If you have started a RAID Freediver Course, RAID Advanced Freediver Course or RAID Master Freediving Course but have not yet completed your skills to qualify for certification, or, you are qualified and would like to refresh your skills our ‘Returning Student’ sessions offer the perfect opportunity to do so.
IMPORTANT: Due to ongoing updates following COVID guidelines, information contained in THIS DOCUMENT supersedes any information on this page and MUST be read. Many changes have been implemented at Vobster since your course and if you fail to complete the actions in this document you may not be permitted entry to Vobster.
Who is a ‘Returning Student’?
A returning student is any student who has undertaken a RAID Freediver Course, RAID Advanced Freediver Course, RAID Master Freediving Course. This option is specifically designed to allow students who have undertaken a certification level course with Go Freediving to complete or refresh their skills.
What do the Returning Student Sessions Involve?
The returning student sessions allow the student to join an existing course and retake all the tuition they received on their original course, have tuition from a qualified instructor and have their skills assessed and if applicable signed off.
The returning student, who can join for day one, day two or both, has the following options:
Saturday:
2 dive sessions with an instructor at Vobster between 2pm – 8pm
Sunday:
2 dive sessions with an instructor at Vobster between 8am – 2pm
How Long do the Returning Student Sessions Last?
The sessions are very flexible, but are charged by the day. You can attend day one or day two or both days of the course – the choice is yours.
How Much do the Returning Student Sessions cost?
The sessions cost *£80 per day. This price does not include kit hire (£20), wetsuit hire (£20) or Vobster entry.
*Please note this price is for returning student sessions and not the cost for private one-to-one sessions.
What if a Course Is Not Running When I Want to Attend?
We prefer our returning attend when we have courses running as we believe this will offer the best conditions to learn. However, if you are only available on a non-scheduled day, we can arrange (subject to availability) for an instructor to be available at Vobster to assess your skills and sign them off if applicable
How Many Times Can I Attend as a Returning Student?
There is no limit to the amount of times you can attend as a returning student. In fact, we even have some qualified freedivers who may have been absent from the sport for several years, come back and join a course as a returning student, just to refresh skills and update themselves with any changes.
Is There Anything I Can Do To Prepare Myself For The Session/s?
If you know what your weakness was during the course, we would highly recommend working on these areas before attending the session so that you are as prepared as you can be. The links you were given in your preparation email and debrief email for your original course, both provide videos, information and exercises that can help improve technique and equalisation. Also practice in your local pool whenever you get the chance. If you live local to Bath or Poole come along to our club sessions, we always welcome new faces!
Do I Have To Book My Place?
Spaces for returning students are strictly limited and are reserved very quickly – often weeks or months in advance. We understand people may not always be able to do this, but you can always drop us a line at info@gofreediving.co.uk if you want to check availability. Please also be aware there are many changes to how we and Vobster now operate following COVID lockdown.
What are the Benefits of Becoming a Certified Freediver?
Once you are a certified freediver you are qualified for life. There are no renewal requirements. So, knowing you are qualified to freedive efficiently, safely and competently will not only increase your personal confidence, it will make your experience in the water more enjoyable and will allow to progress further in the sport. It will also help improve spearfishing, scuba diving and snorkelling skills too.
And, if you’re like me, you will have the satisfaction of completing something you have started!
How Do I Book My Place?
If you wish to enrol on a returning student session, please send an email to the Go Freediving team at info@gofreediving.co.uk and book your place,today!
IMPORTANT: Please note that there are a number of changes to how courses and Vobster operate following the Covid lockdown. It is vital you read THIS DOCUMENT to be fully up to date before attending.
Further reading on nutrition, exercises, safety,
techinque and more, can all be found in our blog.
Foxy and Aldo Learn to Freedive
We recently had the pleasure of introducing Foxy and Aldo to the amazing world of freediving! Find out what the did and watch Foxy and Aldo learn to freedive here!
RAID FREEDIVER COURSE 25TH – 26TH JULY 2020
Another awesome RAID Freediver course! Check out our latest freediving students in our course video and find out what they thought of their course!
RAID ADVANCED FREEDIVER COURSE 25TH – 26TH JULY 2020
Congratulations to our latest RAID Advanced Freediver Course Students. Check out their video and find out what they thought of the course, here!
RAID FREEDIVER COURSE 11TH – 12TH JULY 2020
Want to learn to freedive? Check out the video from our latest RAID Freediver course on 11th - 12th July 2020 and watch our students swim through planes at glorious Vobster Quay!
Top 10 Health Benefits of Freediving
If done properly, freediving is incredibly safe and has benefits that go way beyond how you feel in the water. Here are the top 10 health benefits of freediving.
Top 5 Beginner Freediver Mistakes Anyone Can Make
When I learnt to freedive I thought I knew a little about the sport, but looking back, I realise now I knew nothing. I just jumped into the (30m) deep end, took a big breath and hoped for the best. However, I was different to most beginner freedivers, I didn’t make five beginner freediving mistakes. Oh no, my mistakes were in double figures…
Five things guaranteed to give you dive envy
The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, or in the world of freediving, the water is always bluer on the other side of the reef. Envy is a part of life, it’s one of the seven deadly sins, but what are five things that are guaranteed to give you dive envy? I’ve had a think, I’ve had a dream, and I’ve got my list down. Let’s see if you agree…
Five myths about freediving… BUSTED!
