by Ian Campbell
Several years ago, I developed a keen interest in freediving and particularly, spearfishing in my hometown, of Moffat Beach, in Queensland Australia. For the last two years, my wife, Jacqui and I have been living and working in London. During this time, I’ve been fortunate, with the opportunity to train and develop with the Richmond Freediving group; however the time in London has reduced my number of open water dives in the sea.
Once every two years, the Apnea Academy runs an instructors course in English. This was entirely too good an opportunity to pass up.
I instantly recognised this English speaking course as a rare chance to join the
Apnea Academy family. And to share its collective wealth of expertise in freediving and spearfishing back in Queensland Australia, my home.
Testament to the high standards required, last year in its Italian homeland, the Apnea Academy only accepted 30 student instructors from a pool of several hundred highly-qualified applicants. I felt privileged and very pleased with the opportunity to join the course.
For 7 days between from the 4th to the 10th of May 2008, I attended the second international Umberto Pelizzari Apnea Academy Instructor course in Sharm el Sheik Egypt. There were 29 students from countries including, Greece, Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Thailand, Holland, Denmark, Russia, Poland, India, Czechoslovakia, and Australia.
Umberto Pelizzari is the founder and head instructor of the Apnea Academy. He is a man who needs little introduction. Umberto is the champion Italian freediver who broke 17 world records in all the disciplines. He is a living legend of freediving, and through the Apnea Academy has built a great education system with tens of thousands of followers in Italy as well as a few hundred instructors. A good guy to spend some time with if you want to learn to dive better. And to teach.
Day Zero - Saturday
Just 5 minutes before the restaurant at our host hotel, Club Sharm closed for the evening; I headed towards the buffet, intent on subduing the hunger pangs caused by avoidance of airport food. As the week progressed, our freediving group became very well acquainted with an outstanding variety of excellent food each day.
Almost immediately after opening the restaurants grand wooden door and stepping inside, I was greeted with a warm and welcoming smile. It was Umberto. With a heartfelt ‘good to see you’ and strong hand-shake, Umberto introduced me to some of the other instructors and student instructors. I quickly felt welcome and relaxed. Shortly afterwards, my head hit the pillow with dreams of clear blue water, bright coral and fish and anticipation for the events of the next day and week to follow.
Day One – Sunday
Umberto introduced the instructors course from 9am. The latest start we had all week!! From the outset, we were under no misconceptions about the intensity of the Instructors Course to follow. It promised to be exciting, but also very tough. A full seven days – often starting at 7.30am and finishing at 10.30pm or later. The pre-course advice; ‘train seriously’ was ringing in my ears. Fortunately I had.
For me, this opening address to the group highlighted the value and emphasis the Apnea Academy (AA) places on what I dubbed in my notes as three of the freediving fundamentals; safety, enjoyment and technique. The whole AA experience was reinforced daily by the mantra, have fun, be safe and focus on good rhythm, style and technique.
After being briefed and placed into groups of roughly similar ability according to constant weight PB’s and current performance, we headed off to the sea. The dive pontoon to enter the ocean was a very convenient 250m or so from my room, and less for many of the group. With a depth of over 80m, just metres from shore, it was a short swim across to our diving lines. It was great to hear the familiar ‘crackle’ of the reef that divers the world over know and adore.
Within this sheltered bay, our two sub-groups of three divers spent much of the week, in blissfully warm water, 25m+ visibility. We took the opportunity to re-gain our affinity with the water, gradually encouraging the dive-reflex to kick-in whilst buddying for one another and listening to advice and coaching from the first of many AA instructors.
Exiting the sea, we headed off for the first round of classroom theory, the theory of Constant Weight. As was the case for all of the Freediving specific sessions, it was delivered by Umberto. This session was particularly rich in content and illustrated by stories.
Like most of the theory & out-of-water elements of the course, it was well-timed to keep us out of the Egyptian sun during the heat of the day. Umberto shared the advice given to him early in his career by his mentor, the legendary Jacques Moyal; “make sure every dive experience is more pleasurable than the last”. The profound simplicity of this idea seemed to resonate with the group.
Next, we spent some quality time with the relaxation specialist, participating in a range of exercises to release tension, first as students, and later as instructors.
Back to the Sea for our afternoon diving, the instructions are – dive with no weights!!
Umberto explained the significance of the exercise. It is designed to heighten sensitivity to, and highlight importance of a good duck-dive and powerful ‘push’ with the fin stroke to leave the surface and descend effectively and efficiently.
