What happens if a shark is seen during a freediving course?
If a shark is spotted during a freediving course, the instructor calls everyone to the surface immediately and the group exits the water in a calm, controlled way. Depending on the species and its behaviour, the session may pause, move to a different spot, or continue once the area is clear, with safety always taking priority over sticking to the original plan.
Is shark fear normal before your first freediving course?
Yes, feeling nervous about sharks before your first freediving course is completely normal, and it is one of the most common worries instructors hear from beginners. That nervousness usually settles quickly once you understand how a course is actually run, calmly, in stages, and in locations chosen for good conditions rather than open ocean.
How is safety handled on these trips?
Every in-water session is run by qualified freediving instructors, with divers working in small groups, a one up one down buddy system, and a briefing and dive plan before anyone gets in. Sessions are matched to ability rather than to the strongest person in the group, and conditions are assessed each day. If the water is not right for a session, it does not run.
How do I choose the right freediving trip for my level?
Choose based on what you want from the week rather than how deep you can currently dive. Beginner friendly trips include training and certification, marine encounter trips are mostly surface and snorkel based, and progression trips suit divers chasing depth and technique. If you are unsure, an honest description of your experience is what gets you matched to the right trip.
Can beginners join international freediving trips?
Yes. Most of our international trips are open to complete beginners, and many include freediving training and certification as part of the week. You can arrive having never held your breath underwater and still spend the trip learning, diving and progressing alongside more experienced divers.
Is there a swimming test or requirement before the course?
There is no formal swimming test before a freediving course. You need to be able to swim and feel reasonably comfortable in the water, but there is no timed swim, no fitness assessment, and no breath-hold you have to prove beforehand. Every in-water skill is taught from scratch during the course.
What do you do if conditions are bad or there’s been a shark sighting?
If the water is unsafe or a shark has been sighted at the planned site, we either move the session to a sheltered alternative site or reschedule it. The call is made by the instructor running the session, and you are contacted directly rather than left to turn up and find out. We would always rather move a session than run one in water we are not happy with.
Is it safe to freedive in Sydney with the recent shark activity?
Freediving in Sydney remains low risk, even during periods when sharks are in the news. Serious incidents are rare, and most sharks seen at Sydney dive sites are species that pose no threat to divers. The factors that matter far more on any given dive are your training, your buddy and the conditions on the day.
How do you stay warm during ice freediving?
Ice freedivers stay warm with three things: serious thermal protection, short and structured water sessions, and a deliberate warm-up routine between dives. That means a thick open-cell wetsuit with a hood, gloves, and socks, limited time in the water per session, and dry layers, hot drinks, and movement the moment you are out. Cold management is treated as part of the safety plan, not an afterthought.
What happens if sharks are seen on a freediving trip?
When a shark is spotted, the guides identify the species and read its behaviour before anything else happens. In most cases it is a placid reef or grey nurse shark and the group continues the dive calmly, often with the sighting becoming the highlight of the day. If the species or behaviour warrants it, the group is brought together and moved out of the water in an orderly way.