What is Apnea or Freediving?
 Freediving
is simple. A freediver relies on a single breath of air to explore the undersea
world. Moving gracefully without wasting energy, a freediver can spend minutes
underwater and experience the ocean as any other marine mammal does. Free from
cumbersome equipment, a freediver can sneak up on a turtle, or glide to the bottom
for a meeting with a manta ray.
To get started, all you need is a basic
knowledge of freediving safety, a buddy to dive with, equipment and a few tips
on technique. We offer freediving courses,
from beginner level to instructor training, through A.I.D.A. - the most recognized
and respected international freediving organization. Freediving on Lanta’s dive sites is an incredible experience
not to be missed!
The key to freediving is learning how to relax underwater.
Recreational
freediving runs the spectrum from snorkeling in shallow water, to making deep
dives to see things beyond the range of recreational scuba diving. However, the
motivations and activities for recreational freediving are much the same as for
recreational scuba. The disadvantage, of course, is that your time on the bottom
is limited.
There are several advantages, however, to exploring the underwater
world without tanks:
 •
Less equipment means you can get the diver to more locations
• No bubbles
means fish are less afraid of the diver
• No regulator noise enables
the diver to hear fish, boats and other sounds
• Movement along the bottom
is effortless due to reduced drag
• You will visit another dimension
where you can move around freely and become one with the sea
Along with
the exploration of the underwater world comes the inner exploration of sensations
and personal limits. Many people enjoy freediving for the feeling of sinking into
the depths and floating back to the surface.
Others enjoy the sensation
of their heart slowing down as the diving reflex takes hold, or enjoy performance
based freediving as a challenge; competing in various disciplines.
Freediving Courses in Koh Lanta
Freediver *
 This
introductory course is for complete beginners wishing to discover the pleasures
of freediving. You will wonder why you took so long to experience this natural
euphoria!
By training your body and mind and learning the proper breathing
techniques you will feel comfortable and safe in this calm and silent environment.
Prerequisites:
•
16 years of age or older
• Able to swim at least 100m non-stop
Course
Duration: 2 days
Each training day starts with a preparatory yoga session,
with a focus on relaxation and breathing techniques.
See Prices and Book this Course
Freediver **
 This
is a basic freediving course, designed for students who are already confident
and happy in the water. It aims at helping the student develop the skills and
knowledge necessary to enjoy freediving safely.
Prerequisites:
•
16 years of age or older
• Able to swim at least 200m non stop without
fins, and at least 300m non stop with mask, fins and snorkel
Course Duration:
3 days
Program:
Each training day starts with a preparatory yoga
session, with a focus on relaxation and breathing techniques.
See Prices and Book this Course
Freediver ***
 This
advanced course is designed to continue a freediver’s training beyond the
level of AIDA **. The aim of this course is to help the student develop the skills
and knowledge necessary to independently plan and participate in freediving activities
with similarly experienced freedive buddies.
Technical skills are honed
and theoretical aspects of the sport are studied in depth, with an emphasis on
breathing and swimming techniques as well as rescue skills.
Prerequisites:
•
16 years of age or older
• AIDA ** Freediver course (or equivalent)
Duration:
3 days
Each training day starts with a preparatory yoga session, with a
focus on relaxation and breathing techniques.
See Prices and Book this Course
Freediver ****
 This
master course continues training beyond the level of AIDA ***, reviewing and building
upon prior skills. Students continue to push personal limits of depth and time
while maintaining stringent safety standards.
AIDA Freediver **** standards
give you access to the AIDA instructor course.
Prerequisites:
•
16 years of age or older
• AIDA *** Freediver course (or equivalent)
•
First Aid and CPR certification within the last two years
See Prices and Book this Course
Freediving Disciplines
What is the difference between recreational and competitive freediving?
 Recreational
Freediving:
• Depths of 0-100 feet.
• Many repetitive
dives between 30 sec to 2 minutes.
• Freedivers stay within their own
limits
• Freedivers rely on themselves and their buddy for safety.
•
Freedivers interact with marine life, explore wrecks and structures, and explore
terrain.
Competitive Freediving:
•
Competitive freedivers test themselves for time, depth and distance underwater.
• Performances are more than double recreational time, depth and distance.
• Extensive safety arrangements are made, including safety SCUBA and
freedivers.
• Freedivers test their limits.
• Freedivers at
a higher risk of samba or blackout.
For the purpose of competitive
diving and record keeping, the disciplines of apnea are defined by A.I.D.A. as
follows...
 A.
Static Apnea (STA)
This discipline consist of holding your breath for as
long as possible while staying motionless. It sets high demands for the competitor's
concentration ability.
B. Dynamic Apnea without Fins (DNF)
A variation
of the above, where the longest possible distance is achieved without the use
of fins.
C. Dynamic Apnea with Fins (DYF)
This consist of
the athlete making use of fins to swim the longest possible distance under water.
D. Free Immersion Apnea (FIM)
This discipline allows the competitor
to pull along the measuring rope to his/her depth and back again.
E.
Constant Weight Apnea (CWA)
This discipline is considered by insiders to
be the original freediving discipline. The athlete makes use of traditional ABC-equipment
to reach his/her depth. The discipline sets the highest demands to the freediver's
mental power, physique and technique.
F. Constant Weight Apnea
without Fins (CWAF)
This discipline consists of swimming down and up along
the rope as in classic constant weight, but without the use of fins and using
breast strokes. This discipline has been called 'the true human aquatic potential'.
 G.
Variable Weight Apnea (VWT)
In this discipline the diver makes use of a
specially designed sled running along the measuring rope to achieve his/her depth.
Historically, the sled has evolved from a simple weight attached to a noose, till
today's highly sophisticated, hydrodynamic sled leading the diver downward with
high speed. The freediver traditionally makes use of the measuring rope to pull
back to the surface.
H. No-Limits Apnea (NLT)
This has traditionally
been the discipline to reach the deepest of all disciplines today. It is a further
development of variable weight, where the athlete apart from the sled traditionally
makes use of an inflatable balloon to return to the surface.
In each
discipline, separate records are held by both men and women. There are no official
subdivisions of any of these categories (eg. altitude, under ice, lake diving,
etc…)
Freediving Courses Prices
| Freediving |
| Courses |
Prices |
Booking |
| Elementary AIDA Freediver (1 day) |
2,700 Baht |
 |
| AIDA * Freediver (2 days) |
6,000 Baht |
|
| AIDA ** Freediver (3 days) |
9,000 Baht |
|
| AIDA *** Freediver (3 days) |
9,000 Baht |
|
| AIDA **** Freediver (4 days) |
14,000 Baht |
|
Certified AIDA or other Freediving organisation (proove of certification needed) Freediver: 2,400 Baht
(Prices includes: certification, hotel transfer, insurance and full equipment,
as well as breakfast, lunch, fruits and drinks on board) |