The message? Dive light. Personally, I quite enjoyed the ‘elevator ride’ up from the depths and found the positive buoyancy from over 30m a pleasantly relaxing and novel experience. Particularly in contrast to spearfishing with a fully-loaded weight belt in relatively shallow, but very fast running water at home in Australia. Again, Umberto’s classroom example of; “I’d rather be ascending from 25m with 2kg, than coming up from 35m with 5Kg” made good sense to me.
In the evening, we watched video’s of all of the student instructors dives taken during the day. It was quite enlightening as many of the group had not seen themselves on video before. This footage also show-cased the value of video as a tool for identifying and correcting errors, right from the very beginning of the course. If a picture paints a thousand words, then surely watching a video must be equivalent to a good short story.
Day Two – Monday
Swimming trials… for me, without the benefit of a competitive swimming background, these words may’ve been cause for concern. Throughout my school years, I had always interpreted swimming carnival to mean – let’s go fishing.
Pleasingly, I had taken heed of the advice and prepared well with swimming coaching & training before the course. As I’d expected, with an elite level swimming background, Umberto had an encouraging, but critical eye for technique.
Testament to the quality demanded by Umberto; over one third of the group failed the swimming trials on their first attempt. Some had only minor adjustments to make, whilst others had a week of intensive coaching ahead. Fortunately, as was the case with all of the numerous tests during the week, anyone who didn’t pass initially had an opportunity to retry later in the week.
Before we were put through our paces of Freestyle (crawl), Breast stroke & underwater Breast-stroke, at the pool-side, Umberto introduced us to the full team of instructors - both in-water AA freedivers and a host of specialists. We knew we were in for a treat.
It seemed an impossibly large group. The fields of speciality were diverse, including; relaxation, breathing, physiology of respiration, ear, nose and throat systems, diet & nutrition, techniques of communication, teaching methods, psychology and group control. They were able to shed light on many things that many of us had never even thought of.
These teachers were an integral part of the course and brought in something very special to it. We rated them very highly. From start to finish, there were many revelations. The practice and classroom sessions were well supported with instructor-only manuals and specific documentation to take home and reflect on.
In the sea, the value of a very high student to instructor ratio became even more apparent. The instructors moved frequently from line to line, each offering the benefit of their individual experiences. It was fascinating to be coached by a range of excellent divers, each with such diverse descriptive styles, perspectives and approaches to instructing.
All the while, Umberto cast a watchful eye over each & every student. He gave everyone his personal, one-to-one advice several times per session. It’s a rare opportunity to dive with a 17 times world champion – and the guys on our line, Thanasis, Jerome and I hung on every word!!
I noticed that, led by Umberto’s example, most of the instructors were also very fast to remember, and call each of their students by name. Another aspect of instruction I felt is well worthy of emulating. Although still early in the course, it struck me that a great strength of the Apnea Academy is the unique depth and calibre of the hand-picked team Umberto had built around himself.
Day Three – Tuesday
Our mornings diving in the sea focussed on constant weight alternating with free immersion training. Again, not performance orientated at all. The focus remained to catch the 'feeling' of a good dive experience.
As the week went on, the intensity steadily rose. All of the sessions were extremely well organised and at times seemingly executed with a military-like precision.
So, as the pace quickened, the reason we were encouraged to stay on-site at Club Sharm resort become abundantly clear. There was literally no time to travel anywhere else. The packed agenda meant that movement between diving in the sea, the pool and the classroom closely resembled a transition in a triathlon in peak hour.
The late morning workshop focussed on pranayama style, yoga-based breathing exercises adapted for freediving. With a customary whistle, Umberto grabbed our attention. The instructor explained, proper breathing is vital to our health, mental focus and sense of calm, all important factors for freediving. Again a practical session, supplemented with another well-illustrated notebook.
After a copious lunch, Umberto stepped us through a range of video’s showing a variety of blackouts and related scenarios. We discussed at length, strategies for avoidance of pressure-related injuries, blackout or Loss of Motor Control (LMC) affectionately known as ‘Samba’.
During the afternoon dive, when Umberto reached our lines, one of the guys could only manage 6m before turning with a blocked ear. Umberto said; ‘don’t worry, that was me yesterday. Don’t push it. We’ll dive again tomorrow’. Even through the mask, it was easy to see a sigh of relief, with any feeling of pressure disappear from the divers face. Again, for me this epitomised how, with just a few choice words, a great instructor can instil & preserve confidence in their students.
Later, all of the groups had the chance to use the Variable weight machine. Many of our group, me included faced their first experience on the sled with a healthy level of nervous trepidation. In some cases, akin to lining up for the Bull Run in Spain. Watching the final breathe-ups on the sled, Umberto quipped, ‘some of you guys have a warrier-face, just like the All-Blacks Rugby team doing the Haka – relax!!
