Diving into deep waters on one breath and without any breathing apparatus is referred to as ‘freediving’. Free divers use inward control, discipline and power to descend into the ocean while holding their breath until they resurface. Freediving is both a recreational and competitive sport, with many freediving competitions being held regularly around the world.

If you think freediving is just like snorkeling (but going really deep) – think again. Freediving is an entirely different way to experience the underwater world. You’ll dive deeper, stay down longer, and feel part of the ocean itself.

Freediving can also be a competitive sport. Divers around the world train for years to set world records in static apnea, dynamic apnea, free immersion and constant weight freediving.

Although both freediving and snorkeling require the use of similar equipment, the two activities are quite different. Snorkelers remain on the surface of the ocean looking down with their mask while breathing through their snorkels. Whereas, freedivers dive deep beneath the ocean’s surface holding their breath until they resurface. Freedivers only use their snorkel at the surface of the water and instead, remove this piece of equipment before they descend.

Though freediving appears to be relatively simple, there is a lot to know about safety and physiology. A non-trained freediver risks ear, sinus, and lung injuries, blackouts, and could potentially drown. An experienced, insured freediving instructor can help you advance your skills and avoid serious risks. If you already have some freediving experience, the expert techniques taught by PADI Freediving instructors can help you quickly increase depth and time underwater but also enhance your personal and buddy-related safety skills.

This is one of the most common misconceptions about freediving. With proper training you will learn breath-hold techniques that will likely result in you being pleasantly surprised by how long you can hold your breath.

While you don’t need to be an Olympic swimmer to take the course, it is important that you feel confident in the water. To become a PADI Freediver you will need to be able to swim 200 meters/218 yards. This swim will be untimed and can be completed using any stroke, so you can take your time. You’ll also need to learn multiple breath-hold techniques, some of which involve swimming underwater and at depth.

There are four different types of freediving that you will practice during your PADI Freediving course.

1. Static Apnea – This discipline requires the diver to hold their breath for as long as possible while floating face down in confined water. The diver’s respiratory tracts must be submerged during this activity.
2. Dynamic Apnea – In confined water, divers will need to swim in a horizontal position underwater to cover the greatest distance possible. This discipline can be performed as either a fins or no fins activity.
3. Free Immersion – During this discipline the diver will use the guided rope to propel themselves down as far as they can and then back up to the surface. This activity can also be performed with or without fins.
4. Constant Weight – In this activity divers use control and power to push themselves down as far as they can next to the guided rope. During this discipline the diver is not allowed to touch the guided rope. Performed in open water, divers can either complete this activity with or without fins

Not at all. Freedivers only require a few equipment items; mask, snorkel, fins, weight belt and wetsuit which we provide on hire basis as part of the course fee. Of course as your love for the sport develops, you may decide to purchase your own equipment.

Please feel free to call us or Whatsapp us at (+974) 6608 4040, or email us at info@pdcqatar.com and we will get back to you ASAP.