first question would be if you were recovering from a surgery, allergic reaction, or illness. If the answer is yes, chances are that you were diving too soon without giving your body the time to recover. The best advice I can give is to stay out of the water until you are fully healed. I had a sinus infection recently and even though it was hard, I stayed out for a week or two after I had an issue equalizing my sinuses. Hope this helps!
Thanks a lot! Since we have a weekly dive, I failed to give my sinus time to recover. I didn't dive for two weeks, and when I dive , the pain is gone. Thank you very much for the advice. My question now is do you have a routine that save yourself from having equalization problem. Thank you again in advance
good job! it took me a long time to learn to EQ head down. Be patient. Freediving takes time. 🙏
When you are going down and try to equalize. Hold your nose, push air (no need too strong) and most importantly (then swallow).
Basically, do everything you do but also, don’t forget to swallow. It works instantly when you push some air at the same time.
Give it a try. You will be surprised
You do NOT swallow when equalizing as a free diver. That is ok for Scuba, but not freediving.
Failed the 10 m depth too during the course.One 4 hour private training with the instructor a few weeks later got me to 10 m gradually and next private session i did all the required 10 m dives.
yeah similar situation with me. I had to visit a doctor and do some extra trainings, but I'm getting there!
Breath four in and eight out!
As a pilot i learned that slightly displacing my jaw forward and gently blowing equalizes the toughest sinus issues!
apparently this doesnt work under pressure. there a technique called freznel or something that freedivers use
I've been there......I understand how exactly it'll feel to fail in level 1, I couldn't equalise too.... because I've smoking before, If you are a smoker it definitely is a tough process, so I realised and quited smoking, since then I've never faced equalization problem......so anybody if you smoke quit it and give it a try again after some days, it'll definitely give you a lot of progress 👍👍
Haha, I don't smoke, but that is possibly a helpful pointer for others. Thanks for sharing. :) To give you an update, I'm now an instructor and have been thankful for the skills I learned in trying to troubleshoot my equalization issues.
I can regularly dive down to 30' now! not much but I am getting there. Keep at it Ms Rachel, you got this.
Thanks Mike! I've already made tons of progress since the filming of this video. More to come. And congrats on getting down to 30 feet! With those depths, you can check your anchor holding in those remote anchorages. ;)
I can hold my breath for 10 seconds
Nevermind I just tested
5 seconds
I am a second level freediver. Took my to courses in '17 and '18. I am now waiting for my instructor to be able to do the third level as we have a third one here in Italy. I'd like to become an instructor. During my first course I had big issues with equalization. I wasn't actually able to go deeper than four meters. I had four sessions in a lake we use for training, only at the fourth one was I able to finally equalize. I remember I suddenly found myself at ten meters, it gave me a heart sank when I realized that, I managed to stop there for thirty seconds and then got back to the surface. It was great. I still have problems sometimes but I manage in a few dives normally. When I see people with the same problems, and it is very common, I suggest them to grab on a rope while descending, to stop when it's not working and relax then to try again even by moving slowly your neck while trying to equalize, you just need to find your method, that's all. But the most important thing is to relax and listen to yourself on how your body reacts to the dive... and enjoy!!
Thanks for the comment! I'm happy to say that I'm now an instructor. If you still dream to be an instructor, don't give up! By solving your equalization issues, you'll be a better instructor as it gives you more experience than an instructor that never had problems.
Thank you for this and it give me motivation.
This you can train without throwing money at an instructor.
Didn't reach the 20m goal in my level 1 course but came close (had been freediving for years casually so possessed some skills when I took the course), still got my cert. Freediving brings so many joys to my life I will always keep trying to progress & dive when I can : ) Best wishes & good luck to you!
Your Video inspired me to do this course as well, just passed the course yesterday.. Thank You.. I had no issues , but my other dive buddy had.. so its a common thing I guess , to have problems with equalizing
Congratulations on passing Zarko! I've heard the failing rates for level 1 courses being as high as 50% in some places! Where did you take your course?
