RAID Freediver
Perfect for beginner and intermediate freedivers, the RAID Freediver course is a comprehensive introduction to our rewarding sport
Taking place over a two days, usually a weekend, the RAID Freediver course from Go Freediving covers all the fundamental freediving skills you need and offers continued development for all.
Prior to attending the practical elements of the course you will have a short theory course to complete in your own time at home (or on the commute, or anywhere you like!). You will also have access to our online video tutorial library containing more than 18 recordings made by the Go Freediving team, to help you improve your confidence and technique before the practical elements of the course.
Our courses are held at the beautiful location of Vobster Quay – a purpose built inland dive centre – so we can guarantee no tides, no waves, no currents, and fantastic visibility due to the spring water. It may sometimes rain, but the diving conditions are always perfect and our courses are never cancelled due to bad weather or sea conditions.
We also have the highest instructor/student ratios on our RAID Freediver courses so, coupled with our very personal approach, you’re free to progress at your own pace. Taught by some of the world’s most experienced instructors and providing unrivalled materials and support, no other course offers such a comprehensive package or wealth of experience.
Our instructors make sure you never exceed your own limits or comfort zone – you set a pace that you’re comfortable with.
By the end of the weekend you could be diving to depths up to 20m in the most relaxed and safe manner possible. You’ll dive submerged boats, trucks, cars and planes, through shoals of beautiful fish and learn new skills to take your freediving to the next level.
Your RAID Freediver course begins when you book your place, when we’ll email you an information pack containing everything you need to know about the course, our suggestions for preparing, as well as information about accommodation and logistics.
We’ll also send you a link to the RAID Freediver theory materials and course handbook, which is provided online by RAID. All of your course materials are accessed online and they’re kept up-to-date by RAID, so that after your course you’ll have lifetime access to the very latest guidance and information.
Home study means you can familiarise yourself with the basics at your own pace and will mean more time for you in the water over the weekend of the course.
We will also provide you with access to our full library of online freediving video tutorials which can be watched at home before or after your course.
You must complete the theory and pass the final exam before the date of your booked course or you will not be allowed in the water.
Before booking please make sure you read our Terms and Conditions and medical statement
At Go Freediving, we follow the RAID freediving course programme, and offer students a four tiered learning package featuring online theory, exclusive tailor made video content, confined water and open water practical sessions. We aim to equip you with the knowledge and skills to make you a safe and competent freediver in any aquatic environment.
Freediving Skills taught on the RAID Freediver Course
- Correct breathing techniques, both in preparation, and when you surface from a dive
- Identification and selection of the right freediving equipment for you
- The Valsalva, Toynbee, Frenzel and BTV equalisation manoeuvres
- Tips and tricks to make equalisation easier and prevent baratrauma
- Establishing safe and correct buoyancy
- Correct duck diving
- How to fin using freediving fins and maintain streamlining
- The freediving disciplines of Dynamic Apnea, Constant Weight, and Free Immersion
- Correct use of a buoy and line
- Rescue and self rescue skills from depth and at the surface
- Tired and unconscious diver tows
- How to deal with potential hazards, from cramp to mask loss
- Correct buddying, both at the surface and from depth
The venue for your course is the beautiful purpose built dive centre Vobster Quay. To find out more about the location visit their page, here: https://www.vobster.com/
Why we chose an inland dive centre for our students
Vobster Quay is a premier location for learning to freedive! This purpose built venue is oozing with wildlife and amazing structures to explore making it a wonderful underground playground.
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What you get at Vobster:
- Safety
- Convenience
- Warm temperatures
- Great visibility
- Spring-fed clean water
- Changing rooms and toilets and hot showers right next to the water
- Marine life (including thousands of fish and the endangered white clawed crayfish)
- Underwater attractions – Sea King helicopter, aeroplane in three sections, car, caravan, boats, crushing works and more!
- Opportunities to experiment with more equipment and kit.
- Hot food and snacks available
- A shop
What you don’t get at Vobster:
- Tides and currents
- Choppy water, waves and swell
- Seasickness
- Weather dependent courses
- Boat traffic
- Poor visibility
- Pollution
- Marine debris
Want to see what happens on our freediving course weekends? Check out some of our videos! Just click on the group photos to view each course video.
