Hey, there
You may already know we like to do things differently. Let's get to know each other a little better...
Hey, there
You may already know we like to do things differently. Let's get to know each other a little better...
Our Mindset
We don't show up to suffer. We show up to train effectively and progress with ease.
Our Mission
Is to encourage and enable freedivers of all disciplines to challenge and grow their abilities using a simple method (backed by sports science) that eliminates the struggle and guesswork of training to deliver guaranteed results.
We Believe
You can feel the difference between dives that create struggle (contractions, doubt, and stress) and those that challenge you the right way to adapt comfortably enabling you to more easily and enjoyably achieve your freediving goals.
Do you agree?
If you’re not training effectively, you’ll need to work harder. If you’re working harder, you’ll struggle more.
If you struggle more, you’ll do less. If you do less, you’ll be further away from your goal.
Flow Not Force
When you're training effectively you’re in the proper flow state meaning, no more struggle, no more inconsistency, no more uncertainty. Only safe, comfortable and enjoyable dives.
We often hear, “freediving is about self-mastery,” “relaxation is key,” and “performing better is mostly mental.”
It’s also widely accepted that pushing through discomfort or pain contradicts the principles of safety and good self-care. Yet, the “no pain, no gain” mentality remains prevalent in the community.
Generally, we are taught that in training, we must continuously push ourselves to the limit; otherwise, we won’t progress. Injury, early turns, surfacing improperly, and blacking out are often seen as part of being a high-performing diver – never mind if every dive terrifies you and it feels like Russian roulette whether you’ll make it or not.
Victory isn’t perceived as something that can be achieved comfortably. Only the most rigorous training is thought to yield the best results. After all, it works for the top freedivers, doesn’t it? However, the notion that training needs to be extremely “hard” and uncomfortable for progress is misleading.
We’ve lost count of the number of broken divers who come to us after pushing themselves to failure with an exceedingly tough training plan from a “top” freediving athlete or coach, or, indeed, from their club leaders and trainers! Observing what they’re instructed to do week after week, we’re astonished… Only those with an innate high work capacity or who are fully anaesthetised could manage!
The truth is, a diver only improves when the training they’re asked to undertake is sufficiently challenging to allow adaptation without being excessively stressful on the nervous system, thereby enabling consistent dives and adequate recovery to prevent overtraining or burnout. So when a diver with high work capacity imposes their exact training regimen on others lacking that innate ability, it can lead to even the best of us breaking. Our protective systems shut down. Our bodies start to view the hobby we love as a threat – something akin to a virus, a poisonous apple, or a Tyrannosaurus Rex – it’s kill or be killed!
When this occurs, it can take months of “rebooting” to retrain ourselves to perceive freediving as safe and not a danger to us, causing actual regression instead of progression.
Additionally, the contradiction between training hard at all costs and the idea that freediving is predominantly mental complicates matters, leading freedivers to blame themselves and believe that their failure to achieve goals stems from a “mental block,” not from the training itself. This creates a cultural divide between the “freediving superheroes” and the rest of us, the “underdogs,” who must either remain stagnant or quit.
No other sport trains this way. Take a marathon runner, for instance. Do you think they run a full marathon every time they train? Or, in the case of freediving, multiple marathons in a single training session? No, that would be absurd. They build up to their performance over many weeks, gradually increasing the distance while reducing training days. They apply the principles of volume over intensity and periodization – smart training grounded in sports science, not ego.
Naturally, there will always be a group of naturally gifted athletes in any sport who possess innate qualities enabling them to excel effortlessly. We’re not disputing that. We’re questioning the ego over the individual.
We’re challenging the belief that training methods effective for the top 1% will benefit everyone. We’re challenging the practice of training divers to failure and blaming them for not trying hard enough. We’re confronting the contradiction between promoting relaxation and pushing individuals to their breaking point.
We’re challenging the culture that insists, “this is how it’s always been done, and it’s the only way.” We say, “F*ck that!” Freediving training culture is broken and outdated, and it’s time for a new approach.
What do you say? Are you ready to break some rules and change the face of freediving with us?
We see you, Rebel!
Growth Minded
We appreciate your willingness to learn, grow, and adapt, and want you to know that you belong here. Like us and the other rebels who believe in our methods, you’re empowered by big ideas and transformative ways of thinking. A challenge doesn’t easily put you off. In fact, the bigger, the more exciting it is!
Problem Solver
When faced with a situation that’s no longer working, you don’t stick to what you know or shy away; you ask, “How can I improve my performance? How can I do this better?” Your brilliant brain is constantly in a state of self-improvement, endlessly upgrading your operating system to the latest version.
