Rescue Freediver Masterclass

Background

In October 2018 Chris McKay; owner at Freedive Tulum, AIDA Judge and Chief of Safety for numerous international freediving competitions announced a Freedive Rescue workshop to be held in the town of Tulum, Mexico. This was initially to be aimed at the local freediving community.
The response from the worldwide freediving community was enormous and the concept and product quickly developed.
In January 2019 the first course of its kind was conducted with the assistance of keynote presenters; Dr Hector Ruiz and Dr Juan Valdivia, both AIDA International Medical Board Members. As this course was the new foundation for competition freedive safety, Carla Hanson, AIDA President also attended and contributed to content development.
The 2024 updated version of this course combines all of the key elements that contribute to effective emergency response in a freediving setting, whether it be a private training session or an international level competition.

These components include the new AIDA Depth Competition Safety Freediver Certification (released Feb 2024) along with the industry standard DAN (Divers Alert Network) Oxygen Provider Certification and the DAN BLS (Basic Life Support) Certification.

Objective

The primary objective of this Masterclass is to establish a baseline of a much higher safety standard for the operational safety teams at freediving competitions.
The 4 Day Masterclass is an environment for skills development, fine tuning and authentic assessment.
A lot of RPL (Required Prior Learning) is necessary from students if you wish to attain certification through the Freedive Rescue Masterclass (RFM). This includes online theory and assessment through Divers Alert Network prior to attending the course.

The role of the competition safety diver typically finishes once the rescue from depth is completed and the diver requiring assistance is passed to the medical officer/s.
This process works consistently in competitions where there is a team of medical officers with experience in diving related injuries.

In smaller competitions (95% of annual competitions ) there is typically only one medical representative who , more than often has had very limited exposure to freediving related injuries and situations. This potentially leaves the medical officer overwhelmed with too many pressing tasks needing to be performed at that instant.

The purpose of a new level of safety diver is not to replace the medical officer/team but to provide a high level of procedural knowledge and the ability to competently assist in a medical situation – hence the differentiation from safety freediver to Rescue Freediver.

This course is designed to develop the confidence and skills of any freediver in situations that could occur in the water.

Who is this course suited for?

Prerequisites for the Freedive Rescue Masterclass (RFM)

Be at least 18 years old.

Successfully complete DAN online assessments prior to completion of the course.

Fulfill the following physical requirements:

35-40m CWTB

30m dive + 30″ recovery + 20m dive

20m dives with 3-5″ notice, at a fast pace (early turn simulation)

You need to be a certified freediver through any recognised agency
Your diving skills won’t affect the information that you learn.
Your diving ability will however determine the certification level that you may achieve during this course – see Certification Levels and Performance Requirements, below.

Certification Levels and Performance Requirements

The FRM is the foundation of knowledge and skills for you to be an effective part of a competition safety team.
This course however does not by-pass operational requirements at a competition.
Each competition is unique and will have its own operation standards.
The performance requirements used in this course will meet current safety diver standards utilised by AIDA International.
At the completion of this course, you will still be expected to perform these physical performance requirements at each respectable competition you attend.
This is to guarantee you are dive ready and physically fit for duty.
Due to the high performance requirements for a competition safety diver, new levels of competence have been introduced. This allows the developing safety diver to progress in skill levels as their diving strength and ability grows.

The Depth Competition Safety Freediver Certification is the first tier of competition Safety. Once certified, the safety diver attains points with competition experience. With sufficient experience as a safety diver you are then able to apply for the Advanced Safety Diver Certification.

