Train your breath-hold to increase your confidence and abilities in the surf. This Surf Survival course (PADI Basic Freediver certified) is tailored specifically for surfers and anyone who wants to beat the stress of tough water conditions.

When there’s never enough time to get to the surf, then the time you get in the surf better be enough.

Make each surf session count with renewed confidence. Whether it’s taking a beating paddling out for that first time and getting out the back sweetly and in one piece without stress. Or sliding down the face of that biggest wave and armed and ready for a pounding, let the older you surf like the younger you and attack each set with a mind set free from the tethers of the boardroom, toolbox talk, or the fear of hold downs.

• Learn the core foundations with 7-years experienced PADI Master Freediving Instructor, Marlon Quinn and find out why it’s so much more than just being able to suffer.

Professional Training

You are guaranteed to better manage your wave hold-down fears with WaterMaarq surf specific professional freediving breath-hold training. Founded by freediving instructor and body surfer Marlon Quinn, WaterMaarq is Melbourne’s premiere freediving school operating since 2014. 

The surf hold down methods you’ll learn are used by surfers all across the Mornington Peninsula, the Surf Coast and at least as far flung as Adelaide, Perth and Bali.

Expert Instruction

In this course you’ll benefit from becoming calmer, better connected with your body, and understand your inner mind and fears to have the confidence to enjoy bigger surf.   

Most surf survival courses focus on big long breath-holds with super long static hold times as the medal of honour. However a 6-minute breath-hold is not going to save you in 10ft swell in Bass Strait.

What will save you is hard and intense repeated hold downs with little recovery. As you duck under that 10th wave because you ended up caught inside, it’s no longer thoughts that have you fighting to come up that worry you, it’s sensing the white frothing water, calming your mind and body, timing your rise to the surface for that sweet inhale, just before taking the next wave on the head as you edge further out the back.

As Victoria’s Number One Adventure Tourism operators we are experts in taking you from fear to inner calm with our highly experienced and certified freediving instructors by your side, all in just a few quality focussed sessions.

Join the award-winning WaterMaarq on a certified surf survival tailored PADI Basic Freediver course and experience it for yourself. 

Who Will Benefit Most?

The Surf Survival PADI Basic Freediver course is for surfers, surf rescuers and surf riders interested in developing advanced stress management techniques with a professional instructor. It gives you the core foundations. You MUST be able to swim and be in good physical health to make sure you gain the most from the course. Start right away, you don’t need to train for it or have experience with snorkelling, skin diving or freediving.

At the end of the course you will have learned specialised breath-hold skills, relaxation techniques, and performed a triple-hold down sequence comfortably, that our big wave surfers say is tougher than their worst and most stressful surf experience.

Worldwide Recognised Certification

The PADI Freediver education system is recognised worldwide, so wherever you go, you can even freedive with ease as a certified freediver.

Successful completion of the PADI Basic Freediver course essentially qualifies you as a pool freediver, a certification recognised across the world. This is the first half of the Level One training known as PADI Freediver. 

Learning to hold your breath on a surf survival course fast-tracks your learning in a safe, methodical manner in a controlled environment, it’s the best way to make progress properly and safely.

Course Outcomes

At the end of the course you will have learned specialised breath-hold skills, relaxation techniques, and performed a triple-hold down sequence comfortably, that our big wave surfers say is tougher than their worst and most stressful surf experience. 

Course Structure

• On-line PADI Freediver Touch interactive self-paced learning
• Classroom theory and practical breathing & relaxation skills
• Pool training for static breath-hold, hold-down simulations and rescue techniques

Indicative Course Timetable

• E-learning in your own time before the course (allow up to 10 hours)
• 2-hours face-to-face classroom theory and practical breathing & relaxation skills
  
• 3-hours Pool training for static, hold-down simulation and rescue techniques

Course Highlights

• Small groups (4-8)
• Fully tailored approach for surfers, body boarders, surf rescuers and anyone wanting to build new confidence
• Elite PADI Master Freediver Instructor with over 7 years experience and 400+ students
• Successful completion results in certification as PADI Basic Freediver, recognised worldwide

• Session fees are non-refundable (unless the session is cancelled by us for unforeseen circumstances), please choose your experience with care. Trip insurance is highly recommended as cover for unforeseen cancellations
• Courses are held near Melbourne in Cheltenham, VIC
• Directions to Cheltenham Theory Venue
• Directions to Cheltenham Pool Venue
• All Students must be minimum 14 years of age
• Please arrive at the theory venue 10 minutes before commencement time to ensure you have enough time to check in and get settled
• Please dress comfortably
• Please bring a bag with your swimmers, 5mm wetsuit, fins, mask, snorkel, weightbelt (optional), a towel and your own re-usable water bottle. Rental equipment is available.
  
• Guests must be able to swim. Courses do not cater for people with no swimming ability. The Instructor retains the right to refuse participation in which case your attendance is forfeited
  
• Guests with back, neck, or heart conditions, those who are pregnant or who have injuries/conditions that may cause a risk to their health are advised not to participate, or do so at their own risk
• A medical statement must be submitted to attend the course
• All participants under the age of 18 years must have a parent/guardian sign all applicable waiver/medical forms
  
• At least one 90 second static breath-hold attempt and 25m underwater dynamic swim must be performed
• Subject to minimum numbers and may be rescheduled if minimum numbers are not met
• The supplier reserves the right to substitute the venue / pool and / or change the day’s itinerary without notice