:: Free Diving in Koh Lanta ::

What is Apnea or Freediving?

Freediving is simple. A freediver relies on a single breath of air to explore the undersea world. Moving gracefully without wasting energy, a freediver can spend minutes underwater and experience the ocean as any other marine mammal does. Free from cumbersome equipment, a freediver can sneak up on a turtle, or glide to the bottom for a meeting with a manta ray.

To get started, all you need is a basic knowledge of freediving safety, a buddy to dive with, equipment and a few tips on technique. We offer freediving courses, from beginner level to instructor training, through A.I.D.A. - the most recognized and respected international freediving organization. Freediving on Lanta’s dive sites is an incredible experience not to be missed!

The key to freediving is learning how to relax underwater.

Recreational freediving runs the spectrum from snorkeling in shallow water, to making deep dives to see things beyond the range of recreational scuba diving. However, the motivations and activities for recreational freediving are much the same as for recreational scuba. The disadvantage, of course, is that your time on the bottom is limited.

There are several advantages, however, to exploring the underwater world without tanks:

• Less equipment means you can get the diver to more locations
• No bubbles means fish are less afraid of the diver
• No regulator noise enables the diver to hear fish, boats and other sounds
• Movement along the bottom is effortless due to reduced drag
• You will visit another dimension where you can move around freely and become one with the sea

Along with the exploration of the underwater world comes the inner exploration of sensations and personal limits. Many people enjoy freediving for the feeling of sinking into the depths and floating back to the surface.

Others enjoy the sensation of their heart slowing down as the diving reflex takes hold, or enjoy performance based freediving as a challenge; competing in various disciplines.

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Freediver *

This introductory course is for complete beginners wishing to discover the pleasures of freediving. You will wonder why you took so long to experience this natural euphoria!

By training your body and mind and learning the proper breathing techniques you will feel comfortable and safe in this calm and silent environment.

Prerequisites:s

• 16 years of age or older
• Able to swim at least 100m non-stop

Course Duration: 2 days

Each training day starts with a preparatory yoga session, with a focus on relaxation and breathing techniques.

Specifications:

Blue Planet Divers * AIDA freediver course includes optional sled dives, in both variable and no limits, to a maximum depth of 10 m. After passing the course, sled dives can be made between 10 and 20 m deep.

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Freediver **

This is a basic freediving course, designed for students who are already confident and happy in the water. It aims at helping the student develop the skills and knowledge necessary to enjoy freediving safely.

Prerequisites:

• 16 years of age or older
• Able to swim at least 200m non stop without fins, and at least 300m non stop with mask, fins and snorkel

Course Duration: 3 days

Program:

Each training day starts with a preparatory yoga session, with a focus on relaxation and breathing techniques.

Specifications:

Blue Planet Divers ** AIDA Freediver course includes optional sled dives, in both variable and no limits, to a maximum depth of 20 m. After passing the course, sled dives can be made between 20 and 30 m deep.

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Freediver ***

This advanced course is designed to continue a freediver’s training beyond the level of AIDA **. The aim of this course is to help the student develop the skills and knowledge necessary to independently plan and participate in freediving activities with similarly experienced freedive buddies.

Technical skills are honed and theoretical aspects of the sport are studied in depth, with an emphasis on breathing and swimming techniques as well as rescue skills.

Prerequisites:

• 16 years of age or older
• AIDA ** Freediver course (or equivalent)

Duration: 3 days

Each training day starts with a preparatory yoga session, with a focus on relaxation and breathing techniques.

Specifications:

Blue Planet Divers *** AIDA freediver course includes optional sled dives, in both variable and no limits, to a maximum depth of 25 m. After passing the course, sled dives can be made between 25 and 35 m deep.

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Freediver ****

This master course continues training beyond the level of AIDA ***, reviewing and building upon prior skills. Students continue to push personal limits of depth and time while maintaining stringent safety standards.

AIDA Freediver **** standards give you access to the AIDA instructor course.

Prerequisites:

• 16 years of age or older
• AIDA *** Freediver course (or equivalent)
• First Aid and CPR certification within the last two years

Duration: 4 days

Specification:

Blue Planet Divers **** AIDA freediver course includes optional sled dives, in both variable and no limits, to a maximum depth of 32 m. After passing the course, sled dives can be made between 32 and 42 m deep.

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What is the difference between recreational and competitive freediving?

Recreational Freediving:

• Depths of 0-100 feet.
• Many repetitive dives between 30 sec to 2 minutes.
• Freedivers stay within their own limits
• Freedivers rely on themselves and their buddy for safety.
• Freedivers interact with marine life, explore wrecks and structures, and explore terrain.

Competitive Freediving:

• Competitive freedivers test themselves for time, depth and distance underwater.
• Performances are more than double recreational time, depth and distance.
• Extensive safety arrangements are made, including safety SCUBA and freedivers.
• Freedivers test their limits.
• Freedivers at a higher risk of samba or blackout.

For the purpose of competitive diving and record keeping, the disciplines of apnea are defined by A.I.D.A. as follows...

A. Static Apnea (STA)
This discipline consist of holding your breath for as long as possible while staying motionless. It sets high demands for the competitor's concentration ability.

B. Dynamic Apnea without Fins (DNF)
A variation of the above, where the longest possible distance is achieved without the use of fins. 

C. Dynamic Apnea with Fins (DYF)
This consist of the athlete making use of fins to swim the longest possible distance under water.

D. Free Immersion Apnea (FIM)
This discipline allows the competitor to pull along the measuring rope to his/her depth and back again. 

E. Constant Weight Apnea (CWA)
This discipline is considered by insiders to be the original freediving discipline. The athlete makes use of traditional ABC-equipment to reach his/her depth. The discipline sets the highest demands to the freediver's mental power, physique and technique. 

F. Constant Weight Apnea without Fins (CWAF)
This discipline consists of swimming down and up along the rope as in classic constant weight, but without the use of fins and using breast strokes. This discipline has been called 'the true human aquatic potential'. 

G. Variable Weight Apnea (VWT)
In this discipline the diver makes use of a specially designed sled running along the measuring rope to achieve his/her depth. Historically, the sled has evolved from a simple weight attached to a noose, till today's highly sophisticated, hydrodynamic sled leading the diver downward with high speed. The freediver traditionally makes use of the measuring rope to pull back to the surface.

H. No-Limits Apnea (NLT)
This has traditionally been the discipline to reach the deepest of all disciplines today. It is a further development of variable weight, where the athlete apart from the sled traditionally makes use of an inflatable balloon to return to the surface. 

In each discipline, separate records are held by both men and women. There are no official subdivisions of any of these categories (eg. altitude, under ice, lake diving, etc…)

Freediving
Courses	Price	Booking
Elementary AIDA Freediver (1 day)	2,700 Baht
AIDA * Freediver (2days)	5,700 Baht
AIDA ** Freediver (3 days)	8,500 Baht
AIDA *** Freediver (3 days)	8,500 Baht
AIDA **** Freediver (4 days)	11,500 Baht

(Prices includes: certification, hotel transfer, insurance and full equipment, as well as breakfast, lunch, fruits and drinks on board)

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Blue Planet Divers
3, Moo 1, Ban Saladan, Koh Lanta,
Krabi 81150, Thailand
Tel/Fax: +66 (0)75 668 165
Mobile: +66 (0)85 472 3450
E-mail us