Intermediate Freediving

Improve your Freediving Performance, and Experience the Magic of Free Fall

Intermediate Freediving

Duration

3 Days

About

This course is best for those who have had some time to get comfortable with the skills they have learned in the Level 1 course (able to comfortably and consistently reach depths of 20m/66') and are ready to take their freediving abilities to the next level. We will teach you how to train your body for freediving and upgrade relevant skills such relaxation, equalization, and finning techniques. You will gain knowledge about how to dive deeper and will be introduced to the most fun part of freediving: Free fall! You get to experience what it's like to stop working and start surrendering. No more kicking, no more pulling, and definitely no fighting… Your only work is to relax more and let the ocean pull you deeper. This course includes one classroom session, one pool session and two open water sessions.

COURSE OUTLINE

Online Learning Curriculum:

  • History of freediving
  • Frenzel equalization
  • Introduction to air control: Reverse packs or grouper calls
  • Preventing potential traumas
  • Effects of depth
  • Written exam

Pool Learning Curriculum:

  • Additional equipment
  • Improvements of techniques
  • Dynamic swimming (55M)
  • Buddying and rescue procedures (repetition)
  • Improving Dynamic No Fins (DNF) technique (35m)
  • Introduction to the monofin technique

Open Water Curriculum:

  • Improvement of equalization: Frenzel technique
  • Usage of lanyards
  • Free fall technique
  • Further safety and rescue: Rescue from 15+m
  • Introduction to Constant Weight No Fins (CNF) to 15m
  • Application of air control (Grouper Call and Reverse Packing)
  • Improve your relaxation while focusing on your freediving technique

As a certified Level 2 freediver you will be able to meet the following requirements:

  • 2:30+ min Static Breath Hold (STA)
  • 55+m Dynamic With Fins (DYN)
  • 35+m Dynamic No Fins (DNF)
  • 24 – 30m CWT and FIM in the open water
  • 15m Constant Weight No Fins (CNF)
  • Free fall technique

Required Gear:

We have all the gear you will need for this course available for you to rent (with the exception of ear plugs and a dive watch). You will have the option to add rental gear to your order at checkout. If you would like to rent any gear, please show up 30 minutes early to the first day of class to make sure your gear fits properly. It is your responsibility to pick up your gear ahead of time and drop it off at the shop after the completion of the class, which the shop staff will instruct you on.

Mask – A low volume spearfishing/freediving mask. A standard snorkel/scuba mask is OK for the Level 1 Freediver course.

Snorkel – A simple J. style snorkel

Wetsuit – This is your most important piece of equipment. For San Diego, it’s highly recommended to have a 5mm proper spearfishing or freediving two piece, open cell inner/nylon outer suit. If you don’t have access to this suit, then a very well fitting 5mm full neoprene suit, preferably with a hood is OK. A proper freediving suit will positively influence your course experience. You will need your wetsuit for the pool and the open water portion. You may also bring an additional surf wetsuit for the pool if you would rather keep your diving wetsuit dry for the open water sessions.

Fins – Longblade freediving fins. Standard snorkel/scuba fins are acceptable for the Level 1 Freediver course. We do not accept “split fins” or the full open heel and bootie style.

Weight belt – A rubber weight belt is preferred.

Weights – A selection of 1lb and/or 2lb weights, most people use 5-10lbs.

Freediving Computer – Something that can record your depth. We will go over setting alarms, meeting a buddy at depth, and proper surface intervals. If you do not have a dive watch that is ok, please bring a watch that can keep time.