I now have issues clearing (especially my left ear) from years of scuba diving and surfing in 50-65 degree water. I have been to a ear doctor and was told I have boney growth “surfer’s ear”.
Sometimes I can’t go under more then 20 feet when it won’t clear.
Oooh, that’s rough. Sorry to hear that. I have a doctor friend who went through photos of tympanic membranes, what looks normal, what doesn’t, etc. do you have any hearing loss if you don’t mind me asking? I’m all about preventing injury as I progress!
Have you seen pictures of your tympanic membrane?
I’ve been freediving for about a month now and don’t know how but I picked up equalizing my first time ever going which is surprising because I always have congested sinuses. Deepest I’ve dove is 30 feet. My brother and I just went to a spring called blue hole spring and was 40 feet deep and couldn’t get to the bottom. I was really disappointed but at the same time just accepted it because the current was so strong coming out of the hole it was impossible to get a proper breath up.
Hey dont get disheartened by ur eq! I failed my first open waters last dec due to my eq too. i continue practicing my eq on dry land and went out to open water to try. It really helps! Just ytd I retook my level 1 and I am finally certified! Practice and relaxation are really impt!
Thanks Evon! I've been trouble shooting and think I've found a reliable way to clear my sinuses!
The secret to scuba diving is to breath and relax. Count 4 in and count four out. You a relaxed when you can hear every thing even your own heart beat! Try freedive breath training. That way you can't cheat your self! When you reach two and a half minutes holding your breath. You will be at one with nature!
that ballon trick seemed interesting. whats it for ?
How were you able to fix it?? My wife has the same problem!! Ots very frustrating for here because she has 15 years swimming experience, but can EQ past 5m
I just started basics of freediving and sucked at equalization too. Sometimes good but most of the times i failed. I guess I need to work on my breathe hold and equalization especially in head first position
As they say, success isn't measured by the heights you achieve but the obstacles you overcome. I'm a heavy set guy, with heart problems and can't do any of the normal sports I used to do since I've had so many injuries from sports in my life which is part of the reason why I'm fat and fucked up now haha. Swimming is the only sport that I can do since it's extremely low impact on the joints and it is good cardio so it will help my heart. I started learning about freediving and have seen that there are competitive free divers and spear fishermen in their 60's. I'm 35 now so if I can rock it hard for the next few years I could be competing within the next few years which would be great. That's the hope anyways but either way it's a blast talking to freedivers. I met the previous national record holder for Canada about a week ago and had a great chat with him about it. His PB was 90m my pb is the bottom of a pool so it was great to pull in a wealth of knowledge and get pointed in the right direction for how to get started.
heck yes! Well I'm happy you've found the water to be a fun and healthy activity. Best of luck with your freediving journey as well!
@@thesailingsiren I should have all the gear needed coming up into next spring if all goes well. Learned a lot, like how you should NEVER dive without a wetsuit unless you want to drown and all about how to be properly weighted so you are neutrally buoyant at 10m. Lots of good divers drowned by screwing up one of those two things. First thing I need to do is find a dive buddy though. Working on that :p keep on keeping on. Love the videos!
I like to dive with a nose clip. Much more relaxing to not use my hand and it prevents overpressure as it doesn't lock the nose 100%. I would also recommend Frenzel instead of blowing into your nose.
Hi @dariusoutdoors, thanks for the comment. Just an update, this video was created several years ago. I've successfully become an instructor and am now dabbling in competitions. :) It's crazy looking back on this video and seeing how much I've grown as a freediver! Hopefully it inspires others to keep at it when they have equalization issues or other road blocks in their freediving journey.
@@thesailingsiren Great to hear! Would definitely enjoy some more content on here ;P For those non insta folks!
The note about our anatomy betraying us got me - I desperately want to free dive but expect my doctor wouldn't likely sign the medical release. Subscribed to live vicariously through your channel ❤
Hey Giordi! Don't give up on the possibility of freediving! There is so much to be said about learning your body and how to work with its strengths and weaknesses. There are networks of doctors who are trained in both freediving and medicine who may be able to help you with your health concerns!
