INTERMEDIATE
Learn to freedive down to a maximum depth of 40m/132 feet!

The NAUI/PFI Intermediate Freediver course instructs competent and comfortable freedivers in essential safety and problem management for breath-hold diving, with a high emphasis on proper technique development. This program also includes details on training and equipment for diving to depths of 40 meters/132 feet. Instructors will cover the following topics:

Intermediate Safety and Buddy Procedures
Proper Ventilation for Gas Saturation and Volume
Equipment for Performance Freediving
Psychological Aspects of Freediving
Detailed Physics and Physiology of Freediving
Confined-Water Static Apnea Development
Open-Water Constant Ballast Development
Techniques for Intermediate Freediving

IS THIS COURSE FOR YOU?
You have basic experience in scuba, freediving, and/or spearfishing
You’re interested in freediving in the 25-40m/80-132 feet range
You’d like to learn to hold your breath between 3-5 minutes
You’re not sure of extended freediving physiology or the physics that affect you during your freedives and want to know the details
You want to learn how to safely deep dive
Download and review the PFI medical form. If you say YES to any questions, you need to get a doctor's approval to take part in the course. Email info@performancefreediving.com if you have any questions about the medical form.

SKILLS
There are many skills which will be practiced repeatedly, simulated, and taught throughout the duration of every course. It should be noted that in order to pass course, a student must complete all the classroom sessions as well as the pool and ocean sessions. In accordance with participation, a student will receive a certificate based on the skills and objectives they complete, even if it is lower than the course they are currently taking. There are pool and ocean qualifications to pass each PFI course. If a student only wants to pass the pool section, the instructors at PFI are happy to accommodate but will need to be informed before the class begins. At the end of the Intermediate Freediver course, a student will be able to perform:

Adequate safe buddy skills, showing how to perform a rescue to NAUI/PFI standards
Prepare gear without the instructor's help
Perform a 3:00 static in the pool with opportunity to increase to maximum capacity
Dive with proper technique to 25 meters constant weight and free immersion using the PFI method of entrance and exit with proper recovery breathing
If only receiving pool certificate, must complete 50 meter dynamic plus the 3:00 static
CLASSROOM
Attend all classroom teaching sessions

Stretching and equalizing workshops
CO2 and 02 training workshops
Complete all quizzes in manual
Complete pre learning quiz before class
Pass final with 80 percent or more
WATERMANSHIP & STAMINA
Prepare freediving equipment without instructor assistance

Proper entry procedure (select best local option)

100 meter continuous swim without fins, snorkel, wetsuit, or flotation
Minimum of five minute tread
CONFINED WATER
Minimum of four consecutive static breath-holds without any hypoxic symptoms minimum 3:00

Recovery breathing and coaching

Pool only: Minimum of three dynamic performances
Pool only: Complete a minimum 50m dynamic apnea
Mananage LMC, blackout on surface and underwater
Finding blackout diver on surface
Negative pressure dives
OPEN WATER
Recovery breathing and coaching for buddy

Eight constant ballast dives reaching minimum 25m/82ft using proper entrance and exit

Emergency rescue and problem management (rescue scenarios), surface and underwater
Including LMC, blackout at surface and underwater
Full mask flood and ascent from 10m/33 feet
Eight free immersion dives to 25m/82 feet
Weight belt removal and ascent from 10m/33 feet
FORMAT / DURATION – 4-DAYS
This course is taught by highly trained PFI Instructors at locations all over the world.

The NAUI/PFI Intermediate Freediver course includes:

Classroom Sessions
2 Confined Water sessions
3 Open Water sessions
The schedule and layout/order of these sessions vary slightly by location. The program is typically run over 4 days. Click the link on any particular course to find the exact schedule for that program.

PREREQUISITES
Freediver course or equivalent experience with freediving, spearfishing, or scuba diving (general comfort in the water)
You have basic freediving experience and can achieve depths anywhere from 6–30m/20–99 feet with relative comfort
You have a breath-hold time of around one minute or longer
Good health and fitness—check the PFI Medical Form
12 years of age with guardian permission
Constant Ballast (unassisted freedive) of 6 meters/20 feet
WHAT TO BRING: BASIC SNORKELING AND SCUBA EQUIPMENT CAN BE USED BUT WE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT FREEDIVING SPECIFIC EQUIPMENT IS USED FOR THIS COURSE.
For this course, each diver is responsible for bringing his or her own equipment:

Mask, snorkel, fins
Full wetsuit (3mm for warm water locations; 5-7mm for cold water locations)
Rubber weight belt and small number weights
Timing device or Freedive Computer

COST: $850
The tuition price covers the following:

Personalized instruction from highly trained freediving specialists, national and world record holders, and/or trainer
1 Instructor/Assistant : 6 student divers ratio (in water)
Intermediate Freediver Student Manual
Classroom sessions with detailed knowledge development taught by freediving experts
Confined water sessions
Open water sessions
Hands-on experience with specialty freediving equipment
Certification card