(Vid Added) FII Level 1 class with Red Triangle

Spent the weekend taking the Level 1 class with Matt Lopez and Kris Cortez.

First day was classroom work, followed by a pool session.

Second day was out in the ocean.

I learned WAY more than I was expecting to, and was super impressed at the emphasis on safety and rescue techniques. I also had a really good time, and the whole atmosphere was fun and relaxed and I really enjoyed making some very cool new friends.

I dove down to a new personal best of 69 feet, and got a personal best bottom time of 1:45 seconds and a personal best static breath hold in the pool of 3:24 seconds. 

Feel so much better about my weight/buoyancy, breathing up process, entry and finning technique, and about my understanding of how to dive as safe as possible and how to help my buddy if there is an emergency in the water.

I was also super impressed at how hard Matt and Kris both worked to keep all the members of the class safe, encouraged, and under constant supervision.

I took some GoPro footage yesterday that I will work on editing and uploading when I get a chance.

Annie and Nick and DG were also in the class and I'm pretty sure they all got some personal best depths etc as well, but will let them tell their stories. 

If you have been considering taking a class, or working on improving your freedive skills I HIGHLY recommend Matt and Kris as instructors.

Thanks again guys!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

I had previously taken a non Fii class last year which I had done very well in.  I was not ocean diving to a depth I know I could get to and was having some mental blocks.  I took this class to reinforce what I had previously learned.  While attending I actually learned more than I expected and I am so glad I was able to experience it. 

I followed the instructions and focused on what was being taught.  I had no intentions of breaking any of my records even though I did. I dropped five more lbs from my belt and will now go with that weight at depths of 35' or greater.  I often feel like a fish and think I am almost always comfortable in the ocean but during this class I felt better than I ever have. 

I stopped at the target depths and arrived back at the surface with air to spare.  And doing it all in the safest possible way just makes it that much more rewarding. 

I don't have unrealistic expectations on having similar experiences in a hunting environment but know my limits can be extended which will keep me calm if an emergency arises. 

I would also like to say way to go Annie and Nick. You guys rock.  I would have never dreamed of hitting every goal of this class like you guys did with the small number of dives under your belt. 

As for Jim he is now smaller than me with the modified diet and training he has been doing.  Not as much insulation so I am sure you were colder than normal but I expect to see you hitting new depths real soon.  Just goes to show even experience divers can improve with proper training. 

Safe diving to all and thanks RTS for your dedication to the sport. 

As most of you know I started diving 3 months ago at the Albion Open. At that time I wasn't comfortable wearing a weight belt and I was diving in a surf wetsuit with holes in it and a very loose spring suit on top of that. I was freezing and pretty miserable but I loved what I saw underwater and getting abalone was pretty epic! Over the next two months I attempted to dive maybe 8 times. I sucked at holding my breath and probably could dive down for like 15-20 seconds. I don't think I ever went more than 15 feet and I wouldn't be surprised it was even less  October was a little crazy and we didn't get to dive all month.

I had been looking forward to taking this class and the reason Nick and I took it was primarily for the safety stuff. Nick was worried that I wouldn't be able to help him if something happened and I mean I didn't want to die either! I was excited to see how long I could hold my breath since I never had timed it before but I definitely was not expecting to hold it for the target time. I wasn't expecting to hit 66 feet and would have been more than happy to just get to 25-30 feet. Basically we just wanted to improve a little. I must say when I heard Big Jim was taking the class I got pretty freaked out. I was thinking are we going to be the only noobs?!

We weren't! The class had people of all skill levels and it was a very awesome group!! I learned so much in the educational part and Matt and Kris were both great teachers. They did a great job of making the class fun and delivering the information effectively. Everything we learned in the pool was really cool and it was nice to practice the safety stuff before heading out in the ocean.

The 2nd day in the ocean was so much fun! I loved diving down the line and was impressed by my ability. I mean I really wasn't expecting much of myself and like I said before diving down 25 feet would have made me totally stoked.

Well, thanks to Matt and Kris and all their positivity and encouragement I was able to dive down 68 FEET!!!! It is still so surreal and I can't believe I really did it!

I learned so many skills to help me become a better and safer diver and some of these skills can even be applied to my everyday life. I am so glad I took the class with Kris and Matt and it is so obvious how passionate they are about what they do. I also highly recommend taking it!

I feel so much more confident in what I can do now, and I feel so much safer going out with Nick and our buddy Blayne who also took it. I can't wait to use the different techniques I learned the least two days and just explore the underwater world. Oh yeah, and now I have my very own speargun and I can't freakin wait to shoot a fishie in the head! 

68' is amazing! Congrats Annie, now go kill some fish!

I was able to dive down 68 FEET!!!!

 

A whole new world just opened up for ya!!!!!!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!

Nice.  I feel ur stoke!  I need to learn how to dive!

.... and I can't freakin wait to shoot a fishie in the head! 

Just remember you'll have to aim for the head.

Really impressive stuff all of you!! I need to learn to swim.

Just remember you'll have to aim for the head.

 

Nice write-ups.  Thanks for sharing your experience guys/gal.

Here are some pics of my watch from Sunday...the 1:45 dive time is my personal best, as is the 69 foot freedive.

 

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Little vid I made of some of the drops.

You can see AnnieAreYouOk disappear into the murk at the very end for her deepest dive.

Great job Annie!!!!



 

Sincerely,

Jim

Wow!  Fricken awesome Jim, thanks for more encouragement.

Great video. Thanks for sharing. Look foreword to taking the class in the future

Awesome post - EVERYONE congrats!!!

BigJim, thanks for the pics and video

Thanks for the cool video Jim.