However, after just one or two goes, the picture changed completely. We were just like a bunch of kids queuing for a ride at a Disneyland theme park. It was awesome. I haven’t seen so many huge smiles for a long time. A great experience.
That night, Umberto described the workings of the AA website, teaching programs and Instructor passwords. He also subtly increased the pressure on many of the group by setting an expectation; “Provided you’re equalising well, and feel good, I expect you all to be diving to at least 30m, at least once per session.” Up to that point, there had been little or no mention of depths.
Day Four – Wednesday
Our morning’s merriment kicked off with a crazy relay game. The idea was to spin around a stick 9 times, and then run; or more accurately, stagger giddily to the pool, put your dive gear on and swim underwater to the end of the pool and back before handing off to the next team member.
The thinly veiled threat of an unashamed ride on the Variable weight sled for the losing team seemed to spark a good deal of competitive spirit. The exuberance, energy and cheering that resulted could scarcely be matched by bunch of over-zealous parents at a junior football match. It was hilarious.
Highlights for me later in the morning dive included a PB in constant weight. Over 10m deeper than my PB before the course started. I remembered Umberto’s commentary on Day One; “…if you get the basics right, your improvements will be big, and they’ll come much easier”. I knew he was right in saying so, however I wasn’t sure if it would work for me. It did. I felt very pleased.
I also took the role of Instructor / driver of the Variable Weight sled myself, with a couple of bunnies (er, fellow students) with me. I had a definite feeling that the diaphragmatic breathing and relaxation exercises from the previous days were helping a lot with equalisation.
Even through the hood of the wetsuit, with the huge volume of champagne style bubbles that appeared when the sled returned to the surface, there was an audible fizz. Almost like a special toast to the emerging divers.
Aside from being great fun, the sled was a very useful tool, allowing a much easier dive to depth. I found it provided the luxury of time to focus and study my reactions to depth and pressure. For example, how and where was I experiencing tension and equalisation challenges? And how could I better move air to solve these issues? We all took turns as both instructors, driving the sled, and as student passengers.
More breathing exercises, ably demonstrated.
After lunch, we discussed communication and presentation strategies. This was followed by preparation for the dreaded requirement – a presentation in front of the group. Immediately catching the attention of the students, Umberto opened with a typically big grin and classic statement; ‘bet you’re all packing it!!’ Or words to that effect. He was right. Many of us were.
With a background in sales management and presenting, I felt more confident and volunteered to go first. My task was to explain the how to select freediving equipment. Not bad. And many thanks to Vince from France for swapping my original topic of Boyles Law and other horrible looking scientific stuff. Thanks mate!!
It struck me that the measure of good freediving gear is how little it distracts you from the pleasures of diving. Being a bit of a gear junkie, I found the topic interesting and relatively straight forward. At the same time, I was reminded by Umberto’s response to a students question regarding the best fin choice; “guys, it’s not the fins – it’s the feet in the fins that’s important!!”
Considering that English was the 2nd or 3rd language for most of the student instructors, and many were suitably terrified, the quality of presentations was very strong. Largely benefiting from close adherence to the theory and methodology we’d just been taught.
That evening, the warm night air was punctuated with a music and song, featuring many of my old favourites from the 1980’s. It was a blast from the past. Great stuff!!
Day Five – Thursday
The first test of the day attracted an unusual mix of calm and apprehension. Static apnea in the pool. Several people did not make the required 4 minutes. Curious because some of the ones who failed initially had PB’s well over 6 minutes. Perhaps it was the stress and anxiety that Umberto deliberately induced in the group through a variant of competition-style count-down. Again, if required there was an opportunity to retry later.
Next, we were led through a sequence of in-pool relaxation exercises known as ‘Maternage’. This was a bizarre, but mesmerising experience. I learnt that Maternage is practiced widely by freedivers, particularly in France and Italy. These exercises require a good understanding with your partner. In my case, a fellow spearfisherman, Thanasis from Greece as we’d been diving together on the same line all week.
It works as follows. One of the pair is in apnea and relaxes, whilst the partner moves them around. Some were very slow movements, like a cork bobbing in the ocean, whilst others required stronger movements. The sensations of water flowing over your face and body, without exerting any energy of your own must be experienced for yourself.
Classroom theory followed during the heat of the day, including a delivery by a pre-eminent and specialist Ear, Nose and throat (ENT) doctor and avid diver. The presentation focussed on the what, why and how of equalisation. It was accompanied by a very interesting video showing how to equalise more easily by practicing tubular aerobics. Whilst I had read this several times in Umberto’s book, The Manual of Freediving, the video really brought the idea to life.