Intermediate Freediving
chris cheezem

The captain of this ship and founder of this band of misfits is the man, myth, and legend, Chris himself. It all started 5 years ago when he had an idea to build a community around freediving, spearfishing, and showing people what they're naturally capable of in the water. He began his underwater journey spearfishing in Florida and the Bahamas which led him to pursue teaching. He now has many certifications: Molchanov Wave 3 Instructor, PADI Master Freediver/Instructor, Coast Guard/Captain's License, and Navy Dive Officer. One of his favorite experiences diving was when an earthquake happened underwater and it sounded like an explosion! In his rare moments of free time he is sailing or playing guitar.

derik rush

Derik is our Shop Manager from Colorado living in San Diego, and does everything under the sun: rigging, sales, instructor, spearfishing guide, photographer, editor… Is there anything he can’t do? He’s been with Just Get Wet for 3 years, and started his diving journey through spearfishing. Spearing introduced him to freediving and he now has several certifications under his belt: PADI Freedive Instructor, Molchanov Wave 3, and SSI Level 2. His favorite thing he’s seen while diving is schools of 80 lb Groupers in remote areas of Baja because who doesn’t love big fish? When he’s not in the shop, he is diving off of La Jolla or going out east to ride his motorcycle. 

delaney wahl

Delaney is our Marketing and HR Manager from Dana Point, and recently moved to San Diego. She has her PADI Open Water certification and Advanced Freediver certification. When she's not staring at her computer, she's running Merlady events, line diving on Sundays and frolicking at La Jolla caves. Her favorite thing she’s seen is either a tiger shark or a spotted eagle ray. Her craziest experience was during her first dive certification where she was stung by a Portuguese Man O’ War on her face during her descent and still completed the rest of the dive. What a badass! When she’s not working, she is hiking, skiing, painting, and taking her van to sunset cliffs.

jake cesear

Jake is our bubble-blowing freediving guru who is often mistaken for a really big fish in the water. He's from Encinitas and has been with JGW for two years. He is a freediving and bubble ring instructor, spearfishing and snorkel guide, and runs our sunday line diving sessions. He has multiple certifications including Molchanov instructor, PADI instructor, and life support / CPR certified. During a trip to Belize he discovered his love of diving with nurse sharks, and has had many fun experiences since. His favorites being at depth with a whale shark and during bioluminescence. When he's not frolicking in the water, he's resting, spearfishing, snowboarding, and exploring the caves.

brittani eaton

Brittani moved to San Diego three years ago from the East Coast and has not looked back. You'll see her running the shop, snorkel tours and Sunday line dive sessions. She has her Advanced Freediver certification, intends to become an instructor, has experience in spearfishing and is NAUI certified. She fell in love with freediving during a trip to Antigua and got her Bachelor's degree in Marine Science.  Her favorite thing to see while diving is tope sharks, but she will talk your ear off about any kind of shark. She loves diving, taking her van out camping, yoga, surfing, and always being active!

nathan minatta

Nathan is our freediving and spearfishing instructor, filmmaker/editor, camera guy, and Chris's other half. He is from Colorado and has been with JGW for four years. He first found freediving in Hawaii and through North County Depth Finders and combined that with his passion for filmmaking. He loves both freediving and spearfishing equally and is a Molchanov Wave 3 Instructor and PADI Advanced Instructor. His favorite underwater experience is being vortexed by blue fin tuna. When he is not working he is still working, resting, diving, skateboarding, wakeboarding and snowboarding.

Christine cavarlez

Christine is our real-life professional mermaid and is a PADI Freedive and Mermaid Instructor from San Diego. She’s been with Just Get Wet for a couple years since the start of her freediving career, leveling up until she eventually became one of the instructors. When she’s not busy mermaiding around the world, she helps teach classes and Sunday line diving sessions. Catch her diving at her favorite spot off La Jolla Cove playing with sea lions in the kelp forest. Who knows, you might be lucky enough to see her mermaid form!

FAQs:

Diving stuff

About our courses / charters / trainings:

The Wave 1 class will show you how much you are naturally capable of, and how easy and natural this sport really is. No matter your ability level or comfort in the water, our instructors will give you the next steps that you need to develop as a freediver. We also don’t want you to focus on passing the class in one weekend. You have a year to knock out the requirements, and we train every Sunday morning which is a perfect (and cheap!) way to hone your skills. We hope that you will come back to continue to improve your technique and aquatic abilities, and more importantly to meet and dive with our community of freedivers!