2019
5 – 6 October 2019
28 – 29 September 2019
14th – 15th September
17th – 18th August 2019
3rd – 4th August 2019
22nd – 23rd July 2019
20th – 21st July 2019
6th – 7th July 2019
22nd – 23rd June 2019
17th – 18th June 2019
8th – 9th June 2019
18th – 19th May 2019
4th – 5th May 2019
2018
21st April 2018
19th May 2018
8th June 2018
23rd June 2018
10th July 2018
14th July 2018
28th July 2018
10th August 2018
25th August 2018
15th September 2018
22nd September 2018
29th September 2018
2017
4th November 2017
7th October 2017
23rd September 2017
16th September 2017
2nd September 2017
19th August 2017
22nd July 2017
8 July 2017
17 June 2017
10 June 2017
27 May 2017
2016
15 October 2016
24 September 2016
10 September 2016
27 August 2016
13 August 2016
2 August 2016
30 July 2016
23 July 2016
9 July 2016
25 June 2016
11 June 2016
May 27 2016
Every course has space on it unless stated below so please go ahead and book! 2 – 3 May 2020 Vobster Quay, Upper Vobster, Radstock, BA3 5SD Gift vouchers are also available To take part in our RAID Freediver course you must be: You will be required to complete this self-certifying medical form before the course. If you answer ‘yes’ to any of the conditions listed you must get approval from your GP.Bath
16 – 17 May 2020
30 – 31 May 2020
13 – 14 June 2020
27 – 28 June 2020
11 – 12 July 2020
25 – 26 July 2020
1 – 2 August 2020
15 – 16 August 2020
22 – 23 August 2020
5 – 6 September 2020
19 – 20 September 2020
3 – 4 October 2020
17 – 18 October 2020Venue:
What’s included
- Theory material
- Tuition
- Life time access to our exclusive freediving tutorial video library
- All freediving equipment hire including: Freediving long fins, low volume mask, snorkel, freediving weight belt, weight, neoprene socks and gloves, and specialist freediving wetsuit
- Course certification and certification card (dependent on performance)
Not included
- Vobster Quay entry fee (details)
- Personal travel and subsistence costs
If any of our course dates have sold out, they will be marked accordingly, so you can be confident when you book that a space is available.
We offer the option to book your place by paying in full or via a £100 non-refundable deposit to secure your place at checkout. Just click to purchase on the right hand side of the page. Alternatively, you can pay via BACS using these details:
HSBC
Go Freediving Limited
40-09-19
02587378
Amount:
Ref:RAID[date]
We now offer incentives for group bookings, so if you are a group of more than three people, get in touch with us at info@gofreediving.co.uk and find out what our latest deals are.
These people loved it!
The benefits of doing the course with Go Freediving is the great dynamic between the instructors and it is clear that Emma has a standing in the freediving world, and David Mellor is a British Champion! It feels like there is no boundary to what you can do and what is possible.
Martin Palethorpe, RAID Freediver Course June 2019It’s been a nice, fun group and vibe. Everyone was quite relaxed and you guys were really good. It was nice that you were laughing and joking around to keep us relaxed. I would recommend this course because of the quality of teaching, the general vibe and the relaxation.
Matt Chapman, RAID Freediver Course June 2019Being so young I thought I was going to be like the black sheep but everyone has been so nice and understanding – the atmosphere has been great. Three benefits of doing the course with Go Freediving are the nice people, extremely good teachers and a great location. I would definitely recommend the course.
Sabeeh Eeles, RAID Freediver Course 2019Doing this course has helped me to discover how calm and relaxing it is underwater, it is really nice to just feel at peace down there. The benefits of the course are that you learn to relax and having good quality instructors with a 1 to 3 ratio was amazing!
George Raggatt, RAID Freediver Course 2019Coming on this course I have discovered that I can go down to 18m and swim through a plane underwater. I recommend the course because it has the best options of all the courses in the UK and offers ongoing support and clubs for future training.
Owen Booty, RAID Freediver Course May 2019The freediving course equipment provided is good quality and there is a large array of kit such as masks that people can try out. Having a background and expertise in diving I am very impressed with the kit available.
Adam Horner, RAID Freediver Course May 2019I would without a doubt recommend the course and I think it is beneficial for everyone. The mental benefits, realising that you can do more than you thought you could would be good for everyone.
Giles Macleay, RAID Freediver Course June 2019The benefits of doing an inland freediving course are that there are no sharks! All jokes aside, the conditions are so much better, the water is just so clear, something you won’t find around the coast of the UK.
Catherine Chalker, RAID Freediver Course June 2019I just loved being under the water and love nature, and being underwater inside the plane is badass! The benefits of doing this course is the safety, knowing my body a bit more and it is just a great life skill that everyone should have.
Paul Hayes, RAID Freediver Course July 2019The thing I liked most was being in the water and just developing my freediving skills. The people I have been with have been amazing, and I never felt rushed to get anything done!
Laura Kay, RAID Freediver Course 2019The benefits of learning to freedive are the ability to relax and be calm – and it is fun! The benefits of learning with Go Freediving are professionalism, personalisation and very nice people!
Angela Bawtree, RAID Freediver Course September 2019The benefits are that once you have learned to freedive you have a skill for life, you can join a club, freedive on holidays and I really wanted to do it to learn to relax so you can use it in other areas of life, and it was really fun.
Charlie Orman, RAID Freediver Course August 2019Doing the course I have discovered that I can go deeper than I thought, with little effort! I have really enjoyed the atmosphere of the course and the fact that I have gone out of my comfort zone with no stress and without having to push myself too hard.
Debbie Raw, RAID Freediver Course August 2019The benefits of doing the course with Go Freediving is that the instructors change around so you have the benefit of different instructors – they are all great! I had misconceptions about learning to freediving but it has been by far the most fun I have had in the water!
Carl Fereday, RAID Freediver Course September 2019The main benefit of learning to freedive is that you learn to relax. I would recommend this course because of the relaxation and the diving. I would advise anyone who wants to learn to freedive to not be scared and just do it.
Deividas Brokas, RAID Freediver Course October 2019