Section Apnée — du Pass' Apnéiste à l'Expert Eau Libre

The freediving section at CSV is a fully developed programme, not a side activity. About 50 members train weekly under a coaching team of one MEF2, one MEF1 and eight IE1 and IE2 instructors — plus three new Initiateurs Entraîneurs Apnée certified in May 2026 after a residential training weekend in Rennes. The section is affiliated with both FFESSM and CMAS.

Certifications progress from Pass' Apnéiste (beginner) through Apnéiste, Apnéiste Confirmé Eau Libre and Apnéiste Expert Eau Libre. Pool training runs at the Piscine d'Elven from September to June, with three weekly sessions: Thursday 21h–22h30 for the main group, Wednesday 19h45–21h30 for advanced divers (excluding beginners), and Monday 20h–21h30 for competitors only.

Pool disciplines include static apnea, dynamic no-fins (DNF), dynamic bi-fin, dynamic monofin and speed. Open-water depth work takes place at the Carrière de Liscuit near Saint-Avé, where the section trains immersion libre, poids variable and gueule légère. The transition from pool to quarry is managed progressively, with sessions announced in the club calendar. Minimum equipment required: fins, mask, snorkel and weighting.

Safety is central. RIFA-A (emergency response for apnea accidents) training runs every year, with new members trained and experienced ones recertified. Sessions incorporate breathing technique, relaxation, mobility work and stretching as standard — not as optional add-ons. The section also runs introductory sessions for scuba members who want a first contact with freediving.

The section competes at national level. Five competitors and two judges represented CSV at the Coupe de France d'apnée second round in Brest (January 2026). The club organises the Vannes Apnée Contest every February. In May 2026 the section began coaching a 16-year-old junior preparing for the Championnat de France d'apnée en eau libre at Villefranche-sur-Mer (June 2026), having already reached -26 m at Lanzarote. The section was full for 2025-2026; contact the club to register interest for 2026-2027.