First Impressions: AIDA Depth Competition Safety Freediver Course

The AIDA Depth Competition Safety Freediver Course (alongside the Pool version) is a new course from AIDA with the goal of updating and standardising the role of the competition safety freediver to ensure the highest safety standards for future AIDA competition events. Going forward, all future safety freedivers will be selected  based on initially having this certification and then a subsequent points system that signifies experience gained from prior competition safety freediver participation.

​Note:
This course is only taught by a limited number of AIDA Instructors who are also AIDA Judges

Who is this course for?

• Those that want to be official safety freedivers in future AIDA competition events
• Freedivers interested in the latest safety and rescue procedures to make their own training safer
• Additionally, I would recommend  the course for Athletes to better understand the role of the safety freediver which will give themselves greater reassurance that they are being professionally supervised when competing

What does the course include?

• 3x Open Water Sessions
• 4x Theory Sessions
• 1x Written Exam​

What are the key physical and rescue components of the course?​
Fulfil the following physical requirements:

• 35-40m CWTB dives (3x per session)
• 30m dive + 30” surface recovery + 20m dive
• 20m dives with 3-5 seconds notice, at fast pace (early turn simulation)

Course requirements:

• 20m solo rescue (as if only one safety freediver)
• 25m team rescue with 30 seconds notice (in all safety diver roles #1, 2 & 3)
• Rescue from various depths (20-25m) in various simulated situations
• ​Full rescue extraction

Initial impressions of teaching this course:

• It is an intense course run over 2 days with a high amount of work needed to be completed in the sessions, both in and out of the water.
• It is PHYSICALLY DEMANDING course with the number of deep dives and deep rescue dives needed to complete the pass requirements. An above average level of fitness and endurance is needed to complete the physical demands. (REMEMBER, you are training to be absolutely ready for when another person, the athlete, is in need of your help!).
• Preparation for the course is recommended to include: Familiarity with the current AIDA competition rules. Teaching / assisting teaching is great to get used to focusing on another diver and diving when they are ready, not when you are ready. CO2 tables to get used to having contractions during dives. Practice rescuing someone after a short hang.
• Being a safety freediver can be both GREAT FUN and rewarding and builds camoraderie among those who are the unsung heroes of freediving competitions.

By David Watson, Owner, Founder & Head Instructor / AIDA Instructor Trainer at One Breath Freediving