No tank? No problem!
Becoming a certified freediver with us is about much more than just learning how to hold your breath, it’s an activity that involves your body, mind & soul.
To start your freediving journey in Gili Air is a chance to do so in one of the best locations in the world for underwater activities, “The Coral Triangle”. Our waters are calm, clear and warm all year round and the marinelife is abundant and full of life – allowing you to fully immerse in the experience.
We strive for a professional and welcoming environment that will make you form a special connection to this beautiful island and its underwater realm.
In this freediving course, you’ll learn the basics of freediving and discover your natural freediving abilities. You will learn different breath-holding techniques, the physics and physiology of freediving, a range of relaxation and breathing techniques, as well as rescue and safety procedures.
It will teach you how to stay submerged in a more confident, relaxed and present manner, using the power of your own body and mind. The techniques are simple, well established and accessible even if you’ve never tried before.
This two-day freediving course is conducted in small groups, safely supervised by one of our instructors. Since every student is different, we work through individually adapted and gradual sessions to make sure everyone has the knowledge, skills and comfort level to acquire their lifelong freediving certificate, and gain access to the amazing world of freediving around the globe.
Get familiar with the basics of freediving. There will be two theory sessions where we will teach you the basic principles of freediving. You will learn about how breath holding is connected to a calm heartrate, techniques to slow it down, and the mammalian diving reflex. We are gonna deconstruct the urge to breathe, learn about how pressure changes under water, and how to deal with it. We will also go through standard safety practices below and above the surface, equipment use and maintenance, and a whole lot more! Ask as many questions as you want, and let knowledge be your gateway the world of freediving.
Practice makes perfect. Now it is time to get used to the first concepts we learnt about in class. We are gonna practice breath-ups before diving, as well as relaxation breathing after a dive. This is not the part where we test your limits, this is the part where you get comfortable with breath holding. Your instructor will supervise you closely as you gradually build the confidence for the open water segment. After this, it is time to give static apnea a go – you don’t move, you just hold your breath. Following that, we will venture onto dynamic apnea, with fins, mask and weights – to get you used to the equipment and how to use it in your favor, and move efficiently under water.
Let’s get real! It’s time to visit the beautiful sites surrounding the Gili Islands, and to revisit the techniques we went through in class and during confined water training. Here, you get to establish the basic techniques previously learned, while at the same time trying new practical skills, like how to duck-dive efficiently, how to best control your buoyancy, and how to move vertically, just to name a few examples. We will start with attempting to freedive down to approximately 10 meters of depth and then gradually move towards a maximum of 20 meter, while still keeping our strong focus on an individual adaptation to each students needs, skill, and comfort level.
With each practice dive you’ll notice how much more relaxed, comfortable and connected to the underwater world you’ll feel, and you’ll start to fully enjoy the breathtaking ecosystem and all the marine animals swimming around you.
After completing your Level 1, you are gonna discover a whole new world of possibilities beneath the surface, and within the freediving community. You are ready to safely and comfortably explore the underwater world, all around the world!
To enroll in the Level 1 freediving course you need basic swimming skills and you also need to be in good physical health. Before starting the course you are required to fill in a medical questionnaire. A “Yes” on this form means that you´ll need to bring a medical clearance, signed by a doctor, before being able to participate in any activities. We kindly ask you to look at this form beforehand and, if needed, acquire this written permission before booking in on any of our courses.
See the medical questionnaire here.
Try FreeDiving is a program for those interested in getting a sneak-peek into the wonderful world of freediving. Whether you’re curious about what it’s like to freedive or if you’re looking for a new challenge, this course will give you a taste of what freediving is all about! The program includes both a theory session and a confined water freediving experience where one of our instructors will take you through the basics of freediving; from breath-holding, equalization, and swimming techniques, to safety procedures. No previous experience is necessary and all equipment is provided.
After completing this freediving course you will not only realize that you’re a better snorkeler, now, but that you have gained more confidence, range, and freedom than before and we hope that your time with us will inspire you to explore the underwater world across the globe, and that you’ll be eager to continue your training within freediving!
To enroll in the Try FreeDiving course you need basic swimming skills and you also need to be in good physical health. Before starting the course you are required to fill in a medical questionnaire. A “Yes” on this form means that you´ll need to bring a medical clearance, signed by a doctor, before being able to participate in any activities. We kindly ask you to look at this form beforehand and, if needed, acquire this written permission before booking in on any of our courses.
See the medical questionnaire here.