First and foremost…you don’t have to pass everything in one weekend. You have a year to knock all the requirements out, and our focus is to be here to help you along that journey as it often takes a few sessions to really settle into the sport, and the environment.

Regarding schedule: We typically do these on weekends, so we do a Friday night classroom session (5-7PM), Saturday morning pool (0645-0930) and Saturday afternoon shallow water session (1030-1400) all in Mission Beach.

Regarding numbers, we want to see a 1:30min static breath hold, and a 40 foot dive both pulling down the line (free immersion), and kicking down (constant weight). Most people who come through the class are intimidated by these numbers, and we can't wait to show you how attainable they are!

Proper execution of the safety protocols is also essential.

You are ready, and you don’t need to train! That’s the best part of this class. The way to get deeper depths and longer breath holds is to relax, to soften, and to enjoy the process. This is attainable to anyone and everyone, and our favorite thing is showing you what you’re naturally capable of. I guarantee it’s more than you thought!

You will need a 5mm freediving suit (STRONGLY encouraged), a mask and snorkel, weights and weight belt, fins (long blade freediving fins also STRONGLY encouraged), booties and gloves. We have all of these for rent, and if you’re interested in one of our nicer suits we have a rent to own program.

Usually…no. I get it. I surf, I have multiple surf suits and I did not want to buy a freediving suit. The thing with freediving is that we are sitting on the surface for 90% of the time, making no movements and generating no body heat because we’re trying to slow our heart rate down and relax. Additionally, the first time you shiver your relaxation completely dissolves and your oxygen consumption goes up 300%. In my mind, you’ve paid good money for this class and having a wetsuit that is too thin ruins the experience.

Confidence in your abilities, comfort in greater depths, and a community of local freedivers who are eager to improve and want to do that with you. You also have the opportunity to earn a certification. If you hit all the pool requirements you will get a Lap certification, and if you hit all the open water requirements as well you will get the full Wave certification.

First and foremost all we have to offer is the worst answer….it depends. But it depends for a reason! As we work with you through the weekend we will determine which trip is the best for you, your comfort, your ability, and the local conditions. All of those vary greatly, but here are our metrics for determining the las/ final day:

If the conditions are awful, it’s not worth it. We would rather take you out line diving to focus on your form and technique in a location that is almost always the most mellow for our region. If this ends up being the case, we will set you up for another day to get out there spearfishing.

If the conditions are good we have a couple options. The first is the La Jolla Kelp, which is very close by, easy to reach, and often has clear water and lots of life (Calico, Sheepshead, Yellowtail, White Seabass).

The other option is to go to the Coronado Islands. This is an open ocean, bare bones, but extremely safe trip offshore that often yields Yellowtail, Calico, Sheephead, White Seabass, Triggerfish, and many more. This includes a mexican fishing license, but we will cover your biosphere permit. These islands are often more clear than the San Diego area, but are also an open ocean environment.

Yes, it's a safety and liability thing, but more than anything it gives the entire group comfort knowing that everyone else they are diving with is properly trained in safety procedures. You need to hold a certification (from any agency), or be working on training to complete course requirements.

16 years old...but we are releasing classes for younger students very soon. Please send us an email if interested, you'll be the first to know!

Yes. Give us a call with the specs of what you need.

Other stuff

About our shop and community:

YES! They won't tell you about us even though we've given them a ton of content, but we still love them. In an older sibling type of way, maybe a step sibling.

Masks, snorkels, dive weights, weightbelts, Riffe, Leaderfins, noseclips, all the fixins for a freediving buoy set up, a couple wetsuits(Riffe, Beuchat & Omer), and Riffe spearguns and accesories to include floats, float lines, dive knives, fish stringers, and many more.

Chris, usually.

First rule about Fightclub... don't talk about fightclub.