World Class F.I.I. Freediving & Spearfishing Courses

EMAIL FOR PRIVATE COURSES - andrew@formulafreediving.com

CLICK HERE TO SEE CURRENT COURSE DATES

 

Level 1 Freediver Course

Whether a complete beginner or an informally trained freediver/spearfisherman with years of experience, this course will set you on the right path to eliminate bad habits and show you the most efficient and safe freedive techniques.

During this course students master the fundamentals of the FII education system in an easy-to-learn course format operating between the classroom, pool and open water setting. With a high emphasis on safety and comfort, students master the proper skills to effectively operate up to depths of 66 feet/20 meters.

 Course Syllabus

• Level 1 Safety & Problem Management
• Freediving Equipment
• Physics and Physiology for the Level 1 Freediver
• Freediving Technique Development
• Correct Breathing for Freediving
• Breathing and Breath-Hold Technique Development
  

 

 

Level 2 Freediver Course

The F.I.I. Level 2 Freediver course builds upon the foundation established during the Level 1 Freediver course by teaching students how to effectively use the human body processes to safely and comfortably operate up to depths of 100 feet and more.

The physiology information provided during this course will dispel common myths of the average human’s diving ability and target specific practices to harness their full aquatic potential. The course will also troubleshoot depth-related hurdles and address possible injuries applicable to diving within the depth zone of 66 feet/20 meters to 132 feet/40 meters.

This class is a must for all enthusiastic freedivers/spearfishermen wishing to expand their knowledge regardless of the depth they are diving.

Course Syllabus

• Safety and Problem Management Revision
• Specific Techniques for Triggering and Developing the Mammalian Dive Reflex
• Equalization
• Breathing Exercises and Breathing Technique Development
• Physics and Physiology of the Level 2 Freediver
• Open-Water Freediving Technique Development
• Self-Evaluation Techniques

 

 

Spearfishing Course

The FII Spearfishing Course is a fully standardized spearfishing program developed by world-renowned spearfishermen and freedivers Cameron Kirkconnell, John Dornellas and Martin Stepanek.

This inovative course was developed to fulfill the need for spearfishing safety education in the community, with an emphasis on nurturing this craft as the most sustainable and selective method of fishing. Whether a seasoned underwater hunter or just starting out, participants leave this course with the skills necessary to be a well-rounded, safe and successful hunters.

Throughout this course participants learn the knowledge and proven techniques used by world record spearfishermen and women, all delivered in a comprehensive and easy-to-learn format. The curriculum includes spearfishing safety, location safety, spearfishing equipment, hunting techniques, spearfishing ethics and catch management.

The spearfishing program includes five hours of classroom instruction followed by three hours of confined water training. An optional add-on spearfishing day is available in some locations offering students the oppourtunity to refine new techniques in their local environment.

The spearfishing course manual is one of the most extensive references ever written on the craft of spearfishing.

Course Prerequisite: FII Level 1 Freediver or equivalent

 

 

Practice Session

For certified divers, line diving in the blue! For level 2 divers, a 40 meter line will be available. For level 3 divers, a line up to 61 meters is avaliable. For dives over 40 meters a lanyard is required. 

 

 

Waterman Survival Course

Training utilized by Champion Big Wave Surfers Garrett McNamara & Andrew Cotton, US Navy Seals, Pro-Surfers Jamie O'Brien, Jeff Wetherall, and many more...

In September 2012, F.I.I.'s Director of Education Martin Stepanek took the FII Waterman Survival course to Praia de Norte, Portugal where he trained Big Wave Surfing Champion Garrett McNamara and his safety team. Martin utilized this experience to finely tune new safety techniques, and went so far as to successfully test them himself in 20ft waves.  This course provides groundbreaking information changing the confidence and safety of extreme watermen worldwide.

"The knowledge that Martin Stepanek (FII) has about human physiology and how to apply it is invaluable to anyone who enters the water. In the big wave arena safety is finally becoming the number one priority and everyone can feel safer after the FII Waterman Survival Course. It only makes sense that as surfers we would look to the expertise of a sport that entails long breath holds and possible blackouts." - Garrett McNamara

Any experienced waterman, from surfers, rescue swimmers, lifeguards and whitewater kayakers will easily recall at least one moment in their lives when the power of Mother Nature's ultimate force has pushed them to their limits. Gasping for breath, they reached the surface feeling there was nothing else to give…or was there? During this groundbreaking course, your FII certified Waterman Survival Instructor will dispel common misconceptions and get to the bottom of the true urge to breathe.  Participants learn how to retrain the urge to breathe increasing their CO2 tolerance and breath-hold while learning key specialized safety protocols to effectively manage victims of breath-hold related incidents in extreme conditions. This course has set a new standard of waterman safety training worldwide.

 

 

Basic Freediving Safety Course

What is the first and most significant sign of a freediver encountering latent hypoxia during freediving or also known as shallow water blackout? What would you do if this happens to your buddy? How can you minimize the chances of this happening? What are the correct safety procedures?  When handled incorrectly Latent Hypoxia during freediving can lead to death.

The Basic Freediving Safety course will not teach you how to freedive, but it is designed to familiarize students with the proper freediving supervision and basic safety and rescue procedures used in recreational freediving.  This essential basic information is paramount learning for everyone involved in spearfishing and freediving activities. Whether as a spearfisherman without any formal freediving education, spouse of a spearfisherman or freediver, or newbie interested in getting into breathhold activities such as spearfishing but not yet ready to dedicate the time and money to a full freediving course.

This course has a lowered minimum age requirement of 12 years old with parental consent consent to make it accessible to the younger generations developing a keen interest in spearfishing or freediving activities.

This course should be looked upon as a minimum requirement for everyone participating in any form of freediving activities.