Intensive learn freediving course question

[Hawaii girl]

Hi everyone, this is my first post. I THINK I'm posting this in the right place. I'm retiring this year due to age and minor injuries and won't be spending all my free time on scuba as I'd had hoped. Not giving up the ocean though and want to spend around 3 months really getting to learn freediving. Does anyone have any thoughts on Zero to Hero versus just doing entry level then a month or 2 at Master level? Egypt seems a bit risky at the moment so I'm thinking either Koh Tao, Thailand or Paglao, Phillipines. I'm just concerned about going to Panglao at this time of year (say May onwards) being the rainy season.
Much appreciated to anyone that can share their thoughts and help me be more sure of my upcoming decision. Thankyou!

 

[Anish]

What makes you think that?

Uh, the ability to breathe vs not? Scuba doesn't put that much physical challenge on the body and I see divers well into their 60s and even 70s doing scuba with no issues. I don't hang around free divers but Im guessing most free divers are much younger and in better shape (at least the videos I have seen online indicate that).

 

[Hawaii girl]

I would think free diving would be riskier and more difficult than SCUBA as you got older. There's no way I'd do it.

I think that would depend on the person and their circumstances, training and water conditions.

 

[Hawaii girl]

I think a good proportion of the population that is reasonably healthy and of a near normal intellect can learn to be a scuba instructor - and very quickly - judging by the minimal experience and training requirements.

Freediving can be much, much more challenging, both from a psychological and physical perspective. If someone is pursuing freedive training from the beginning levels, they should take "one thing at a time" and keep their aspirations rather subdued.

I would not plan too many steps in the future, but rather concentrate on each successive course/level and don't make assumptions that you will necessarily progress rapidly to diving past 30 meters or any particular numeric goal. Unless the individual is uniquely gifted, it takes considerable time and effort to progress safely.

Setting your sights on "Hero" (whatever that means for you) may be a good way to get hurt and end up being counter productive. It takes thousands of dives to progress, not like scuba where you can be an instructor with 50-80 dives.

Unfortunately I agree, these days there are a lot of people progressing to instructor (scuba) with the minimum requirements. I used Hero as that is the name of some of the F/D programs. I was just wondering what people have thought of various programs and locations.

 

[Hawaii girl]

Are looking to break records or just want to dive down to 40' - 60' for a minute and a half and take a look see?
The latter doesn't really require intensive training.
The classes will have you extending your static apnea times up to 2.5 or 3 minutes laying face down in a pool.
They will also teach you how to breathe up safely, lung packing, and tricks to fight off the feeling of needing to breathe. They also explain how to lower your heart rate and how that works with the mammalian reflex when water hits your face.
I read several good books on it when I got into abalone diving, and we just learned from each other and mentors. There were no official "classes" that we knew about when I got into it. We still have a lot of freedivers where I live, it's a culture. The suit, fins, mask and the snorkel are the big thing plus body positioning for maximum slipstream gliding through the water.
You can't successfully freedive with scuba fins and scuba finning techniques. Large high volume scuba masks don't work well. The snorkel will be a straight tube with no check valves, balls, or gizmos to try and keep them dry. Some of these scuba snorkels now look like an exhaust system for an SUV.
Freediving is an animal all its own.
The more you do it the better you get.
It takes constant work and there is no way to fast track yourself to become a hero in record time.
Gaining the technical knowledge is the only thing that can be fastracked I suppose, but that's just the mental knowledge.
Your body and physical development take the time it takes.
Some people don't have the capabilities to become a superstar, and there's no way to cheat that. But many people surprise themselves about how good they can get. There is no artificial support system, it's all you.
Be careful and have fun.

I'm definitely not looking to break records, and don't think I would have that capability anyway. I was really just putting out feelers to see what people thought of a couple of different programs and intensities of learning, in different locations. I'm hoping someone that has done those programs in those locations will be able to give me some feedback.

 

[Hawaii girl]

Uh, the ability to breathe vs not? Scuba doesn't put that much physical challenge on the body and I see divers well into their 60s and even 70s doing scuba with no issues. I don't hang around free divers but Im guessing most free divers are much younger and in better shape (at least the videos I have seen online indicate that).

It really depends on the conditions of the dive you are doing as to how much of a physical challenge on your body scuba diving puts. To me, the idea of not having to lug around heavy gear is really appealing!

 

[Hawaii girl]

I'm not a free diver but I'm very interested in learning.

My concerns are shallow water blackout? The greater need and responsibility to dive with a buddy? It seems easier to build redundancy of air sources with scuba diving but what do I know? Also, my uneducated assumption is the physical demands of freediving are greater than scuba diving. It seems imperative for freediving to have a healthy cardiovascular system, especially as one ages. I'd be grateful to learn from those with most expertise and experience.

Regardless wish you the best and would be very interested in your journey as an aspiring freediver

Yes I agree, very important to get good training and always have a buddy in case of shallow water blackout. Hope you enjoy your learning too!

 

[rongoodman]

I think that would depend on the person and their circumstances, training and water conditions.

I'm not saying that older people can't free dive, just that it doesn't seem logical to me to give up scuba diving for health or physical reasons and then try to replace it with free diving, which appears to be more physically demanding and less forgiving of error. I've seen boat crews helping older divers with mobility issues getting into and out of the water. I don't think I'd want to see any of those folks free diving.