Static Apnea 121 Coaching
Perhaps you have never held your breath, or perhaps you can already hold your breath for a long time but your progress has plateaued. If you want to progress your breath hold then the Static Apnea 121 Coaching course is for you!
The program is designed to enhance your ability to hold your breath for extended periods, making your underwater explorations more relaxed and fulfilling.
What Is Static Apnea?
Static Apnea is more than just holding your breath; it’s a cornerstone skill that aids in enhancing safety, stamina, and mental resilience in freediving. Our coaching provide a balanced mixture of theory and practice, guiding you through scientific principles and hands-on techniques to master the art of breath-holding and to increase your hold times.
Who Are We?
Our certified instructors bring a wealth of knowledge and practical experience to the table. Passionate about the art and science of freediving, they aim to help you unlock your full potential in a safe and supportive environment
How does it work?
We’ve combined scientific principles with practical techniques, helping you to understand your body’s natural responses better and train them to extend hold times and reach new depths comfortably and safely. You will learn to control your mind, decrease your heart rate, and optimally utilise your body’s oxygen stores, unlocking a whole new level of freediving potential. Our techniques will equip you with the skills to venture further and deeper, all while maintaining a state of calm and tranquillity.
Your initial booking will be for between 30-60min to discuss your experience, current breath hold, challenges and goals. We will then create a bespoke training plan for you each week for the next four weeks and ask you to provide feedback after each training session to allow us to adjust the next weeks training plan. The course cost covers the four weeks coaching with weekly catchups to review your progress and training metrics.
Coaching Highlights
- Personal Metrics – Medical grade oxygen and hr monitoring
- Hands-on Exercises: Learn through doing, with a series of guided weekly exercises to practice and improve your static apnea abilities.
- Holistic Approach: Beyond technical skills, we delve into mental preparedness and discipline, vital components for any successful freediver.
- Personal Bests: Track your progress with regular assessments and set new personal records under expert guidance.
We are committed to providing an immersive and enriching experience that not only amplifies your freediving capabilities but also expands your understanding of what you can achieve both in and out of the water.
Pre-Requisites
- Have completed the AIDA Medical Statement
- Have completed the Liability Release
Coaching Topics
- Physiology of breath hold
- Phases of breath-hold
- What affects breath-hold length
- Mammalian Dive Response
- Proper warm-ups for static apnea
- Stretching routines
- Relaxation and mind control techniques
- Training routine for increasing breath-hold abilities
Water Sessions
- Safe buddying
- Warm-up for a maximum breath-hold
- Preparation for max hold
- Body position and relaxation
- Maximum static attempt
What kit do I need to bring with me?
For the course you will need a mask or goggles & nose clip. We advise you wear a wetsuit since statics don’t require much movement you will get cold quickly
Is freediving safe?
All sports come with inherent risk, freediving is safe when practiced correctly and responsibly. On our courses we will teach you how to progress safely and also how to minimise risk in freediving which includes diving with a trained buddy and diving within you limits.
I have a health condition can I still join a course or the club?
We are not doctors so we can’t give you medical advice. However, we will provide you with the AIDA medical form before you join the course to complete. If you answer yes to any of the questions or you are unsure then we recommend speaking to your G.P. You can also find your nearest dive doctor on this Website who is experienced in advising on freediving as some GP’s won’t sign medical forms off for SCUBA and freediving.
What level of fitness is required for freediving?
Being fit is beneficial for freediving like most sports, however freediving does not require the same level of aerobic fitness as running for example. So, as long as you are comfortable meeting the course pre-requisite then you should be fine on the AIDA 2 Open Water Freediver course.
Am I too old to start freediving?
Freediving can be enjoyed at any age, the oldest freediver we have been diving with is 84, and the world record holder in his age category for 100m is 60years old. So as long as you can meet the course pre-requisites and don’t have any health conditions that would stop you diving then you will be fine.
Does the course provide a recognised qualification?
Yes, the course provides you with an internationally recognised freediving qualification from AIDA International
Why does the course take place in a swimming pool and not in open water?
Have you head the phrase “walk before you run”? Whilst there are course providers that will take you straight out to sea or to a lake, these can overwhelm some students who may struggle to learn the basics in these environments and come away from their course disappointed.
Swimming pools provide a warm and controlled environment to learn key skills for freediving such as how to hold your breath, kick correctly and equalise. We start the course in 1m of water and finish the course in the 4m dive pool so regardless of your ability or water confidence you have time to gradually adapt to freediving.
I have been freediving for years but don't have a qualification can I skip the course and join the club?
It is important for all club members to have a solid foundation in freediving to enable them to safely buddy other students and our insurance requires all members to hold a freediving qualification therefore you will need to complete a freediving course before joining the club.
I'm a scuba instructor do I need to do a course to join the club
Although Scuba and freediving both take place underwater, this is where the similarities end therefore you will need to undertake a course before joining the club.
Pool Sessions
Join us in the pool for our Tuesdays sessions from 7:30-8:30 at the Dolphin Leisure Centre, Kingland Rd, Poole BH15 1TN.
Vobster Sessions
From April through to September we run courses, coaching and also fun diving sessions at Vobster Quay, the UK’s leading dive location with depths from 5-36m.
