Freediving Standards & Equivalencies
Overview
Pure Apnea prides itself in being the international leader in freediving training standards. The certification requirements for our courses are on average the highest amongst all freediving training agencies. This means that our instructors are of the highest calibre and that our students receive the best training available. Our training materials are designed to maximise the learning experience and are kept up-to-date by our team of highly experienced instructors.
Pure Apnea is also the only freediving training organisation to have developed the Adventure Freediver, a fully recreational, line of training courses. We are setting the standards for those who will follow!
What are freediving standards?
Freediving standards are regulations and stipulations set by a body or organisation regarding the practice of freediving. These standards can be applied to the practice of freediving and the teaching of freediving. Currently, freediving is a self-regulated activity and there is no global body which sets standards for training agencies. This is why choosing a training provider which has set its own high training standards is so important.
Can students cross-over from other agencies?
Pure Apnea recognises that students who want to enrol in higher level Pure Apnea courses may have prior training from other organisations. Due to the vast differences in training and certification standards between the various freediving training agencies students holding certifications from other agencies can crossover, but with an individual assessment prior to enrolment.
Adventure Freediver Courses
Adventure Freediver I
Prerequisites To Entry:
* +18 years of age OR +16 years of age with signed parental consent OR +12 years of age with signed parental consent, physician's signature on the Medical Questionnaire and accompanied by a parent/legal guardian
* Comfortable swimming and snorkelling in open water
* Completed Course Register, Indemnity Form and Medical Questionnaire
Core Certification Requirements:
* CWT freedive to 5m (max 10m)
* 1:30 Static
* 1-up-1-down buddy practice
* CWT rescue dive to 5m without a dive line
* 70% or above for written exam
Adventure Freediver II
Prerequisites To Entry:
* +18 years of age OR +16 years of age with signed parental consent
* Certified as a Pure Apnea Adventure Freediver I
* Completed Course Register, Indemnity Form and Medical Questionnaire
Core Certification Requirements:
* CWT Freedive to 15m without a dive line
* Extended 1-up-1-down buddy diving to 10m
* CWT rescue dive to 10m without a dive line and 50m tow
* 70% or above for written exam
Adventure Freediver Instructor
Prerequisites To Entry:
* +18 years of age
* Certified as a Pure Apnea Adventure Freediver II
* Medical certificate stating "Fit for Freediving" no older than 1 year
* Capable of performing 30m CWT Bi-fins freedives
* Hold a First Responder qualification that includes 1st Aid and CPR
* Have a minimum of 6 months freediving experience
* Completed Course Register, Indemnity Form and Medical Questionnaire
Core Certification Requirements:
* 1x 30m CWT Bi-fins freedive with dive line
* 1x 25m CWT (Bi-fins) freedive without dive line
* 4:00 Static
* 20m rescue, revival and 50m tow
* 1-fin CWT Bi-fins rescue from 15m
* 5x 20m CWT Bi-fins with 1 minute surface interval
* Pass all written exams
* Pass all theory presentations
* Pass all practical skill presentations
Sport Freediver Courses
Level 1 Freediver
Prerequisites To Entry:
* +18 years of age OR +16 years of age with signed parental consent
* Comfortable swimming and snorkelling in open water
* Completed Course Register, Indemnity Form and Medical Questionnaire
Core Certification Requirements:
* FIM or CWT dive to a minimum of 14m (max 20m)
* 2:00 Static
* CWT safety dives to 8m
* CWT rescue dive 8m
* 70% or above for written exam
Level 2 Advanced Freediver
Prerequisites To Entry:
* +18 years of age OR +16 years of age with signed parental consent
* Certified as a Pure Apnea Level 1 Freediver or equivalent
* Completed Course Register, Indemnity Form and Medical Questionnaire
Core Certification Requirements:
* CWT dive to 26m (max 30m)
* 3:00 Static
* 30m rope rescue
* CWT safety dives to 15m
* CWT rescue dive 15m and 50m tow
* 70% or above for written exam
Level 3 Master Freediver
Prerequisites To Entry:
* +18 years of age
* Certified as a Pure Apnea Level 2 Advanced Freediver or equivalent
* Completed Course Register, Indemnity Form and Medical Questionnaire
Core Certification Requirements:
* CWT dive to 35m (max 45m)
* 3:30 Static
* 40m rope rescue
* CWT safety dives to 20m
* CWT rescue dive 20m and 50m tow
* Rescue practice from 15m with one fin
* Safety dive with 30 second hang at 15m
* Dive to 10m without fins and with mask
* 70% or above for written exam
Sport Freediving Instructor
Prerequisites To Entry:
* +18 years of age
* Certified as a Pure Apnea Level 3 Master Freediver or equivalent
* Medical certificate stating "Fit for Freediving" no older than 1 year
* Capable of performing 40m CWT Bi-fins freedives
* Hold a First Responder qualification that includes 1st Aid and CPR
* Have a minimum of 6 months freediving experience
* Completed Course Register, Indemnity Form and Medical Questionnaire
Core Certification Requirements:
* 2x 40m CWT Bi-fins freedive with dive line
* 4:00 Static
* 100m DYN (Bi-fins)
* 50m DNF
* 25m CNF
* 25m rescue, revival and 50m tow
* Hang (+-45sec) at 15m followed by a rescue
* 5x 20m CWT Bi-fins with 1 minute surface interval
* 40m rope rescue in 4 minutes with 10kg bottom weight
* Pass all written exams
* Pass all theory presentations
* Pass all practical skill presentations
Master Instructor
Prerequisites To Entry:
* Active Pure Apnea Sport Instructor for 12 months or more
* Capable of performing 50-60m CWT/FIM freedives
* Hold a First Responder qualification that includes 1st Aid and CPR
* Completed Course Register, Indemnity Form and Medical Questionnaire
Core Certification Requirements:
* 1x 50-60m CWT/FIM freedive
* Pass all written exams
* Pass all theory presentations
* Pass all practical skill presentations
Master Instructor Trainer
Prerequisites To Entry:
* Active Pure Apnea Sport Master Instructor
* Certified 50 Level 1, 10 Level 2 and 5 Level 3 students
* Hold a First Responder qualification that includes 1st Aid and CPR
* Completed Course Register, Indemnity Form and Medical Questionnaire
Core Certification Requirements:
* Successfully complete a review by Pure Apnea Master Instructor Trainers
Introductory & Speciality Courses
Discover Freediving
Prerequisites To Entry:
* +18 years of age OR +16 years of age with signed parental consent
* Comfortable swimming and snorkelling in open water
* Completed Course Register, Indemnity Form and Medical Questionnaire
Core Certification Requirements:
* 25m Dynamic Apnea
* 2:00 Static
* Confined Water Rescue Practice
* 70% or above for written exam
Surf Apnea
Prerequisites To Entry:
* +18 years of age OR +16 years of age with signed parental consent OR +12 years of age with signed parental consent, physician's signature on the Medical Questionnaire and accompanied by a parent/legal guardian
* Comfortable swimming and snorkelling in open water
* Completed Course Register, Indemnity Form and Medical Questionnaire
Core Certification Requirements:
* 2:00 Static
* Rescue Practice
* 70% or above for written exam
Get Started
Find An Instructor
Search our list of Pure Apnea freediving instructors and find an instructor near you or in a location to which you intend to travel.
Complete Your Training
Complete a freediving course with a true professional and enhance your knowledge with supplemental online training.
Pure Apnea Certification
Validate your new freediving skills and enhance your credibility as a safe and competent freediver with an internationally-recognised freediving certificate.