APNEA SURF SURVIVAL COURSE

You will receive an online manual to study prior to the beginning of the course. In class we will cover the physiology of breathing and apnea. We will also cover the problems and dangers of apnea training and how to do it safely. This information is very significant when we push our bodies to the limit. Understanding what causes our body to blackout during breath-hold training exercises and how to identify signs and symptoms of hypoxia is crucial in order to train safely. After the knowledge review is completed, we will perform breathing technics to oxygenate the body at a higher level and also to hyperventilate in order to apply survival breath in surfing.

In the afternoon we will train in a confined water (calm) environment. Before we start the apnea training, we will present the apnea rescue skills in order to train safely with a partner. We will put into practice all breathing skills, in order to perform numerous underwater exercises. Each exercise simulates a real situation found in the surfing environment. Surfers will work with a training partner through the entire class.

We will start the second day with an overview on high surf risk management and swell forecasting. This part of the class is great because everyone shares their own risk management strategies including forecasting, ocean assessment and water safety protocols. We will perform CPR training and surf care skills for surfing accidents. After lunch, we will go to the ocean to perform numerous apnea and surf survival skills followed by the surf rescue part of the course. There is always a surprise exercise at the end of the class.

You will receive an online manual to study prior to the beginning of the course. In class we will cover the physiology of breathing and apnea. We will also cover the problems and dangers of apnea training and how to do it safely. This information is very significant when we push our bodies to the limit. Understanding what causes our body to blackout during breath-hold training exercises and how to identify signs and symptoms of hypoxia is crucial in order to train safely. After the knowledge review is completed, we will perform breathing technics to oxygenate the body at a higher level and also to hyperventilate in order to apply survival breath in surfing.

In the afternoon we will train in the pool. We will start the training presenting the apnea rescue skills in order to train safely with a partner. We will put into practice all breathing skills, in order to perform numerous underwater exercises. Each exercise simulates a real situation found in the surfing environment. Surfers will work with a training partner through the entire class.

We will start the second day with an overview on high surf risk management and swell forecasting. This part of the class is great because everyone shares their own risk management strategies including forecasting, ocean assessment and water safety protocols. We will perform CPR training and surf care skills for surfing accidents. After lunch, we will go to the Pool to perform numerous apnea and surf survival skills followed by the surf rescue part of the course. There is always a surprise exercise at the end of the class.

Some of the North Shore surfing community took the apnea training. This group included Jamie Sterling, Nathan Fletcher, Trevor Carlson, veteran Eddie Aikau competitor and Master Shaper Dennis Pang, City & County lifeguards Paul Smith and Ian Masterson (who is also a High Surf Risk management professor at Windward Community college), regular Waimea Bay and Sunset Beach surfer Tracy Yamato, Finn Masterson and a few other resident and local surfers.

Billabong team manager Rainos Hayes was also another professional surfer who benefitted from Hawaii Eco Divers’ apnea course.  Rainos organized a class for some of the members of the Hawaiian Junior Surfing Team including the Moniz brothers. Mike and Chris Latronic also took the course and created a video for their TV show.

Big Waves Surfers Pato Teixeira, Silvia Nabuco, Guto Gutemberg, FBI agent Carlos Ozzy and more…

You will receive an online manual to read and prepare for the course, prior to the first day.

Warm wetsuit, dive mask or swim goggles, short fins, snorkel, beach chair, sunscreen, hat, food and water for the day

Yes, this course is beneficial for all levels of surfers. From beginners and intermediate, to the more advanced who are willing to challenge themselves in bigger surf.

Even though this course is created by surfers for surfers, everyone can benefit from deep breathing exercise. Deep breathing allows one to oxygenate the body at a higher level, therefore increasing focus, energy, endurance, and awareness. Everyone can complete any task more efficiently with higher levels of oxygen in their body.

No, the apnea surf survival is designed for surfers to improve their breathing and breath holding skills under stressful situations. The exercises and drills performed in this course resemble realistic surfing scenarios and require different breathing techniques than those used by freedivers. Although this is not a freediving course, it will help you to improve your underwater breath holding skills.

You can receive a Hawaii Eco Divers Certification of Completion upon request. We will train CPR in this course, but in order to receive CPR certification you need to complete the online portion of the American Red Cross CPR Course.

Big Wave Surfer and Professional Diver Ricardo Taveira, founder of Hawaii Eco Divers, has been teaching Apnea and Surf Survival for years, improving surfers’ safety in Hawaii and around the world. Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity. This course is designed for surfers of all levels who want to feel more confident in the ocean!