Class Title: Padi Freediver

Age Requirements: 15 years or older.

Average Class Size: Max of 4 students per instructor.

Class Location/Venue: Classroom and confined water completed at Scuba Monkey Dive Center, open water location is at a nearby spring and subject to conditions.

Class Length: This course will take two days, and will take approximately 8 hours each day.

Who should take this course?

Basic swimming skills are required to be sure you’re comfortable in the water. The class includes a 200-meter swim, or 300-meter swim using a mask, fins and snorkel without stopping. There is no time limit for this, and you may use any swimming strokes you want. Students must be at least 15 years of age, but there is no upper age limit to becoming a freediver. The PADI medical form should be looked over 3-4 weeks prior to your course because certain medical conditions will prohibit participation in the course without a doctor's signature.

What will you learn?

The PADI Freediver course develops the knowledge and skills for basic static apnea, dynamic apnea, free immersion and constant weight freediving from 10-16 metres/30-55 feet. Students complete the knowledge and confined water skill portion of the PADI Freediver course (6 metres/20 feet maximum) to earn the PADI Basic Freediver rating, but must continue on to the second day and complete the Open Water section of the course with a minumum dive of 30 feet to gain a Freediver rating and card.

What gear will you need?

Mask, snorkel, fins, rubber weight belt, and a wetsuit of at least 3mm are required. Freediving specific gear (ex, long fins) is preferred but not required.

Selecting your personal freediving gear is part of the fun. Your local PADI Freediver Center will help you find the right mask, snorkel and fins that are specifically designed for freediving.

How do I enroll?

Sign up on our website after selecting a course that fits your schedule, or consider scheduling a private course!. Call Scuba Monkey / Blue Lagoon at (352-518-6323) if you'd like to ask any questions of our staff. Reservations are only held when paid in full,  and there is a $25 rescheduling fee if within 2 weeks of your course. You will need to have a medical release signed by a doctor if "Yes" is indicated on any line items of the medical form.

Notes

The PADI Freediver course is flexible and performance-based, which means that your PADI dive shop and PADI Freediver Instructor can offer a wide variety of schedules, organized according to how fast you progress. Knowledge development is handled through independent study with the PADI Freediver Touch – an interactive tablet/smartphone based app. You pace yourself as you work through each topic, then complete an overall Knowledge Review, then an Exam. Your instructor will focus on helping you become a confident and comfortable freediver, not on how long it takes. You earn your certification based on demonstrating you know what you need to know and can do what you need to do. This means that you progress at your own pace – faster or slower depending upon the time you need – to become a competent freediver.

Scuba Monkey Dive Center Freediving Program Timeline:
Basic Freediver (optional) - Freediver Level 1 - Advanced Freediver