Prerequisites:
- Be 18 years of age or older
(16 or 17 years old with parent or guardian consent) - Be able to swim at least 100m non-stop
Requirements: none
Minimum water sessions: 1
AIDA & PADI Courses
AIDA 1 INTRODUCTION TO FREEDIVING
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This course offers a basic knowledge of freediving and introductory skills such as relaxation of body and mind, finning techniques, duck dives and equalisation.
AIDA 2 FREEDIVER
Prerequisites:
- Be 18 years of age or older (16 or 17 years old with parent or guardian consent)
- Can swim at least 200m non-stop without fins or at least 300m non-stop with mask, fins and snorkel
Requirements: 2 minutes STA; 40 meters DYN, 12 meters CWT, theoretical exam
Minimum water sessions: 5
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The static and dynamic sessions in confined water are used to teach relaxation, breathing, finning and safety techniques. In the open water sessions students will apply the skills they have learned in the pool / confined water sessions and combine them with the basic skills of open water freediving such as equalizing, duck diving, vertical swimming, body positioning, turns and use of buoyancy.
The freediving theory will include: Introduction to Freediving, Freediving Breathing Cycle, Basic Physiology of Freediving, Equalization, Freediving Techniques, Safety in Freediving, Equipment in Freediving, Freediving Disciplines.
AIDA 3 ADVANCED FREEDIVER
Prerequisites:
- Be 18 years of age or older (16 or 17 years old with parent or guardian consent)
- Can swim at least 200m non-stop without fins or at least 300m non-stop with mask, fins and snorkel
- Have completed the AIDA2 course or have completed the AIDA2 Crossover Evaluation if crossing over from another freediving agency
Requirements: 2:45 minutes STA; 55 meters DYN, 24 meters CWT, theoretical exam
Minimum water sessions: 6
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The course is designed to further develop skills from previous levels, to acquire new skills and gain a higher knowledge of safety procedures and techniques. The new techniques that are introduced are free-fall, Frenzel Equalizing, the use of training tables, the risks of increasing and decreasing pressure and also how to minimize these risks. Students will train these skills in the most common disciplines of freediving: Static Apnoea, Dynamic Apnoea, Free Immersion and Constant Weight.
The theory will include: Physiology, Equalization, Barotrauma, Lungs at Depth, Buoyancy, Shallow Water Blackout, Training Concepts, The Mammalian Dive Response, Decompression Sickness , Surface Intervals and the Freediver’s Code of Conduct.
AIDA 4 MASTER FREEDIVER
Prerequisites:
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Have completed the AIDA 3 course or have completed the AIDA 3 Crossover Evaluation if crossing over from another freediving agency
- Have completed a course in First Aid with CPR within the last two years
Requirements: 3:30 minutes STA; 70 meters DYN, 32 meters CWT, theoretical exam
Minimum water sessions: 6
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This course familiarises students with techniques, knowledge and safety procedures for deep freediving that go beyond recreational freediving. The new techniques will include FRC diving, mouth-fill equalization and packing. The skills are developed within these categories of freediving: Static Apnea, Dynamic Apnea, Constant Weight, Free Immersion and Variable Weight. In addition to the in-water skills this course introduces full body warm-ups and stretching, specific stretching of breathing muscles, training concepts and diet that benefits the freediver and help shape their development as a diver. You will also be, acquainted with packing and reverse packing, mainly within vital capacity as a part of the dry lessons.
An important set of skills concerns managing open water equipment. The use of appropriate knots and braiding techniques, setting the depth on the dive line, constructing a safe bottom weight from a weight belt and diving leads, safe handling of other additional equipment (bottom plate, torches, lanyards, etc.).
One of the purposes of this course is to prepare successful candidates for the role of “Assistant Instructor”. This new role will include leading an appropriate warm-up session for confined and open water freediving and supervising students of all course levels during their confined or open water sessions.
The theory sessions will include: Physics – Dalton’s Law, Boyle’s Law, Henry’s law, Decompression Sickness, Nitrogen Narcosis, Failure Depth and how to increase VC and decrease RV, FRC Diving, Mouth-Fill, Packing, Fitness and Training, Nutrition and Diet for Freedivers.
