FREEDIVING / BASIC COURSE

Slow down.
Dive in.

This programme is the first deeper introduction to the world of freediving.

SSI Basic Freediver

Explore the programme Price and booking

6 hoursbasic skills on land and in the water

Approximately 6 hoursprogramme duration

From age 10age of participants

Basic courseprogramme type

01 / WHO IS IT FOR

Water is
your world too.

From age 10 · Basic course

01
For complete beginners and more experienced snorkellers.
02
For individuals, couples and parents with children aged 10 and over.
03
For scuba divers who want to gain greater confidence.
04
For those interested in relaxation, technique and safe buddy teamwork.

CLOSE UP / SSI Basic Freediver

From words
to experience.

Pair of breath-hold divers in the pit01 / 03

Joint explanation with the instructor at the surface02 / 03

Breath-hold descent in the dive pit03 / 03

01 / 03
The basics for your own journey.
The programme is your first deeper introduction to the world of freediving. The purpose of the programme is to give students the necessary skills and knowledge so that they can safely freedive with a buddy in a dive pit. Upon completion of the programme you will receive SSI Basic Freediver certification.
Pair of breath-hold divers in the pit01 / 03
02 / 03
Breathing, movement, understanding.
On the course you will learn how to breathe properly, equalise pressure so your ears do not hurt when diving, and find out how to extend the time you spend underwater. The instructor will also explain how to use a mask correctly, what a snorkel is and how to swim with fins.
Joint explanation with the instructor at the surface02 / 03
03 / 03
Space for further development.
The course is for complete beginners, but also for anyone who has already been snorkelling for some time and wants to learn more or deepen their knowledge. On the course you will focus on relaxation techniques, broaden your theoretical knowledge of topics such as anatomy and physics, and find out how to continue training and improving.
Breath-hold descent in the dive pit03 / 03

SSI Basic Freediver certification

02 / EVERYTHING ESSENTIAL

Ready.
At ease.

Programme length

Approximately 6 hours

Where we will meet

Aquapalace Praha in Čestlice – swimming pool and diving pit.

Included in the programme

Mask, snorkel, fins, wetsuit, belt and weights available to hire
Pool and dive pit entry
Instructor services
Online materials in English or another foreign language; according to the offer, studying them is not a condition for completion
International SSI Basic Freediver certification

What to bring and what to know

Able to swim and be healthy
Swimwear, towel and drinks; your own equipment is welcome

Programme outline

01
Theory and safety
Anatomy, physics, pressure equalisation, the most common mistakes and safety rules.
02
Relaxation and technique
With the instructor you will focus on breathing, relaxation and efficient movement.
03
Pool and pit
The largest part of the course is devoted to practical drills, descents and buddy teamwork.
04
Certification and progression
After completing the programme, you will receive SSI Basic Freediver certification and recommendations for further training.

This is what
freedom looks like.

Photos from the Divers Direct offer.

Click to enlarge the photo. On mobile, swipe for more.

03 / FREQUENT QUESTIONS

Before you
dive in.

Is the course for beginners?

Yes, it starts from the basics. It is also suitable for snorkellers and scuba divers.

Are the materials in Czech?

The offer states materials in English or another foreign language. According to the school, studying them is not a condition for successful completion.

Where does the course take place?

In the pool and diving pit at Aquapalace Prague in Čestlice.

What to do before the course?

Book a date and create a MySSI profile with a photo, Divers Direct centre 722162.

YOUR INSTRUCTORS

This course
will be taught to you personally.

Meet our professionals who can teach this course. We will agree the specific instructor and date together.

Tomáš HorčičkaFreediving Instructor

Tomáš Horčička

SSI Freediving Instructor #114148

From apparatus to breath-hold. Try scuba diving, Basic Freediving and technique training.

ABC winter special 87 entitled On the Treasures of the Oceans. It was there that a lifelong love of water and everything connected with it began. At the age of nine he built his first diving apparatus himself. It was only for three breaths – and today he knows it was dangerous to life – but back then? Three breaths underwater were simply brilliant for a little boy. Years and years of snorkelling and working as a lifeguard followed. Life, however, took a slightly different path and Tom did not get into real diving until 2015. A forgotten passion flared up again and since then he has devoted himself fully to diving – in the pool, at quarries and in the sea. Simply into the water whenever and wherever possible.

Over time, the desire to share the joy of diving with others grew in him, and so in 2021 he became a scuba diving instructor. One of Divers Direct's regular training sessions was attended by a freediving instructor so that, as scuba divers, we could try freediving on a single breath. And another door to the underwater world opened. This was followed by years combining scuba diving and freediving. On the first freediving dive below 20 metres, using free-fall technique, it was clear: this is the right path. Tom is a newcomer to our team in the role of freediving instructor. He focuses on Try scuba diving and Basic Freediving courses.

You can meet him at rescue technique workshops, equalisation training for those who have ear problems, other specialist lessons and free training sessions. His motto is: "More than 60% of the human body is water – so it is clear that we belong more in the water than on land."

Lars NielsenFreediving Instructor

Lars Nielsen

SSI Freediving Instructor

Danish instructor who speaks Czech. Try Freediving, Basic, Level 1 and training for freedivers.

Lars is our freediving instructor from Denmark, who has been living in Prague since 2011 and speaks excellent Czech. He has 5+2 children and therefore saintly patience. He worked in management and HR for a long time, and now he is fully dedicated to freediving. He is an SSI Level 1 instructor. He dives to depths of around 30 metres, has rescue dives trained to 20 metres and can hold his breath for 3:15 minutes in static, just so you have an idea of what sort of bloke he is.

For many years Lars taught gymnastics, ocean swimming in a triathlon club, and he also works with children’s swimming. In general, he very much enjoys water. He is constantly developing his skills in and out of the water, and for years he has been dedicated to safe breath-hold diving to depth and underwater swimming.

He combines his experience from freediving and everyday life. "Thanks to it I am happier with myself, and I believe I can pass that on to others," says Lars about himself. At our school Lars runs Basic Freediving and Level 1 courses, as well as Try Freediving taster lessons and training sessions for certified freedivers.

Your next step
begins here.

Usually one weekend day per month, or by individual arrangement. The course runs from 2 students; if it does not fill, the school will offer an alternative date.

Current price and order Book a slot potapeni@divers.cz +420 725 316 772

In the water
together.

Individual approach

One instructor at our school always teaches a sensible number of students. We never push things to the limit and give every student 100% of our attention.

Professional instructors

Every one of our instructors and divemasters lives and breathes diving, loves teaching, and passes that enthusiasm on. We are a team of enthusiasts who will draw you into the world of diving.

Quality training

We maintain high standards and take no shortcuts. Safety, fun, efficiency and ecology too – that is the foundation of every course we run.

Programme according to your goal

Basic Freediver ends with SSI certification, Try Freediving with a certificate of participation. Regular training sessions and fitness classes are there to develop skills. You can find the outcome of each specific programme in its description.

Flexible dates

We will agree on training dates that suit you. Flexibility is a given for us and we always do our utmost to accommodate you.

Our own 8m diving pit

We train in the deepest pit in the Czech Republic – at Aquapalace Praha in Čestlice. There we have ideal conditions for pool training, and it shows in our divers.