Advanced Open Water

The SSI Advanced Freediver course at Bluewater Freediving is meticulously designed to elevate your freediving capabilities, preparing you to safely explore depths of up to 30 meters (100 feet) with a buddy. This program builds directly upon the foundational skills acquired in the SSI Freediver Level 1 certification, introducing advanced equalization techniques such as Frenzel, the concept of free-falling, and the effective use of training tables. You will achieve the SSI Level 2 Freediving certification upon successful completion of this comprehensive course.

Key learning modules focus on understanding and mitigating the physiological risks associated with pressure changes during freediving, providing you with essential strategies for safer ascents and descents. Participants will receive a detailed handout for ongoing reference, reinforcing the knowledge gained. The academic portion is delivered through SSI's online platform or app, allowing for flexible, self-paced learning, while practical sessions include pool or confined water training followed by open water dives. These hands-on sessions refine intermediate freediving disciplines, anatomy, and safety protocols.

This course is scheduled over approximately 2.5 days and includes a minimum of 4 open water dives. Bluewater Freediving maintains a low instructor-to-student ratio of 1:4, ensuring personalized attention and ample opportunity for skill refinement. Prerequisites for enrollment include being at least 15 years old, holding a current SSI Freediving Level 1 certification, and having logged at least 6 previous freediving sessions. The practical training takes place at Hatfield Swim Centre for pool sessions and Gildenburgh Water for open water dives.

While essential equipment like a mask, fins, snorkel, wetsuit, and weight belt is required, it is not included in the course fee of 400 GBP. Limited hire options are available. The climate data for the region indicates that air temperatures can range from a cool 4.7°C in January to a milder 18.1°C in August, suggesting that appropriate thermal protection is advisable for open water sessions, particularly during the colder months. The course is offered in English, aligning with Bluewater Freediving's multilingual capabilities which also include German, French, Italian, and Portuguese.