The answer to this question is probably something you asked yourself after you learnt to swim and you had time in a pool to muck around. When I was a kid I had competitions with my best friend as to who could hold their breath the longest. I often won with times of over 3 minutes.
Freediving is something similar. It is diving without scuba equipment. It’s you, flippers, mask and swim suit. You dive down and experience the underwater world as you hold your breath.
There is more than a knack to it; it is a proper regulated sport, like scuba diving; complete with accrediting body. On the neighbouring beach of Haad Yao, a new company has set up that offers freediving lessons. The company is called Apnea Koh Phangan Freediving School. They are located at Baan Haad Yao Villas on the beach.
As with a scuba school, Apnea Freediving offer a range of courses from 1 day introductions to courses leading to qualifications allowing you to teach free diving. They do free dives at Sail Rock so that students get an exciting aquatic environment to plunge the depths on a single breath.
There is theory and training. Key to the training is learning breathing techniques. Apnea Koh Phangan guarantees you will be able to hold your breath (above water) for 3 minutes after the training.
Here are the details:
Discover Freediving – Max depth 12 meters. 4,000 Thai Baht or 4,500 Thai Baht with a trip to Sail Rock. 1 day
Freediver – Max depth 20 meters. 6,500 Thai Baht or 7,000 Thai Baht with a trip to Sail Rock. 2 days
Advanced Freediver- Max depth 35 meters. 9,000 Thai Baht. 3 days
Master Freediver – 4 to 5 weeks internship. 25,000 Thai Baht or 30,000 Thai Baht with breakfast and lunch included
For qualified freedivers a fun dive costs 1,400 Thai Baht (group discounts available)
There are other courses available for those keen on pursuing the sport.
It should be mentioned that freediving takes you deeper sooner than equivalent scuba courses. If you fancy learning more and you are in Haad Salad why not pop over to Haad Yao and chase down Apnea Koh Phangan. Alternatively their email address is info@apneakohphangan.com