Don’t look at free diving it as something that you have to pass, treat it as an experience and enjoy every moment of it. Though, I haven’t been free diving but have talked to some diving instructors over the years and the key is to enjoy, don’t overthink. 😅 You cannot fail at something that you do as a recreation. 😊 Also, the diving community are one of the cool and most relax people I know of.. unlike in the corporate world, where some are very toxic individuals. 😂 Someone once said to me in my job once, “You weren’t supposed to be here!” I just looked at her, with a blank expression on my face and a wry smile. Thinking to myself, so you just need me to sign the job offer and then submit my requirements?! Because that’s what the specific instructions were, to send my signed job offer and other clearances! Lol! Some people who had something to do with it were people from my first job in manila! 🥴😏 Plan uncovered! What am I a ghost employee then? So who’ll be receiving my salary if I wasn’t supposed to be here?! Lol! You cannot believe how people can be so GREEDY and VILE in the corporate world. But, their karma will be coming for them. Whatever they took that weren’t theirs, they’ll loose 10x of it, including interest. If there’s anything I am thankful for is that I am out of their reach. Those people are scum! I know that they’ve been tracking me through my phone throughout these years! Real scumbags! I now know who those people are!
Wow thanks for sharing this awesome video about freediving. Im starting also and i love it.. continue sharing looking forward to see more of your upcomming videos😊👍
Please support every aspiring freediver and vlogger also😊🙏👍
I’m 13 and can hold my breath for 1 minute out of water and I want to do my freediving class I hope I can do it I don’t think so though. I’ve been practicing a lot lately so we will see. I am scuba certified and can go 70ft easily so I don’t think equalizing will be an issue
Congratulations on being able to hold your breath for over a minute dry! You're off to an amazing start. What is keeping you from doing a freediving class? Just so you know, equalizing when freediving vs scuba diving are a bit different (I'm a divemaster and had trouble equalizing with freediving). You have to have perfect equalization as the pressure is changing so quickly. I hope you take a course! Freediving is a sport that I think people of all ages can enjoy. :)
Sailing Siren well my mom probably won’t let me and also thanks for the tip! Do you have any advice for improving time underwater because I do pretty good dry but when I practice in the pool I can only get to 20seconds🤔
Equalising with scuba and free are quite different because in scuba and all most other situations, your head is in an upright position. Air naturally flows up so you don't need very much skill, and any kind of equalisation is acceptable since you have air from a tank.
In freediving, your head is pointed straight down, so some muscle awareness and control is required to manipulate the air down to your head cavities.
I know dive instructors who require quite some practise to get it right, and leisure divers who get it almost immediately.
So it's really about your anatomy.
I wud suggest finding somewhere that you can hang so your top half of your body is pointing straight down to get a feel of it
hi
just pass free-diving exam like 3 weeks ago. had the same problem with sinus, i had no choice like to take antibiotics, finally i could go to 10m in super cold water o 9c. keeping fingers cross for You and I hope to see You at some competitions :)
So what exactly did you learn about your sinuses? I've never had a sinus infection and didn't have any allergies. Did you get a sinus infection?
Sailing Siren yes sinus infection... Start feeling pain for 10 in a row, i thought this is only cold but the pain was worst and worst i couldn't breath like always... So i had no choice like to take medicine flash my nose with warm water wit sea salt. Finally i was free of pain could breath normally and i got to 10 meters with out siuns pain. :)
Sailing Siren. I learned a lot. Do not dive as long you have sinus infection other way recovery can take months.
Thank You for the vlog. Keep us post it. Freediving family.
Congratulations
I can feel you! Anatomy and Sinus issue has been my problem in EQ :((
I'm looking to get into freediving as well thanks for sharing
Cool video!
Bahaman coral farmers are trying to save the remaining 25 percent of coral reefs. It is crucial for the future of earth. Seeing the ocean before complete destruction is worth it.
Giving people the tools to safely see the ocean is definitely a goal of mine. I firmly believe that people who get in the ocean and see it first-hand will be more motivated to take care of it.
