My first freediving lessons, off Wrightsville Beach, NC.

I have been interested in the sport of freediving for quite a few years. Since the day I watched the movie, "The Big Blue", I was smitten with the idea of diving in the ocean and staying under for a long time with just the air in my lungs. But as dreams go, I put it out of my mind, thinking I would need to move to Greece or Italy to do something like that.
Well, this past September, I was browsing the internet looking for a course in SCUBA, when I ran across freediving instruction offered in Wrightsville Beach, NC.
My heart raced with excitement. I asked myself, "Was this opportunity for real?", fear made a quick visit, mind said, "This is a crazy, dangerous activity!"
"Ok, let's do it!" and I found myself enrolled in the three day course before I could back out.
What I discovered was professional, disciplined and safe approaches to the activity of freediving through a company called Evolve Freediving.
To my surprise, the sport has come a very long way since "The Big Blue". It is clear that a large segment of the freediving community has figured out the most critical information in regards to safety and survival and have organized that information and they are able to pass it on to the aspiring freediver.
The three day course consisted of:
Friday evening, classroom; Saturday, classroom and pool; and on Sunday we went to the ocean.
I did a 3:30 breath hold in the pool which was motivating, but I was overwhelmed with information and so did not perform as well in the ocean. I had trouble with ear equalization, the technique called "Frenzel". But I had the time of my life anyway, being upside down in the ocean with a wetsuit and dive mask on trying to remember all of the instructions. "RELAX", I didn't. However, I was thrilled with gaining knowledge of what I didn't know before and took home pearls of wisdom for freediving. It was worth it!
I am happy to report, that I can now Frenzel and I am anxious to try it out in the "blue".
​-John Foster ~Aqua Clan~

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