We also reviewed a tested approach to learning hands-free equalising.
From there, we delved into the topic of nutrition. As a slight digression, the resorts resident chef was providing us with a steady flow of delicious wood-fired pizza mid-morning and mid-afternoon as snacks. Fortunately, my frequent ‘carbohydrate-loading’ around the pizza oven appeared to have the blessing of the nutrition specialist. On the basis that freediving burns a lot of energy. Good to know.
Day Six – Friday
Dynamic trials. The requirement was 75m with bi-fins. Most passed easily. It was good to join a group of divers cheer-on one of the guys who had to repeat the dynamic test. Pleasingly, his swim finished with a big cheer. The guy concerned has a PB closer to 150m, which goes to show, anything can happen. Perhaps on the first attempt, he’d simply paid attention to the advice; ‘if it doesn’t feel right, don’t do it’.
In keeping with the overall spirit of exchanging ideas and information, Dimitris from Greece borrowed my neckweight for dynamic. He was impressed with the resultant improvement in buoyancy and body posture, and naturally easier movement through the water. Handing it back, Dimitris said, “Here’s your necklace mate!!” We freedivers are a tough crowd, a 2Kg necklace indeed. Mr T would be proud.
Mike Maric led us through an in-pool monofin practice session. Initially, the difference between the veteran fin-swimmers, mono-finners and everyone else was clear. That said, in just one lesson, we progressed through a carefully selected, and well-documented program of exercises, and I noticed substantial improvements, both for myself and others around me.
Apnea Academy instructors also have the benefit of a dedicated Monofin DVD as a teaching aid. Earlier, I had reached close to my PB exclusively using the previously non-preferred, dolphin kick. That particular day, our instructor was Davide Carrera, one of the main guys featured on the Monofin DVD. Davide’s peers, including Umberto regard his monofin technique as poetry in motion. A big endorsement, and yet another guy I felt was a gifted and passionate diver and teacher.
On the way to the sea, we had some group photos taken.
Speaking of the sea, during the morning dive, Pascal from France spotted a baby octopus floating past. Scarcely the size of a button, he allowed the slight current to wash it gently into his palm. It was a treasure. Boasting magnificent, changing colours it was a lively, but yet such a tiny creature.
Having spent countless hours in the sea, I found myself noticing more and more marine life. At the buoys, one of the regular manta rays made his return. On the way in and out of the water, stunning iridescent blue & green parrot fish darted in and out of the covering pontoon.
Oh, and yes, we did some diving too. Although by that time, my watch wasn’t working, so I wasn’t checking depths at all.
In the evening, Umberto gave a detailed, but straight forward set of examples outlining how to organise training programs. Topics covered Static, Dynamic, Constant and Variable Weight, culminating in an advanced training strategy for high-level divers.
Day Seven – Saturday
Mask Tan. Several of the students with fairer skin, sharing my ‘English tan’ had developed a serious mask tan. They looked like the joker in Batman & Robin with a big white smile extending up both cheeks. The smiles were apt because they summed-up the overall experience, light-hearted and lots of fun.
After a relaxing final session of diving, we re-capped the breathing exercises with the yoga teacher. It was a comprehensive summary, highly interactive and led by example. Some of the exhale cleansing exercises sounded like an impending train at the level-crossing. Sounds that startled several of the students from their weary, deeply relaxed state; resulting from a weeks full-on diving, a generous lunch, comfy couch and a balmy afternoon breeze.
Overall, the topics we covered and lessons learnt were way too many in number and too rich in content to describe adequately in this short summary.
In the final synopsis, Umberto congratulated me and presented me with the Apnea Academy instructors gear. I was delighted to join the ranks of Apnea Academy instructors. The first Australian to do so.
Unfortunately there where some people that did not pass the course requirements, but this only proved the high standards that Umberto requires.
We live in an era of Freediving where it’s possible to rub shoulders with and gain some insight into the knowledge and experience gathered over lifetimes of other peoples diving experiences. For this, I feel extremely grateful. It was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.
I met some awesome people, and above all, it was thorough – and great fun. Big congratulations to all of the new Apnea Academy International Instructors!! Well done. Particular thanks to Dimitris, Thanasis and Jerome for passing on some of your photos for inclusion in this article.
So, again, many thanks to Umberto and his team of specialists and instructors who made the week such a safe, cheerful and memorable event. Much appreciated. Thanks guys. For my part, I felt the group camaraderie was tremendous and I enjoyed the weeks diving and instruction immeasurably.
I am very happy to be part of Umberto’s family and will seek to maintain his high standards in the way I will teach freediving to my future students.