When did you get your level1 cert? Edwin is my instructor too and i think when i was in Freedive+ you started to get your Level2. I failed on that attempt as well but i will try to get back in few months to finish. Hope i can :)
I started my level 1 sometime in late January/early February!
That happened to me on my scuba qualification. Couple weeks later I tried again and had no problem equalising
I have gone to 30m with ease! Some thing is stressing you if u can't hold your breath! When your relaxed. You can hear and feel the vibration of a pin falling. U can hear your heart beating.
I know this video is a couple of years old and you may not respond but I'm curious: I've been in and around the water my entire life and am very comfortable in most environments so what I think is "normal" usually isn't. My first question was going to be "why would you commit to a freediving course if you hadn't already tried to free dive on your own?" 10 Meters seems really shallow/easy to me and I would've thought you'd already have known you had EQ issues and attempted to figure them out. Then I read through the comments and read where you were already a dive master. Had you not had previous difficulties with EQ and this was a surprise? I've done both and don't recall the EQ process being that much different for me. Everyone is unique and I get that but I was just wondering. I love Scuba but prefer freediving simply for the mobility and quiet.
Hey! All I can say is that you are one of the lucky people who are blessed with no equalization issues. Not everyone has as easy of a time with it as you do. To give you an update, I am now an SSI Level 2 freediving instructor, and having to work through my own equalization issues has been an invaluable skill in helping my students avoid the issues I had! As a divemaster, I had essentially an unlimited source of air to clear my ears and sinuses with. If your E tubes lock up, you just move up in the water column a bit, equalize, and carry on with your dive. You don't have that luxury while diving on one breath. After learning the differences between Valsalva and Frenzel in my courses, I learned that I actually wasn't even doing either to clear my ears while working as a divemaster, and a lot of the habits I picked up while teaching myself actually ended up creating counterproductive habits that I've had to overcome. To answer your question, I knew that I had equalization issues prior to the course, which is why I decided to learn from people with more experience than me. I can tell you that one of the main reasons that students take longer to complete their course is their inability to equalize to depth, and I'm thankful that my experience has been essential in helping me troubleshoot equalization issues in my students. Thanks for your question! :)
I didn't pass because of the same problem do you feel the eq trainer is what helped you get past this issue
So one of the main lessons I learned so far is that just because you don't get a certification in the time frame dedicated to your course doesn't mean that you should quit. Freediving isn't about certificates. It's about learning the skills to make you a safe and competent diver, and different people have different time scales to learn! All of my instructors say that the worst thing to do is to compare yourself to others. Your journey is your own. I'd love to hear the stories of other freedivers so we can learn from you! Was the course easy or did you have challenges? If you had challenges, how did you overcome them? If you are a new freediver, do you have any questions I can answer at this point? Let me know in the comments below!
@@MrPumporaro nice job sticking with it! Congratulations for making it through and continuing with your freedivin. :)
Hi, where did you take you lesson?
@@thesailingsiren hey siren my name is Todd Withington I love your video.
Hello there! Wondering the time that you failed your level 1 were experiencing pain in your ears? I failed my level 1 as I can't equalize well. Is anyone here tried taking decongestant before the dive to have clear nose?
❤thank you so much for sharing your journey, i was disheartened being stuck at 4-5m, wasnt able to equalize, and of course couldnt get the certificate, almost to the point thinking i should quit, i stumbled upon your video. I’ll take my time and just enjoy freediving…! Big hugs and many thanks!!
I've completed my SSI level 1 yesterday and I've done -25m without any problems. I'm equalizing with Frenzel Technique. Just don't quit world down there is more than amazing ;)
Thanks Tim! Appreciate the kind words. And congrats on your Level 1!
Did your hood have ear holes to release pressure?