AIDA MONOFIN FREEDIVER
Prerequisites:
- Be 18 years of age or older (16 or 17 years old with parent or guardian consent)
- Have completed the AIDA2 Freediver course/ AIDA2 Pool Freediver course or have completed the Crossover Evaluation if crossing over from another freediving agency
Requirements: none
Minimum water sessions: 2
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The AIDA Monofin Freediver course is designed to be an introduction to Monofin swimming and to help the student develop the basic skills, techniques and knowledge necessary to start using the Monofin efficiently. Students will be acquainted with different approaches to freediving with a Monofin, exercises designed to work on this swimming style and ways of planning a training program.
The theory sessions will include: History of the Monofin; Monofin construction and design, current manufacturers and how to choose and fit your fin; How to care for and transport your Monofin safely; Freediving categories which use the Monofin, the differences needed in blade and technique and the advantages and disadvantages of monofins over bi-fins; Equipment for use with the Monofin; Dry training to develop the body for Monofin freediving; Physiology for Monofin freediving; Key rules to remember for Monofin freediving safely and Sources of further information.
AIDA COMPETITION FREEDIVER
Prerequisites:
- Be 18 years of age or older (16 or 17 years old with parent or guardian consent)
- Have completed the AIDA2 Freediver course or have completed the Crossover Evaluation if crossing over from another freediving agency
Requirements: theoretical exam
Minimum water sessions: 2
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This is a course for anyone who plans on entering an AIDA Competition for the first time and/or wants to know more about how one works. Students will develop their knowledge and skills of the main competitive categories of freediving including Static Apnea, Dynamic Apnea and Constant Weight. The instructor will cover all the competition rules and procedures in the classroom before recreating a competition environment in the pool and/or open water to give the student a real sense of how it can feel to be in a competition situation.
The theory sessions will include: AIDA regulations for International Freediving Competitions- general rules; The 8 disciplines of freediving and why competitions are not held for Variable Weight or No Limits.
AIDA COMPETITION SAFETY FREEDIVER
Prerequisites:
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Have completed the AIDA2 Freediver course or equivalent for the AIDA Pool Competition Safety Freediver Course
- Have completed the AIDA3 Freediver course or equivalent for the AIDA Competition Deep Safety Freediver course, or have completed the Crossover Evaluation if crossing over from another freediving agency
Requirements: theoretical exam
Minimum water sessions: 4 or 2
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There is a choice: to complete full course – the course then will take minimum 4 water sessions within at least two days, or to only one part – Pool Safety or Deep Safety. In that case the course can be shortened to at the minimum of 2 sessions within one day.
The purpose of the AIDA Competition Safety Freediver courses is to familiarise freedivers with the safety procedures and rules in place during an AIDA competition. Students will develop their knowledge and skills so they can be used as a Safety Freediver during AIDA competitions.
AIDA JUDGE
Prerequisites:
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Have completed the AIDA2 Freediver course or have completed the Crossover Evaluation if crossing over from another freediving agency, or have entered a freedive competition as an athlete and/or as a safety diver
- Be a member of a AIDA National
Requirements:theory exam
Minimum days: 2
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This course provides the knowledge and skills for planning and organisation of AIDA competitions, safety, problems and risks during
Practical sessions teach set-ups for competition line measurement and coding, safety procedures and a refresh on latest rescue techniques.
Students learn to act as a judge in the training scenarios or in actual competition.
By successfully passing this course the candidates gain the status of AIDA Judge level E or E-pool. This level allows judging at national competitions and at international competitions under the supervision of a more experienced judge.
