Silent Diving… It Puts A Different Perspective On Things
THE BENEFITS OF FREEDIVING WITH RAID RAID is putting a lot of effort and a focus on Freediving programs this year. Why is that? We asked our Freediving SME (subject matter expert) to explain why freediving is important to her and why it’s a benefit for anyone who dives as well as anyone specifically interested in moving into that branch of our sport. “As both a scuba and freedive instructor, I’ve taught a lot of people over the years, including teaching qualified scuba divers to freedive. There are some huge benefits to be gained by taking a freediving course. As a scuba diver, you will already have a pretty good handle on your buoyancy, and the feelings associated with being underwater. Learning to freedive can give you a better understanding of breath control, better equalisation skills, improved buoyancy, improved body awareness and more confidence in the water. This can make you into a more relaxed and efficient scuba diver, with better air consumption, meaning you can dive for longer.” Pash Baker is also an underwater photographer, and one of the things she loves about freediving is the ability to have incredible animal encounters that are simply not possible on scuba. “I’ve had baby humpbacks swim over to check me out and then stay and play a while. I’ve freedived with blue whales, had a one-on-one encounter with an Oceanic White Tip shark on breath hold and many other amazing experiences. The images I take while freediving are very emotive for me, as they are attached to memories of phenomenal encounters.” So, with all that in mind, we hope the agency’s recent focus on freediving begins to make sense and that this month… and onwards… you think seriously about expanding your personal experience to include breath-hold, no-tank diving with RAID. And above all the benefits that Pash mentions, it’s fun! VIEW FREEDIVING PROGRAMS HERE>>>
WHY RAID
REASON #775 Did you know that RAID offers a complete Freediving program including static apnea?
Freediving Pool Instructor
RAID OPENS UP A WHOLE NEW CONCEPT IN FREEDIVING Always the innovator, in the past few months, the team at RAID has been able to launch several new programs and each of them has been exciting to work on and release to you. But this is something we are delighted and extremely eager to tell you about. It tops everything. Freediving Pool Instructor offers ALL RAID Scuba Instructors a convenient pathway to becoming certified pool freediving instructors, and that’s the sort of innovative idea we think the dive industry needs right now. This is a new adventure and it starts right here. The word, unique, gets used a lot whether or not its deserved, but we think this course is truly unique and deserves taking a good look at because it was specifically created to leverage the expertise scuba instructors have developed while teaching scuba students. And because of that, we feel there’s a natural fit for them to introduce their customers (old and new) to the freedom and fun of freediving. And just in case you are wondering what’s so special about freediving and how does ‘one breath’ diving without a tank relate to any other form of diving, here’s a piece of shocking news. The skills taught in a basic freediving class, including but not limited to how the calm one’s mind and control the breathing cycle, we believe are fundamental to diver comfort and safety. There is a groundswell of opinion that learning to freedive is perhaps as important as learning to swim for any one who’s truly interested in becoming a balanced and relaxed diver… on scuba, a rebreather, or anywhere in between. If you agree, or are interested to find out if you agree, and you’re a RAID instructor, we’d like to suggest you get in touch. If you’re a RAID diver, we strongly suggest contacting your RAID instructor or dive centre. Pool Instructors will be qualified to teach in confined water four excellent programs that promise to be best-sellers: Contact your local RAID office for details and standards.
