Andrew Grundy (#AGScuba)

When I started to look at vacation options for next year, I noticed more and more dive resorts are offering freediving a long side scuba. This got the better of me and I felt to need to explore further.

Yesterday I took my first baby steps into the world of freediving with an introduction pool session with Oyster Diving in Caterham, Surrey. I arrived at 11:00 with my completed PADI paperwork, which had been sent in advance for me to complete. There was nothing out the ordinary, just the standard PADI medical and disclaimer. Once this had been checked, my instructor for the session Phil, spent 10 minutes going through the basic theory of breath hold diving and finished with a short video, recapping the information.

Next we jumped into the pool and tried floating on the surface to relax for a couple of minutes before trying to hold my breath until I felt a contraction in my stomach. I managed 90 seconds, which felt good for the first attempt. After discussing what had just happen and Phil advising a few things to try, I had another attempt. This time I managed 150 seconds, a great improvement on my first go.

After discussing the best ways to duck dive and the difference in fins used for freediving, we moved to the deep end of the pool to try out what we had discussed. after a few dives it was time to get out and dry.

Overall it was a great hour, getting to try freediving and I am now waiting to hear back from Oyster Diving on dates and coatings for the full freediving course and the advanced. I will update again when I start the course.