Skindiving Lesson

Intro-to-Skindiving

Skindiving or free diving is a form of underwater diving that relies on divers' ability to hold their breath until resurfacing rather than on the use of a breathing apparatus such as scuba gear.

Skindiving is an experience that I believe everyone should try once. It is one of the most relaxing and adventurous hobby .pre-dive techniques place freedivers in a meditative state. Gracefully slipping underwater, freedivers hear only their heart beat. Freedivers glide effortlessly underwater, undisturbed by bulky scuba equipment.

The brief time spent underwater on a freedive is a rich and intensely beautiful experience.  One of the main reasons why freediving is so popular is in the freediver’s ability to get close to marine life. With out bubbles and gliding with slow graceful movements. The freediver resembles an aquatic mammal. Fish respond to freedivers much better than scuba divers, this allows the freediver to get closer and have a more intimate experience with marine life. you will experience serenity in a Stress free environment.

 

Proper Training

Without proper training, education, and especially supervision, one small miscalculation in staying down just a little too long, or moving too much at depth could prove tragic – even fatal. Knowledgeable instructors  and qualified freediving buddies must ALWAYS be used. Proper training and education is mandatory to successfully understand proper breathing techniques, proper equalizing, proper underwater motions, and proper buddy techniques – including freediver rescue. Without this specialized training the potential for ear injuries, lung injuries, and unconsciousness due to blackout is high.



Skindiving Gears

•        mask/snorkel

•        rashguard/wetsuit

•        fins

•        weight-belt

•        float

•        line & anchor

(please bring a towel and extra pair of cloths)

Safety tips

1

Do not push your limits without proper education.

2

Dive under direct observation of your dive buddy. Tell him/her what you plan to do.

3

Don't touch anything unless you have the proper knowledge about Saipan marine life. corals, shells, fish and many other marine life may be harmed, or vise versa!

4

Do not go deeper if you feel pressure on your eardrums. Equalize all the time. 
Accept no discomfort.

5

If problems - drop your weights.

6

Do not exhale, or stop on the way up (it enhances the risk of Shallow Water Blackout). Swim straight up.

7

Your lowest level of oxygen is 20 seconds after surfacing. 
Keep breathing (or observing the freediver).

8

Rest without moving between dives. Rest twice the duration of your last dive.

9

Secondary drowning (death) may occur up to 24 hours after small amounts of water has entered your lungs.

10

Use a dive line to a secure buoy if you plan to push yourself. Stick to the dive line.
NEVER ever swim passed the bottom weight!

11

Do not take air from scuba bottles. 
Do not freedive after scuba diving, rest more than 12 hours.

12

Drink lots of water before a freediving session. Do not be hungry, or too full.

13

Do not dive deep when you are cold. Dont dive with fever, infections or drugs in your body e t c

14

Evaluate the dive site. Know about currents and good exit points.

15

Relax, Enjoy and listen to your body. hyperventalation is a way of tricking your body to believe your OK and that you don't need to surface yet! Before you know it your buddy is waking you up. just hope you have a buddy with you!

 

Reasons for blackouts

•          Static apnea blackout occurs at the surface when a motionless diver holds his/her breath long enough for the circulating oxygen to fall below the required level for the brain to maintain consciousness.  It involves no pressure changes in the body and  usually happens when  holding your breath longer the normal  It should never be practiced alone. when practicing its best to have a buddy by your side.

•         •Shallow water blackout occurs on ascent from depth when circulating oxygen stores fall below thats required to maintain consciousness.  The diver is at the greatest risk of blacking out 30 ft below the surface and shallower as he ascends.

•         •Surface blackout occurs when a diver with low levels of circulating oxygen has surfaced after ascending from depth and has begun breathing, yet blacks out before the inhaled oxygen has time to reach the brain.

