PFI T-shirt, Manual, Online training resources, Classroom and pool use. Open water fees (Boat charter or spring entry) will be extra.
Low volume mask, snorkel, longblade fins, rubber weight-belt and a full 3mm or thicker wetsuit with hood is required for class. A 2 piece, open cell freediving wetsuit with attached hood is recommended- a one piece suit with zipper typically does not provide adequate warmth for our training in cooler months.
Tampa-Apollo Beach (Brandon, Florida, US)
The location for Day 1 class and pool sessions is the Brandon Sport and Aquatic Center (BSAC), 405 Beverly Blvd, Brandon, FL 33511. We start promptly at 8am. Please bring all your current swim and dive gear to pool. You will want to bring a full 3mm hooded wetsuit.
Day 2 morning we will hold final class and equipment training session at a nearby Tampa dive shop, to give our students one last chance to get equipment you find you may need before open water.
The primary location for Day 2 and Day 3 open water sessions is Troy Springs State Park, 674 Northeast Troy Springs Road, Branford, FL 32008-weather/river conditions permitting. Please allow up to three hours for travel time from classroom to pool. Accommodations are available in nearby Alachua and Lake City, but please confirm location with instructor one week before class, as weather may be a variable due to flooding, sea conditions or water conditions.
FL Springs offer clear, controlled conditions, year round 72F water temperature, and Troy Springs offers the 20m maximum depth limit for course. If Troy Springs is unavailable due to flooding we will hold open water session at the best available spring or site that meets the minimum depth of 10m needed to certify. Please call the week before class if you are coming from out of town so we can recommend hotel accommodation near our final Day 2 class and open water site. In summer, we may hold open water dives in the Gulf of Mexico, weather and visibility permitting. Minimum class size is 4 students for Gulf of Mexico boat trips. Boat charter fees are extra and average $150 per student daily. Boat fees and Spring entry fees are not included in course price.
Day 1- Class and Pool sessions 6-10pm
Day 2 Classroom and Pool 8am-5pm
Day 3- Open water sessions 10am-3pm (open water courses only)
