Private Scuba Divers › PADI Courses › Freediving › Advanced Freedivers
How to Become an Advanced Freediver
Having lessons from a Freediver Instructor will help you refine your freediving skills and improve your performance as you master suspension of breathing (apnea).
The information in this section explains how to get the PADI® Advanced Freediver certification, what skills you will learn, the program limitations, and what kind of equipment you'll use.
Basic Skills Needed for Advanced Freediving
The key principles of freediving focus on performing controlled and safe breath-hold techniques.
Taking a freediving course is a way of exploring shallow water without having to learn scuba diving or join a snorkeling tour.
You would be practicing in a swimming pool or in a confined water site (e.g. a sheltered bay).
So, the basic goals of the advanced course are to achieve new personal bests for freediving times or to reach greater depths - accomplished at a pace that is safe and practical.
Note: If you do not meet the minimum age requirement (fifteen) you may choose to enrol in the Basic Freediver course instead.
Course Requirements
The objective for students in confined water (e.g. swimming pool) is to achieve static apnea for a minimum of two minutes and thirty seconds (two minutes for students younger than eighteen) and dynamic apnea for fifty metres (forty metres for students younger than eighteen).
The objective for students in open water is to achieve a constant weight freedive of twenty (20) metres (or fifteen metres for students younger than eighteen) - through three main phases:
- Knowledge development:
- Achieved through independent study via Freediver eLearning or through classroom sessions (if the online tuition is not available in a language that you understand).
- Confined water session to learn about:
Advanced breathhold techniques- Static and dynamic apnea
- Proper buddy procedures
- Open water sessions to practice:
- Free immersion freedives
- Constant weight freedives
- Proper buddy procedures
To enrol in the PADI® Advanced Freediving certification course, you must:
- Be at least fifteen (15) years old.
- Have a PADI Freediver certification (or a qualifying certification from another freediver organisation).
- Have Emergency First Response Primary and Secondary Care (CPR and First Aid) training within the past two years. Students can complete the EFR training during the Rescue Diver course.
- PADI Emergency Oxygen Provider Specialty course (recommended)
Note: The main section explains how to get the Freediver certification, what skills you learn, program limitations, and what kind of gear you will need.
Equipment for Freedivers
Some gear is specifically designed for freediving. Even so, you may use some traditional snorkeling equipment if you already have your own set. You will need to have:
- Freediving mask
- Snorkel tube
- Bifins (or monofins)
- Weight belt and weights
- Wetsuit and hood
- Surface signaling devices
- Freediving computer (or depth gauge and timer)
Another section contains a comprehensive list of freediving equipment and accessories for beginners. You can also learn about some safety items that allow you to dive deeper - and for longer.
Ready to Get Started?
The PADI® Freediver eLearning mobile app is an interactive study tool that you can use at your own pace. You can use it to get the background information needed to freedive in a safe manner.
Plus, the Freediver eLearning app also includes all of the study materials required for the PADI® Master Freediver course curriculum.
Related Information and Help Guides
- How to Get Certified as a PADI® Freediver?
- Best Method for Equalizing Pressure While Diving
- The Dangers of Using Decongestants and Diving
Note: The short video presented by PADI® [1:01 seconds] spotlights the discipline and control needed to stay underwater while your breath allows it. Please contact us for further details.