It’ll take your breath away
RAID STATIC APNEA PROGRAM We are thrilled to announce the launch of our innovative Static Apnea Program. This groundbreaking initiative represents a significant development in our offerings, and we have high hopes for its success and impact within the diving community. This specialty program can be taught by all active RAID Freediving Pool Instructor. (This program is restricted to activity in pool or pool-like conditions.) It is the ultimate guide for anyone looking to master the mentally demanding discipline of static breath-holding in freediving. Whether a student is a beginner or an experienced freediver, this comprehensive manual provides step-by-step instructions, expert tips, and detailed tables to help them increase their breath hold time and achieve a personal best. Learn relaxation techniques, visualization strategies, and the important role of a buddy in static apnea. With this manual, students will gain the knowledge and confidence to excel in static apnea and take freediving skills to new depths. Static apnea, what most of us would call ‘structured breath holding,’ is practiced for various reasons besides being an essential part of freediver development. These include health benefits for all water enthusiasts including scuba and rebreather divers! Some potential benefits of static apnea for health include: In addition, unlike other RAID diving activities, static apnea is a Competitive Sport where participants compete to hold their breath for the longest time possible. This adds an element of excitement and motivation for those interested in pushing their limits and setting records.And of course, static apnea training is one of the central principles of freediving, and during the coming months, RAID will be boosting its freediving program. The launch of this completely new, totally revamped, recreated static apnea program is one of the first steps. Static apnea for scuba divers Static apnea, or breath-holding, can be particularly beneficial for scuba divers as it helps improve breath control, lung capacity, and overall comfort in the water. Here are some specific benefits of static apnea for scuba divers: Increase in breath-holding time: By training in static apnea, scuba divers can improve their ability to hold their breath, which can be advantageous when diving underwater for extended periods. Enhanced relaxation: Practicing static apnea techniques can help divers stay calm and relaxed underwater, which is crucial for conserving energy and avoiding panic while scuba diving. Improved lung capacity: Static apnea training can expand lung capacity, allowing divers to take deeper and more efficient breaths, which can be beneficial for buoyancy control and overall comfort while diving. Better equalization: Breath-holding exercises can help divers improve their ability to equalize pressure in their ears and sinuses, reducing the risk of discomfort or injury during descents. It’s essential for scuba divers who practice static apnea to know the guidelines, and safely and gradually increase breath-holding times to avoid hypoxia or other risks associated with breath-holding exercises. Additionally, divers should always dive within their limits and be aware of safe diving practices. So, this course is a must-have. Overall, static apnea combines physical endurance, mental focus, relaxation, and competitive spirit, making it a unique and cool activity for those interested in breath control and challenging themselves. ASK YOUR LOCAL RAID DIVE CENTRE FOR DETAILS>>>
Take your Freediving deeper and longer
ANNOUNCING RAID ADVANCED FREEDIVING COURSE So, what’s this course all about and why you need it? This whole course is structured to build on the comfort level you achieved during your RAID Freediver course and refine the core skills of freediving to become a more confident and proficient freediver. Improving your equalization techniques and learning new skills will empower you to overcome barriers and advance safely. The confidence you gain through knowledge and skill development will add to your in-water performance and safety / buddying skills. Expect to explore experiences of static apnea and free-falling and develop your dive reflex to be quicker and stronger, giving you the edge to safely take your freediving career further. You will also work on dry land techniques to stretch and increase lung capacity through simple but effective exercises. Most important to know is that your instructor will keep you moving at a pace that is comfortable to you. There is no time limit to complete the skills and if you want more sessions your instructor will advise you. Your progress is very personal and will be a guided journey shared with your experienced RAID advanced freediver instructor. Some of the open water skills you will perfect Format/Duration The actual number of sessions to complete this course very much depends on the progress of the student and the instructor’s assessment of the student’s comfort performing the required skills. Usually, one day with two in-pool sessions do the trick. The same criteria apply for the open water sessions. That segment of this course is divided into four distinct sessions. Each session has associated goals and specific targets that students must achieve to earn a pass. And that alone is what will dictate the actual length of your Advanced Freediver Program. However, the standards for this course do specify minimum limits To be certified, the student must fulfil the following requirements. Prerequisites Each student taking this course must: Each student must have a: CHECK IT OUT RIGHT NOW! Learn more about the course by visiting RAID’s FREe-Learning. Login to your personal profile or set one up if you don’t already have one… it’s FREE and allows you access to ALL RAID’s courses. You’ll learn these confined water skills All Advanced Freediver confined water skills must have been passed and met. You’ll learn these open water skills All Advanced Freediver open water skills must have been passed and met.