Hey hey! Good question. I was diving in tropical water when I took my level 1, so we weren't diving with hoods. Just an update, this video is several years old! I was fortunate to make it through a lot of the beginner freediver challenges, and I'm now an instructor that often teaches and trains in colder water. I teach students to flood their hood as part of the pre-dive protocol if they decide not to put a hole in their hoods. :)
try ramming your fingers behind your ear when it starts getting tight. an old school diver did it to me once and never had an issue since. 100+ dives
Hi Will, thanks for the info! This video was at the beginning of my freediving journey, and I'm thankful to say that I've made a lot of progress since then! I'm now a freediving instructor and competing in the CMAS World Championships for Team USA. I'm definitely not one of the deepest divers, but a 50 meter dive is super comfortable now! I hope the update is inspiring for others who think that freediving isn't for them because they're encountering an obstacle in freediving. Practice, mentorship, and patience is key. :)
I have never hold my breath in water and I have never also did a free diving but I usually do co2 and o2 table, now I can hold my breath up to 4 minuts. Will this help me if I did free diving courses?
Yes it will make it alot easier for you to go deeper since you have a better co2 tolerance and are not going to be shocked by the slightest pain.
This might be a dumb question but do you think I'll have to do static breath holds for the scuba training?
Hey Zach! Nothing is ever a dumb question. No, you're not going to have to do static breath holds for scuba training as they're completely different disciplines. One of the cardinal rules of scuba is to never hold your breath.
@@thesailingsiren ahh I *just* got to that chapter. Wild how many dangers there are. Is the juice worth the squeeze with diving? Narcosis seems scary, making bad choices and feeling good about it? Yikes!
@@MrZachalewel I'm a divemaster and a freediving instructor, and if you learn your gear, dive physiology, and you think before you blindly act, you have a fairly low risk of accidents. Always check your gear, always be thinking about what you would do in an emergency scenario. If you have to act quickly, then it'll be easy. Getting narcosis as a freediver is unlikely unless you're getting to competition level depths. I once got scared about narcosis when diving. I kept checking my depth and air, made sure my breathing was regular, and ascended slowly. Nothing bad happened. That's also why you dive with a buddy. Don't let fears of manageable issues hold you back. Know the risks, know how to minimize them, and gain the confidence to get yourself out of anything you get yourself into. :)
What did you do to enhance your equalisation? Specially that in free diving we have to equalize several times in short time
I can only go few meters and go back up for air in less than 20 seconds. this is sad for me. i'll stick on snorkeling na lang.
No no no! You can do it! :) Your first freediving course teaches you how to safely extend your breath hold! Many students learn how to double their breath hold time over just a few days. Where are you based? I know plenty of reputable instructors in the Philippines that I can connect you to!
@@thesailingsiren I am based here in Cebu. hey, thanks for taking your time here.
Hoping I will one of these days.
@@Eelee77 Look up Nicco Stevens in Moalboal, Freedive HQ in Mactan, or M'Ocean in Panglao. Amazing people and amazing divers. :)
What skills do you need to master before you pass your level 1 test ?
The one that was holding me back was being able to dive down to 10 meters or 33 feet. I was having trouble equalizing. Equalizing as a freediver is very different than equalizing as a scuba diver because 1) you only have the air in your lungs to equalize your mask, ears and sinuses, and 2) you have to do it quickly as you're changing depth pretty quickly.
Do more videos PLEASE!!!
i wish to reach 3mins of my breath hold.As of now only 1min and 10sec.whats the techniq
awesome video! i learned how to freedive at a young age, so equalization comes naturally to me, other then having to use the air you take from the surface to equalize your googles, how is equalization different while freediving compared to scuba? is it body positions? is it pressure? wishing you find solutions to your equalization issues.
It's body position and having essentially an unlimited air supply to pull from with scuba diving. Since taking this training, I've found that I've been using VTO (or isolating and moving the tiny muscles around my eustachian tubes) to equalize. And while it sort of worked, I struggled to get down to 5 meters and my max was 10 on an extremely good day. With freediving on a line, you're diving head down rather than belly down as you would be with scuba diving. Lastly, since you're diving with one breath when freediving, you have to learn to equalize much faster and more efficiently, which is why I've been drilling perfect equalization.