•         •Deep water blackout is uncommon but it does happen, and at depths greater than 30 ft, likely triggered by high CO2 levels and low O2

 

 

Level 2 - Beach 

 


Level 3 - Grotto 

 

 

FAQ

1. Why free dive?


Freediving is required spiritualty while Scuba isnt.
You should be really calm your self to stay longer under water. when you master slow down your heart beat 30ft or deeper water, you can feel what we originaly called "Silent Happiness". The feeling is very hard to describe how much you re happy. Its silent, its peaceful, and its really relaxing.
It's just like under water ZEN.

The scuba diver dives to look around, a freediver dives to look inside

-Umberto Pelizzari (16 times Freedive World Champion)

Now, what's the reason that we stick with only Scuba??

2. How much weight should I use?

when using a weight belt and you're sinking that'll mean that your weights are too heavy. You should be floating with all your weights at the surface. the weights should make you neutral at the halfway points of the depth your diving (example) if I’m making a dive at sixty feet i should float at the surface and keep still at 30ft any deeper i should be slowly descending. Be very careful when diving deep! Remember that when you descend the oxygen in your body compresses but the weight stays the same. This mean you get much heavier at greater depths.

3. Is holding your breath bad for you?

No its not if you do it right! Of course holding it till you pass out is bad, but after know how to dive and understanding you body signs its safe.

4. What if I see a Shark?

Do not panic! Remember this is where they come from. It’s normal for them to be there. If they come close its just to satisfy their curiosity. Not very often do they come close enough to touch. If they do just push off and keep away from their mouth. 

5. I’m not the most fit person. Can I still join?

Of course! Being fit is not a big deal. Almost anyone can do it. Once again unless you’re going for competitive freediving then its completely fine. You will be surprised at what your capable of doing once you learn

            6 I’m a smoker! Can I still join?

        Even smokers can do this. Anyone can do this!

Some people can free dive deeper and longer than the people that don’t smoke. It’s not a big deal, unless you’re trying to become a competitive free diver. 

 Skindiving Lessons:

Rules

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Level 5

Age

10

10

12

15

18

Confined-water ratio

1:4

1:4

1:4

1:4

1:4

Open-water ratio

1:4

1:4

1:4

1:4

1:4

Minimum Depth

4m / 13ft

10m / 33ft

15m / 50ft

20m / 66ft

30m / 99ft

Minimum Dive time

20 sec

45 sec

60 sec

90 sec

90 sec

Price USD 150 150 150 350 650
Duration 4 hrs 4 hrs 4 hrs 4 hrs x 2  4 hrs x 3



All skindiving courses are half-day approximately 4 hours long.



Cancellation Policy

Cancellation Charges ( p/p )

Reservations cancelled less than thirty days before the date of arrival will require you to pay the following charges

20% of Course fee

Three days in advance

50% of Course fee

 No show or same day  100% of Course fee

 

Our location: Garapan, Saipan

e-mail. aquasmith111@gmail.com

 

Our store is located on Garapan street 2nd floor of the M2M building. AQUASMITH is the largest spearfishing store in the Micronesia. 

<Boat fee>

Boat spot(Inside reef):Ship wreck / Kawanishi(Emily or B-29)/ Landing Craft  (Outer-reef):Dimple / Ice cream / Oleai / Pipe  (Far spots):Naftan / Obyan /Tinian / Wing / Banzai / Spot Light

Full Gear Rental $15  
*Full Gear includes speargun, mask, snorkel, socks, fins, wetsuits, weight belts, and float.

Gear Rental Full gear $15, long fins $5, and $5 each for other gear

( make sure to bring an extra pair of cloths)

 Level 5 - Tinian

After skindiving we offer a spearfishing course. this course will also teach you how to freedive deeper and stay down longer. we normally don't take first timers spearfishing. we like to teach the basics first then the rest comes easier. We also want to know skill level to determine the spearfishing spots that would best fit you. 

 

Freedive Certification Agency Comparison Chart: IASA/AIDA/PADI/SSI/Morchanovs

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