Adaptable
As a progressive, not regressive person. Even more annoying to you than nothing ever changing is being told, ‘It’s the only way!’ You don’t believe there’s only one way to skin a cat. Nor does the cat have your tongue. You’re a curious cat, a hand-raiser, always seeking answers and wanting to know more.
Determined
When it comes to your goals, you’re as dedicated as they come. You don’t need encouragement to reach for the stars. But giving you a fast track to your goals is as precious as a golden ticket to Willy Wonka's chocolate factory.
Time is everything, after all. You were ready for innovative training systems like yesterday; you were born ready. So, shall we begin?
Start here
Browse popular exercises, plans, & courses
We share our best secrets to help you optimise your time in and out of the water, so you can train comfortably, effectively, and have fun doing it.
Build your own training plan
Unlock greater clarity and confidence with our bestselling freediving book. Get a manual of 39 freediving exercises for effectively training static, pool, and depth! Plus, you'll find guidance on cross-training across four essential fitness areas relevant to freediving.
Build your own training plan
Unlock greater clarity and confidence with our bestselling freediving book. Get a manual of 39 freediving exercises for effectively training static, pool, and depth! Plus, you'll find guidance on cross-training across four essential fitness areas relevant to freediving.
Get ready-made targeted programmes
Achieve lasting breakthroughs with our expertly programmed 6-week training plans. Helping you to boost your breath-hold and accomplish new personal bests, and build your CO2 tolerance to delay contractions and your urge to breathe.
Get pre-made targeted programmes
Achieve lasting breakthroughs with our expertly programmed 6-week training plans. Helping you to boost your breath-hold and accomplish new personal bests, and build your CO2 tolerance to delay contractions and your urge to breathe.
Learn mouthfill the easy way
Forget complicated equipment and advice, learn mouthfill the easy way with simple exercises and start enjoying equalising deeper!
Learn mouthfill the easy way
Forget complicated equipment and advice, learn mouthfill the easy way with simple exercises and start enjoying equalising deeper!
1. Training Principles
Discover 3 universal training principles used within other sports that aren’t currently used in freediving, but when applied, help create the right structure for freedivers to make easy and consistent progression, no matter what level of freediver you are.
2. Training Ideas
Boost your knowledge and skills with new ideas and a fresh injection of energy to re-motivate your training if you’ve become stuck in a rut. Plus, get performance-enhancing strategies and tactics to compete at your very best!
Free stuff
Get our ebook & training resources bundle when you join our community!
Free stuff
1. Training Principles
Discover 3 universal training principles used within other sports that aren’t currently used in freediving, but when applied, help create the right structure for freedivers to make easy and consistent progression, no matter what level of freediver you are.
2. Training Ideas
Boost your knowledge and skills with new ideas and a fresh injection of energy to re-motivate your training if you’ve become stuck in a rut. Plus, get performance-enhancing strategies and tactics to compete at your very best!
Get our ebook & training resources when you join our community!
We love what we do, and we think you will too.
Nathan Vinski
Freedive Coach
Nathan Vinski is a world-renowned freediving coach and ex-competitive freediver, featured in Netflix's “The Deepest Breath”. The brains behind Train Freediving books, courses, and the Apnea Fitness training programmes. He's been a leading voice in freedive education for almost ten years. Having trained a global squad of competitive freediving athletes to professional success and taught freediving courses worldwide, his mantra is “train smarter, not harder”, and the results speak for themselves.
CMAS & AIDA Freediving Instructor
90m Deep Diver
Sarah Russell
Wellness Coach
Sarah co-founded Train Freediving, a global leader in freediving education and training. After a decade in the corporate world, Sarah traded boardrooms for underwater worlds, captivated by breath-holding's power to access mindfulness, challenge her comfort zone, and boost self-belief. Now, Sarah shares the benefits of breath-holding and the sport of freediving with trainee freedivers, athletes and the corporate world so you, too, can experience the airless advantage in your work and life.
CMAS Pool Instructor
150m Pool Diver
Get in touch
We're here to help. Drop us a message to ask any questions or to learn about available dates, and book.
About:
Train Freediving is a global leader in freediver training and education. Providing freediving courses, coaching, and digital training in Wales, the UK, and worldwide. Our approach is simple: learn to freedive comfortably and confidently – and have fun doing it! As the premier CMAS-affiliated education provider in the UK, you can trust that when it comes to learning about the sport of freediving, there's no one better to guide you.