When people find out I am a freediver, they first ask me how long I can hold my breath, and then how deep I can dive. After they have expressed shock and have shaken their heads, they usually say ‘I could never do that' and proceed to recite a number of complete myths about freediving. I then have to make a detailed rebuttal of their beliefs, and explain that ANYONE could achieve what I have.
The Go Diving Show – A Treat for All Divers
On 22nd - 23rd February 2020, follow the amazing success last year, the second annual Go Diving Show will take place at the Richoh Arena, Coventry.The Go Diving Show promises to be even bigger and better than last year, with four stages.
Salmon Skin And Ocean Waste.
Every so often you see something come along and think two things - 'Why didn't I think of this?' and 'Why doesn't EVERYONE know about them?!' This is what happened when I first discovered Salmon Skin Crisps or Sea Chips as they are known. Read my interview with the founders, here.
Freediving Camp Training in Tenerife
Our freediving camp training holiday in Tenerife has quickly shot to the top of our most hotly anticipated calendar events of the year - and with good reason! This land-based holiday has all the ingredients a freediver could possibly want on a freediving camp holiday.
Game, SETT and Match – It’s all over for the SETT Tank, Gosport
In a recent press release the Royal Navy announced the SETT Tank in Gosport was closing. I look back at how I discovered the SETT tank and reflect on the amazing times I had there.
British Astronaut Tim Peake Joins Blue Abyss!
Press release from Blue Abyss confirms they are delighted to welcome British Astronaut Tim Peake to the team. Tim will be joining the team in January 2020 as a member of the Advisory Board.
World Aida Freediving Championships 2019 – Day Three
All of David's training - his highs, his lows his personal bests, his travelling have all been leading to this event - The Aida Freediving World Championships! So how did David feel? How did he perform? Find out in DAY TWO of his championship blog!
Aida Freediving World Championships 2019 – Day Two
All of David's training - his highs, his lows his personal bests, his travelling have all been leading to this event - The Aida Freediving World Championships! So how did David feel? How did he perform? Find out in DAY TWO of his championship blog!
Aida World Freediving Championships 2019 – Day One
All of David's training - his highs, his lows his personal bests, his travelling have all been leading to this event - The Aida World Freediving Championships! So how did David feel? How did he perform? Find out in his championship blog!
Aida World Depth Championships Preparation
David has been building himself up to the Aida World Depth Championships in Nice. In part one of a two part blog David tells us all about the build up.
Top Gifts For Freedivers This Christmas Costing Around £20!
Ever wondered what to buy a freediver for Christmas? Well believe it or not socks and gloves are always welcome - just not the woolly kind! Check out these fab gifts for under £20, here!
How To Make Vertical and Horizontal Bubble Rings
Learning how to make bubble rings is a bit like riding a bike - once you can do it, you'll never forget it. So, get ready to impress your friends the next time you're in the water! All you need to start is some deep water and a little practice!
Freediving With Go Freediving – What Next?
Freediving with Go Freediving, we hope, is not a one course experience! Our students come and join us from all over the world, with every possible differing background and experience, but with a common goal, to freedive! For myself and my instructors this is both humbling and inspiring! As passionate freedivers ourselves, we hope each student will leave with (at the very least) a new life skill which they can transfer to so many different areas of their lives
The Importance of Correct Weighting For Freediving
There are a number of reasons why learning the correct weighting for freediving is essential, particularly as the weighting you need will change, depending on the environment you are diving in.Finding the correct weighting for freediving depends on factors which include body weight, size and composition, the thickness of your suit, the depth of your dive, the water temperature and whether you are diving in fresh or salt water.
Learning Finning techniques on a Freediving Course
Learning finning techniques on a freediving course is not usually the highest priority students have when they undertake a course with us. Understandably many students are focused on breathing techniques and equalisation. However, as the course progresses they soon realise that efficient, well executed finning techniques can directly impact on their ability to dive longer and deeper and contribute to a far better freediving experience.
A Presentation on Freediving in the Army
Recently, I was honoured to be invited as a guest speaker to talk about freediving in the army and to present an award at the 11th (Royal School of Signals) Signal Regiment annual sports persons dinner and awards evening in Blandford Camp in Dorset.
How a Freediver Could Win Miss Scuba UK 2019
Go Freediving Club member Hayley Adlam has just been crowned Miss Scuba UK 2019! We are so delighted for her - a true beauty inside and out. We couldn't wait to catch up with her and find out all about the competition.
Learning Breathing Techniques on a Freediving Course
Breathing techniques are one of the core skills we teach during a RAID Freediving Course. We focus on learning breathing techniques for before and after the dive. So why is it so important?
Online Breath Hold Optimisation Classes
Improve your breath hold and lung function, and improve your freediving.
The Breath Hold Optimisation Classes are based on the programme Emma devised for Olympic and Paralympic athletes across cycling and swimming, and have been used successfully since 2010.
The exercises are designed to teach you how to breathe fully and efficiently, improve CO2 tolerance, increase breath hold capacity, increase Vital Capacity, decrease Residual Volume and improve diaphragm flexibility.
Emma’s program uses techniques from yoga, freediving and the Buteyko method, and have been proven to improve lung function and performance.
