MONTEREY FREE DIVING FIELD GUIDE
Pushing Past Comfort: An Advanced Freediving Weekend Off Monterey’s Cold Blue Edge
A focused three-day Advanced Freediver Course in Monterey that combines classroom, pool drills and open‑water deep sessions to build the skills and safety practices required to go deeper.
Pushing Past Comfort: An Advanced Freediving Weekend Off Monterey’s Cold Blue Edge.
Odyssey Freediving’s Advanced Freediver Course is an immersive, three-day progression of classroom study, pool training and open‑water sessions in Monterey that teaches performance, equalization and safety protocols designed to prepare certified freedivers to push toward deeper dives.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Academic foundations and targeted pool training
The course begins with focused academic review and pool sessions that refine breathing, relaxation, equalization and dynamic skills—culminating in static and dynamic work to improve personal bests and practiced rescue procedures.
Open‑water rotations and supervised deep sessions
After pool work you move to ocean sessions using a float and line to train deeper techniques and work in rotation with other freedivers under instructor supervision, with the program seeking deep water sites for maximum depth training.
A weekend designed to expand depth capability
This concentrated three‑day format is structured to advance both technique and safety protocols so certified freedivers can confidently pursue greater depths within supervised limits.
What the day feels like
What the three days feel like
The course unfolds from classroom theory to controlled pool drills and then into the variable, high‑focus environment of open water: expect concentrated six‑hour days over a three‑day schedule that mix lecture, static and dynamic apnea training, and supervised line dives to build depth skills and safety awareness.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this course suits—and who should reconsider.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Everyday items like swimsuit, towel, water, sunscreen and snacks are recommended; photo/video package and equipment purchase discounts are available as add‑ons.
Participants must have or rent open‑cell wetsuit, long‑blade fins, low‑volume mask and J‑tube snorkel, weight belt and weights, dive gloves and socks, and a lanyard; much of this gear is available to rent or purchase.
Course days run roughly six hours each; some equipment and media options are offered as add‑ons and equipment purchases include participant discounts.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
What are the course dates and daily time commitment?
The Advanced Freediver Course is conducted over three days—Friday, Saturday and Sunday—with about six hours of training per day.
How deep will I train during the course?
The program seeks deep‑water sessions that can take participants to the course’s stated maximum depth during supervised dives.
What are the prerequisites to enroll?
You must be at least 16 years old (parental signature required if under 18) and hold a freediver certification from a recognized agency; pool and ocean skill benchmarks also apply.
What pool and ocean skills are required?
Pool requirements include a 200 m swim without rest, a 10‑minute safety float, a 2:30 static apnea and a 50 m dynamic apnea; ocean requirements include prior experience to at least 20 m and specific skills such as weight‑belt removal, mask removal and underwater rescue at depth.
Can I rent or buy equipment through the operator?
Yes — essential course gear such as open‑cell wetsuits, long‑blade fins, low‑volume masks, snorkels, weight belts and lanyards are available to rent or purchase, and participants receive equipment purchase discounts.
Is the course deposit refundable?
The course deposit is transferable but not refundable.