You're actually better than me. I tried dry static but I can only do 40 secs haha. Where did you take your lesson?
Haha if there's anything I've learned about freediving, it's that so much of it is mental! I'm training at Freedive+ in Panglao, Philippines. What about you?
@@thesailingsiren I agree it's more of mental control. I haven't tried any formal training yet. I'm just training on my own in a swimming pool and doing tables/apnea, duck dives etc with the help of UA-cam. I've tried 10 meters though and breaking the 1st rule of diving :/ (not a good way to start) That's why I'm looking for individual/group that I can join to do freediving.
@@marc1047 Please Please Please don't train alone! I had a blackout while doing pool training and not knowing my limits. I'm thankful that I had someone safetying me. I'll be talking about it in a later vlog post, but definitely find someone who can safety you.
@@thesailingsiren Thank you! I can't resist it especially when the water is so clear but I won't do it again :) yes please! Share your vlogs. so far I didn't feel that I went over my limit.
@@marc1047 I'll tell you a bit more from the blackout I've had and the blackouts/LMC's I've seen. It takes less than 10 seconds to go from conscious and competent to a samba/blackout during static training. I've seen people black out in less than 5 meters during a dynamic when they were fine just a bit before. By all means though, train away and dry training is your best friend! Where are you based?
so...what does a freediving course give you qualification for... sure I can just go out to the sea and start freediving myself, whats the point in this certificate?
Hey and thanks for the question! As someone who has taken a course and moved into the more professional side of freediving, I'm always going to advocate for the safety aspects of learning so other people can continue to enjoy the sport. When you hear of a freediving accident or death on mainstream media, a deeper look will often reveal that the person was diving alone, didn't have the proper training, and didn't have proper safety protocols in place. When you are just getting into the sport, you don't know what you don't know and can miss blind spots in a DIY freediving education. Freediving courses aren't just about holding your breath longer and diving deeper. They help you become a well rounded freediver and a competent safety for your dive buddies. Hope this answers your question!
is this same with molcha wave1?
It's similar, but the Molcha Wave 1 depth requirements are a bit different. :)
How long is a person underwater in a 10 meters deep dive with fins?
Depending on whether it is free immersion, constant weight, or there is a hang at any point, the time could change. But usually, it's safe to say less than 30 seconds. Why do you ask?
@@thesailingsiren Because I can hold my breath underwater in moving about 40 seconds. Maybe 10 mt is too much for me...
Don't concentrate too much on how long you can hold your breath, but focus on how much you enjoy being under the water. And soon you will find out spending 5 minutes under the water is easy as you think.
Hi Albert, thanks for the kind words. I've been an instructor for a few years now and freediving has become a huge part of my life! This is the video that I use to motivate people to not give up on freediving if they are worried about "failing" a freediving course. Appreciate you interacting with my content!
Hello Rachel, thank you for the video!
I have been spearfishing for the last year and have the same equalization problems that you explain on the video. Can you describe a little bit more how to train with the nose-balloon?
What makes me feel insecure to go deep is that sometimes on the ascent I can feel that the pressure is not releasing inside the ear causing a lot of pain and a "beep" noise that can last for a few days.
I normally dive on 0-18 meters deep, and sometimes can really feel that the passage between the ear and the nose is partially block as equalization takes longer than usual and different time on each ear. Any tips?? Have been on the doctor a few times, but as long as my hearing is correct, they don't care that much about my freediving or equalization problems.
Hello Javier, don't go deep until you can equalize comfortably. When I was taking my level two course, I remember getting blocks and pain on the way up. My guess is that you are not getting complete equalizations on the way down and as a result, your body compensates by bringing blood and other body fluid to the area to equalize the pressure. That causes inflammation and blockage in the area, which is why you get the pain/noise on the way up. Many doctors don't have an understanding of dive physiology. Unless they dive themselves, their primary experience comes from people with ear, nose and throat problems at normal atmospheric pressures.
