Free Diver
Take the PADI Free Diver course with The Dive Shop
Enter the underwater world quietly.
PADI Free DivingFreediving is about inward power, discipline and control. If you’ve always wanted to enter the underwater world quietly, on your own terms, staying as long as your breath allows, then freediving is for you. Taking the PADI Freediver course is your first step toward discovering why freediving is becoming a popular way to explore beneath the waves.
All divers must have personal mask, snorkel, thick socks (5-7mm) and freedive fins
* Students certifying in a mountain lake must be fully gear sufficient *
* If certifying at Lake Chaparral divers can rent a scuba 7mm 2pc suit, hood and gloves.
Click here to access the Mandatory PADI Medical Form
Availability: Contact us for booking information
To enroll in a PADI Freediver course you must be at least 15 years old. You need adequate swimming skills and need to be in good physical health. No prior experience with snorkeling, skin diving or freediving is required.
Younger than 15? 12 year olds and older can enroll in the PADI Basic Freediver course and eight year olds and older can enroll in the PADI Skin Diver course.
What will you learn?
The PADI Freediver course consists of three main phases:
- Knowledge development about freediving principles through independent study with the PADI Freediver Touch™ (or your instructor may conduct class sessions).
- Confined water session to learn breathhold techniques as well as static and dynamic apnea. Goal – static apnea of 90 seconds and dynamic apnea of 25 metres/80 feet.
- Open water sessions to practice free immersion and constant weight freedives, plus proper buddy procedures. Goal – constant weight freedive of 10 metres/30 feet.
How can you start learning now?
Contact us and get the PADI Freediver Touch tablet app. The Touch is an interactive study tool that gives you the background information you need to freedive safely and allows you to learn at your own pace. Your PADI Freediver Instructor will check on your progress and make sure you understand important freediving information.
Good news – the PADI Freediver Touch also includes all learning materials for the PADI Advanced Freediver and Master Freediver courses.
What freediving gear will you use?
In the PADI Freediver course, you learn to use a mask, snorkel and fins, and may also use a wetsuit and weight belt. Using gear designed specifically for freediving is best, however, in this course, you may be able to use snorkeling equipment you already own.
For the open water component, you are required to have your own, mask, snorkel, fins, and freediving wetsuit. Due to the personal nature of freediving wetsuits, these are unavailable to rent. Our local lakes are cold, a 5mm two-piece open cell interior wetsuit is recommended. Feel free to chat with your instructor before buying gear - there are a lot of options out there!
Next Step
Learning to progressively go deeper and stay longer on one breath is incredibly satisfying, so don’t wait.
- Enroll in a PADI Freediver course at The Dive Shop
- Get the PADI Freediver Touch from our store start studying.
- Download a PADI Freediver Medical History Form (pdf).
- Browse the PADI Freediver Program FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
