Practice at your own pace
Our sessions are designed to let you practice and make progress at your own pace. Not every dive has to be deeper than the last.
Depth Training
- Price
- Free
- When
- Sundays, 10am–1pm
- Where
- Lake Berryessa
- Season
- April – November
Deepen your freediving! Our depth training sessions take place on Sunday mornings at Lake Berryessa, in the heart of California wine country. Build upon what you learned in class, and progress your practice at your own pace.
Who can join?
Depth Training is free to join, but you must have an advanced freediving certification. If you don't yet have an advanced freediving certification, take our advanced class Freediving 2 first.
See the chart below for the list of certifications that qualify as "advanced".
Where
Freedive · 10:30am–1pmLake Berryessa, near the dam
Lunch · 2–3pmBerryessa Gap Winery
Depth Training sessions take place on the easternmost side of Lake Berryessa, very close to the dam. You can find the spot on Google Maps by searching "Freedive Studio - Lake Berryessa".
Afterwards we usually have lunch at the Berryessa Gap Winery, which is 15 minutes east down the road. Food trucks and live music complement their delicious wines.
Depth Training runs from early spring until Thanksgiving, and then is closed during the winter months (December - March).
Our values
Safety
We follow worldwide best practices for freediving safety, and buddying & rescue practice is a part of every session.
Community
Freediving is a team sport. Community is built into our first rule of safety: never dive alone.
See the Depth Training sessions in action
FAQs
What certification do I need to have to be able to join?
To join Depth Training without first taking our class Freediving 2, you must have an advanced certification from one of the major agencies. For example, Molchanovs Wave 2, PADI Advanced Freediver, AIDA 2, etc. You cannot join if you only hold an entry-level open water certification (AIDA 1, Molchanovs Wave 1, PADI Freediver, etc).
What is the maximum depth I can dive?
You can dive up to 30 meters (100 feet), or, after taking additional advanced safety training, up to 60 meters (200 feet).
Can I work towards certifications?
Yes. You can work towards completing AIDA certifications via crossover during these sessions, such as AIDA 3, AIDA 4 (Assistant Instructor), Competition Safety and Instructor.
You can see the challenges you need to complete for each level here. It is your responsibility to keep track of the challenges you have left to complete. Once you are ready to complete a challenge, ask one of our AIDA instructors to witness you, and we will officially enter it in the AIDA system.
You can see the challenges you need to complete for each level here. It is your responsibility to keep track of the challenges you have left to complete. Once you are ready to complete a challenge, ask one of our AIDA instructors to witness you, and we will officially enter it in the AIDA system.
How are these sessions different to a class?
Depth Training sessions are very different from a class - you are not under direct instructor supervision. You and the other certified freedivers on your buoy will be training together and responsible for each other's safety.
Do I need my own freediving gear?
Yes. You can't rent gear for these sessions. You should own your own gear and be comfortable with it.
What gear should I bring?
You should bring:
- Your basic freediving gear (mask / snorkel / fins).
- A freediving wetsuit (3mm in summer, or 7mm in early spring & late fall).
- Weight belt and 2-12 lbs of weight.
- Swimmers, towel, sunscreen, water, and closed-toed shoes.
You can purchase wetsuits from the Fins and Foam Gear Shop.
Buoys and lanyards are provided. You are welcome to bring your own lanyard if you have one. For safety reasons, you must use the buoys provided.
Are these sessions cancelled for rain?
No. As freedivers, we are well prepared for water, and freediving is beautiful in the rain! These sessions are only cancelled in case of extreme weather conditions that make it unsafe to proceed, such as lightning over the lake or wildfires on the road.