Getting AIDA 2 Certified by the Pinay Freediver

I’ve been freediving for years now and I had this thinking that I didn’t really need a certification because I’m only into recreational diving. Before, I thought that getting certified is for those who aim to teach Freediving or just simply a ‘status’. However, as my love for and knowledge about freediving grew, I realized that getting a certification is quite necessary. That’s when I told myself that I would do it this year. After few years, finally, I am now an AIDA 2 certified freediver.

Thinking of starting your freediving journey? Here’s a Beginner’s Guide: How do I Start Freediving? A Beginner’s Guide

Preliminaries

I love how organized and professional Ms. Gen is all throughout. Prior to the course proper, she sent me all the the papers that I needed to accomplish for the certification and some guidelines in setting up my account in the AIDA Education website. Then, we set our schedule for the sessions.

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Updated AIDA 2 Requirements

Before all the sessions, Ms. Gen made the requirements for the certification clear to everyone. As of October 2021, the following are required to become an AIDA 2 certified freediver:

1. 2 minutes STA
2. 50 meters DYN
3. 12 to 16 meters depth dive
4. rescue and buddying at 10 meters
5. 75% on Theory Exam
6. Medical Certificate

Classes and Sessions

I started with the course through attending three two-hour Zoom classes. In these sessions, Ms. Gen discussed comprehensively the content of the module that she also sent us even before we started. There were regular breaks in between so we won’t suffer from information overload.

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After the classes, we had the pool session. She would always choose the location that is near and accessible to the student. In this pool session, we did the STA (Static Apnea), DYN (Dynamic Bi-Fins) and pool rescue and buddying somewhere in the south, where I am based. After finishing the requirements at the pool, we had a weekend for the Open water session. In the open water session, we did FIM (Free Immersion), CWT (Constant Weight), rescuing and buddying at 10 meters.

Since I was diving with a certified instructor, I took this chance to achieve a new Personal Best. During this dive, I was able to dive into -25.3 meters!

It was my first time to do STA so I honestly had a hard time reaching the 2-minute requirement at the pool. We also had it late at night after a long tiring day at work which also made it hard for me to reach it. Instead of scheduling another pool session for it, I requested for it to be done at the Open water which I passed in a single try. Thanks to Ms. Gen’s tips, too!

After the classes and water sessions, I sat to take the Theory examination which I proudly aced! Thanks to my high functioning anxiety and Ms. Gen’s discussion that made it easier for me to remember all the important concepts included in the exam.

Best Practices

What I love about Ms. Gen’s certification course is that, she has these best practices that would surely help the students to pass the requirements. More so, these practices can also be adapted for a more efficient dives and better performance in the future. Some of the best practices that she has are the following:

Sticking to the Dive Plan

Before every dive, Ms. Gen and I would discuss our goals and plans. For instance, we’d start each Open Water session with two Free Immersion as a warm up followed by a max then buddying and/or practicing rescue. She would also tell me beforehand as to what depth should I descend into during the warm up which then would prepare me for my max depth dive. As much as possible, we’d stick into the plan so I’d still be ‘fresh’ hence efficient in my next dives especially at my max.

‘Save the Legs’ Approach

One of the approaches that Ms. Gen employ in her training and certification courses is the ‘Save the Legs’ Approach. In this one, she communicates to her students prior to the water sessions how good limited yet efficient dives are. In this way, the freedivers would still be fresh and relaxed for the max. The legs are not stressed nor tired; hence, a good performance in the waters.

Ms. Gen even reminded me that frequent dives with a goal of diving deeper and holding one’s breath even greater would only exhaust a freediver. Pushing to do so would only result to bad performance. Conservative freediving is a key to a successful dive.

Journaling

Ms. Gen advised me to do journaling specifically for my STA performance. STA is honestly my weakest point. Physically, I am relaxed but I would always fail at the mind game. She told me then to do Dry Static at home more often. I had to observe and take note of all the effective practices that I engage myself into to prolong my breath hold. Indeed, it got me through the STA requirement.

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Assessment

Every after dive, she would give a short assessment of my performance – both the good and the stuff that I needed to correct and work out. Since we had two dives for the two-day open water session, I got a chance to work on the areas that I had to strengthen even more. After the whole course, we sat together where she told me in general the things that she observed with me including my strengths and weaknesses, too.

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What I also love about her is that, her words are just so encouraging and positive that it really helped me perform better. From the beginning, she has claimed that I will be certified and she’s confident enough to say it because she knows that I would with her great help and guidance.

Finally, AIDA 2 Certified!

After all that I went through to become AIDA 2 certified, I realized that gaining one is not merely just getting ‘into that status’. It’s more than that. Just when I thought that I have known a lot, there are still lots of things to learn and some misconceptions to be corrected when taking up this course. Above all, getting certified is not just about gaining a deep knowledge about the sport but also learning how to dive safely.

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Get Certified by the Pinay Freediver Today

The thought of the Pinay Freediver Ms. Gen Abanilla, my inspiration for starting my own Freediving journey who also certified me, really made me happy! If you would also like her to to certify you, you may follow her and inquire for the details through the following:

Instagram: @genabanilla
Facebook: Pinay Freediver

For classes and certifications offered, you may check out her website at https://divingclass.wordpress.com/

Special thanks as well to the dive buddy, Christian of There Cee Goes, for helping me out with the photos and the support all the way through!