Freediver Performance Requirements

Level 1 – Depth Competition Safety Freediver

Ability to perform solo rescues from -20m
Ability to perform team rescues from -25m with 30” standby
Ability to assist and rescue from -25m with BOs at random depths (es. surface, 10m, 25m, in random order) covering all team roles (Safety 1, Safety 2 and Safety 3), including extraction (hand-off to the medical team)
Ability to manage stress
Pass the AIDA theory exam (75% min. score)

DAN Assessment
Completed DAN O2 provider course (80% pass)
Completed DAN BLS course (80% pass)

Rescue Freediver Recognition
Demonstrated understanding of operational risk assessment
Demonstrated Safety Team Operational Procedures
Demonstrated knowledge in patient extrication & evacuation
Demonstrated ability to provide assistance to the Medical Officer in 4 key roles
Demonstrated competence in surface rescue procedures for unconscious diver

Due to an inability to perform depth requirements, this person can still be an asset to any safety team as platform operational staff. Sonar operator, timekeeper, surface camera operator and line setter.
This is a perfect skill set for any active competition judge.

Level 2 – Advanced Depth Competition Safety Freediver
The required experience points to advance to this level remains indetermined at this time (Mar 2024)

Level 3 – Safety Team Leader
Performance Requirements and skills assessment are not components of the RFM course.

Level 4 – Chief of Safety
Performance Requirements and skills assessment are not components of the RFM course.

RFM Structure

Upon enrollment with appropriate booking fees paid, students will be enrolled into the DAN (Divers Alert Network) e-learning program. With the Enrollment forms and Statements of Understanding completed, the student will commence online education for the O2(oxygen) Provider Course and the BLS(Basic Life Support) modules. The assessments for each of the modules MUST be completed PRIOR to the commencement of the Freedive Rescue Masterclass if students wish to receive DAN & RFM certification.
Additional learning content will also require demonstrated understanding prior to the Masterclass.
These topics will include;
Competition Operational Procedures
Safety Team Operational Roles and Responsibilities
Advanced Rescue Techniques
Sonar Operational Guide
Personal Hazard Analysis Overview

Important note:

Students wishing to receive the DAN certificates as part of the RFM will need to pay an additional $100 USD for the DAN certification fee.
These certificates are valid for 2 years and are a general requirement for most quality organisations for freediving instructors.

Participant Requirements

Classroom Sessions:
All required Paperwork in the pre-course package must be completed and returned a minimum of 3 days before the RFM.
Manuals – those provided during the e-learning process can be printed or viewed in digital format during class sessions. A copy of the manual is required.
Payments – all payments must be completed prior to the commencement of the RFM. See Payments and Refunds, below.
Covered footwear will be required during patient management, movement and extrication exercises.

Water Sessions
All students are responsible to supply and organise their own freediving equipment.
The host locations nor Staff of the RFM accept no responsibility for your equipment.
Water sessions may be up to 4 hours in duration.
Wetsuits of suitable warmth will be required.
Fins suitable for rescue components are required.
A recommended checklist of equipment is included in the enrollment package

Payment

50% of the course fee ($TBA to be announced USD) is required to be paid and received to confirm registration.
Full payment of the course ($TBA USD) needs to be completed a minimum of 2 weeks prior to the start date of your course. Failure to do so will see that position filled by another applicant and your booking forfeited. see Refunds, below.
The DAN certification fee ($100 USD) must be paid 2 weeks prior to the start date of your course.
Payment Options will be discussed on initial enquiry.
Due to the multiple countries in which these courses are being conducted, each location has different options.

Refunds

Full Refund will be returned if cancellation occurs a minimum of 14 full days prior to the start date of your course. Transfer fees will be paid by the recipient. $50 USD DAN registration fee will not be refunded.
50% Refund of course value will be returned if cancellation is 7 or more full days from commencement date, but less than 14 full days. $50 USD DAN registration fee will not be refunded.
No refund will be provided in cancellation occurs less than 7 full days from course commencement date.
Please note:
In the event of a cancellation due to unforseen circumstances, the staff of the Host location, the staff of the RFM will endeavour to fill the position available. Due to the location of some of the RFM courses, this may be difficult. If the student position is filled, full refund will be awarded minus transfer fees and DAN registration fees as outlined above.

Booking Information Required

An inital booking form will need to be completed prior to registration and payments being accepted.
Information required will include Personal details, Freedive certification levels, completion of medical form as well as a release of liability to the operational staff of the Rescue Freediver Masterclass and its hosting locations.

FRM Course host locations 2020