Hi, thank you for your video. I am looking for doing the SSI level 1 too. And i already know that my sinuses would probably be a problem because I am often getting a cold. So my question if you solve the problem with your sinuses and if yes what is the solution please ? =)
Thank you very much.
Hi Batiste! If you get the chance, check out a video I made specifically about ways to minimize your issues with equalizing. If you don't want to watch the whole thing, skip to 4:14. Hope this helps! ua-cam.com/video/yWZybKx4byc/v-deo.html
@@thesailingsiren Thank you very much =) ! =D
Good video
thank you!
Hi! Just wanna ask how much does the course cost?
The Level 1 course costs about $350 USD where I took it, but there are different prices depending on where you go and whether or not you do more than one course at a time. Hope this helps!
How long does it take to complete a freeediving instructor for Zero to Hero ?
It takes about 3 - 3.5 months if you have some basic level of fitness in the water, but this is only if everything goes well and you don't have any trouble. I think that it is more realistic to book out 5 months, because you're not doing yourself any justice if you rush through the training and go for the bare minimum for certifications. I've heard of shops that won't hire instructors that have gone through a zero to hero program as they feel that the training is rushed and they don't have enough experience. From being in the middle of a program and speaking from my experience, take your time. I've made a bunch of friends since starting this program, and many of them have incredible amounts of experience and are excellent mentors. At the conclusion of my internship, I will make a video of what I liked and didn't like about the experience, as well as tips for those who are looking to do a program like this! Is one of these programs of interest to you or are you already a freediver?
Thanks heaps for your response, it’s very good info.
I am a scuba diver soon to get certified as an instructor but I wanna get into freediving as well
@@LuisviCristofori That's awesome! I'm a divemaster, but I joined the dark side haha. I still love scuba, and it taught me a bunch about customer service, group management, comfort in the water, and dive theory. There are a lot of differences between the two though. Where are you doing your instructor course?
May I know the model of your dive watch?
Yeah! It's a Suunto D4i.
It's just a begining, next time, you will make it.
You would make a great speargun hunter
The most i. Can. Do. Is 4 meters deep. Comfortable. Other is that i used to smoke :(
I did the snorkeling its not easy I didn't take the courses.
The second u do an ssi dive master course you fail! With ssi you have to own shop or work for an ssi registered business. Become a padi dive in structure and u can either open a small shop or work off a boat(meat at the boat). As a padi instructor your signature is your business!
U got it next time
i also fell pain when go in 10M ...
Am complete mess when it comes to holding my breath
You probably need to equalize your mask. That's what happened to me and, I ended up with blownout sinuses.
Why train to level of freediving instructor not done more than 10m simple equalization? To be blunt this can be learned without paying any instructor but the instruction divrcenter industry sell the idea that you will make career in making money on teaching freediving. Hell there is few basic bicycle training centers..... Should be the same in freediving. I thing different physiology and ear canals and ability to click eartubes open or use toung plate to equalize is just not training and knowing those muscles control. I equalize ears withoutmoving jaw and no pinching of nose. This is maybe what should be taught and coached not found out reaching 4 to 6 meters.
Hi and thank you for your comment! I understand what you are saying, but several years later I'm very thankful for the decision to take the course. Since the filming of this vlog several years ago, I've worked underwater stunts in a major motion picture, become a commentator and athlete in freediving competitions, and all of the issues I had when I was first starting out, I am now able to help my own students through as an instructor. :)
Edwin looks suspicious
Don't go with ssi unless you have a lot of money!
If I could have done it differently, I probably would have gone the AIDA or Molchanovs route tbh.
I learned to Free dive in Cebu City in 1979. I didn't know it was called Freediving. I use the Badjao Breathing Technic because that's how i learned to freedive with the Badjao. Dive Safe and Take Care!
I have never hold my breath in water and I have never also did a free diving but I usually do co2 and o2 table, now I can hold my breath up to 4 minuts. Will this help me if I did free diving courses?
Yes, it would! It is great learning to hold your breath for longer, but it is super important to learn the safety side and equalization, which are also important aspects of freediving.