AIDA INSTRUCTOR COURSE
Prerequisites:
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Have completed a course in First Aid with CPR within the last two years
- Have completed the AIDA 4 course or have completed the AIDA 4 Crossover Evaluation if crossing over from another freediving agencyRequirements:
- 1 dive to minimum 40m maximum 50m
- 1 dive to 30m lasting for a minimum of 1.30 minutes
- After a 1 minute breath-up hang at 15m for 45 seconds to a minute and then rescue a freediver with BO from that depth
- Stamina test: max 1 min preparation and then 5 consecutive dives to 20m, each with a 1 min surface interval
- Rescue from 25m followed by recovery at surface and 50m tow
- Static breath hold: minimum 4 minutes
- Demonstration of other disciplines: DNF, CNF and VW, no minimum requirement
- AIDA 2, 3 and 4 theoretical exams, final Instructor Course exam, practical exams on teaching and setting up equipment, oral presentation
Candidates should be prepared to complete all the requirements at the start of their Instructor Course (IC)
Minimum water sessions: 8
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Within at least 10 full days candidates are trained to teach AIDA Freediving Courses. Classroom sessions cover variety of topics such as planning, marketing and running courses, teaching skills and theory, legal requirements and risk management. Water sessions are used to complete performance requirements and skill demonstrations. As a part of their IC, candidates teach trial courses AIDA 2 and 3 under supervision of their Instructor Trainer. One month prior to their IC applicants receive studying materials as well as a topic of their own research which they will present during the IC as one of the practical exams.
CROSSOVER EVALUATION
Freedivers who already completed some training with another freedive agency can crossover to the AIDA Education system. The AIDA Instructor will conduct a Crossover Evaluation sessions with each student wishing to enrol on a course of the next level.
To participate in an AIDA3 Advanced Freediver Course, the crossover candidate will be evaluated on all skills of AIDA2. To participate in an AIDA4 Master Freediver Course, the crossover candidate will be evaluated on all skills of AIDA3. To participate in the AIDA Instructor Course, the crossover candidate will be evaluated on all skills of AIDA4.
The Evaluation consists of:
- Knowledge assessment by a written exam with passing rate of 75%
- Assessment of all Confined Water and Open Water Skills
A certification may be issued on the assessed course level, but it is not a prerequisite to join a course of the next level.
AIDA YOUTH INSTRUCTOR
Prerequisites:
- Be an active AIDA Instructor
- Hold a current First Aid Child Care qualification including CPR for children valid within the last two years
Requirements: Complete AIDA Youth Instructor Online Course and pass its exams
The candidates must show their knowledge of AIDA Youth Standards and Guidelines, and AIDA Youth Instructor Manual by passing two open-book exams which require 100% passing score while leaving an infinite amount of attempts to pass them. Once both exams are successfully completed, the Youth Instructor gains access to complete downloadable AIDA Youth materials and an opportunity to certify children.
AIDA YOUTH COURSES
AIDA Youth Programme teaches water skills to children from 6 to 15 years old.
There are three courses for children from 6 to 11 years old: Bronze Dolphin, Silver Dolphin or Gold Dolphin. Each of them takes from 3 days of teaching. 4 day AIDA Junior course is for adolescents from 12 to 15 years old. Each of the Youth courses has a section for parents educating them on proper post-course supervision of children in the water.
AIDA FREEDIVING EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONDER
Prerequisites:
- Be 18 years of age or older
Minimum days: 1
The FEMR course is available for freedivers of any association. It trains for emergency care in freediving accidents, along with traditional first aid that includes non-freediving related injuries and illnesses. The theoretical material is available for home study previously to the course. It extensively covers pathophysiology, first aid and prevention for numerous situations in the water, including pressure- and hypoxia-related conditions, injuries and illness related to marine life. The practical part of the course trains to act in a number of first aid scenarios and teaches using some of the medical equipment, such as bag valve masks, suction devices, oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal airway. Participants also learn taking full vital signs, including blood pressure and pulse oximetry.
AIDA FREEDIVING EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONDER INSTRUCTOR
Prerequisites:
- Be an active AIDA Instructor
Minimum days: 5
The FEMR Instructor course is only available for AIDA instructors. It teaches to train Freediving Emergency Medical Responders, completely covering the material of FEMR course and explaining how it is taught. AIDA FEMR Instructors master their own skills and learn how to teach and evaluate these skills working with their students.
FEMR Instructors will need to refresh their practical skills with an FEMR Instructor Trainer every two years.
FREEDIVING COURSE FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED DIVERS
A manual for Teaching Freediving to Visually Challenged People was added to AIDA educational materials in 2018 at the initiative of AIDA instructors who volunteered the method that they developed over the years. It provides adaptations of AIDA courses for non-sighted and partially sighted divers. Using this method, instructors can include visually impaired students in their courses along with sighted people.
