F.I.T. vs. Performance Freediving

[Tw1012]

I have been looking into putting together a course in Texas for intermediate freedivers and have contacted both schools and they are willing to help me bring it to Texas. I was wondering if anyone has a preference or some insight on the differences and which is better.

[kelp princess]

Seeing as how both organizations have world record holders and a proven track record, you really can't go wrong with either choice.

Martin obviously used to work for Performance Freediving, before he started FIT, so you can be assured that you'll be getting the same great fundamentals with either course as well.

I just took an intermediate course with Performance Freediving and i thought it was exceptional; I vastly improved my own technique and achieved significantly deeper/longer personal bests because of PFI training.


Mandy-Rae and Kirk are great coaches & instructors and I plan on taking their advanced course.

good luck with your texas clinic.

cheers,

kp

[azapa]

I have done the FIT II course, it was perfect for me. I agree with the unbiased opinion above: both will be great. There is another thread comparing the two here, the "SEARCH" function should find it. Good luck.

[billieball]

I think both would be a good idea, and agree with the previous poster to check out the other thread concerning this issue. My hubby and I took the FIT Level II course, loved it so much we returned a month later for some practice sessions, and are already signed up for Level III. I'm a technical diver by trade, and hated the very idea of diving with no tank. Now I'm a complete freediving fanatic. Learning from the pros is the best way to understand the physiological aspects, as well as the safety protcols. My opinion about company may be biased, but FIT changed my (and my hubby's) life forever!
--Billie

[DiverTodd]

I've taken Intermediate and Advanced with PFI, and Level 2 with DiveFIT (mainly just for some more ocean/depth training), and I can attest that they're both GREAT schools, and you won't have better instructors for freediving other than two world champions and a world renowned freediving coach/instructor! Kirk, Mandy (PFI), and Martin (FIT) are all extremely helpful and knowledgeable, and genuinely care about their students.

Todd

[Jon]

I did the PFI class back when Martin first started teaching with them and before they had separate levels. I also looked into running a course like that in Wisconsin. While everyone involved is a great diver/instructor/person I found a huge difference int he number of students needed to run a course.

FIT required just 4 students for an advanced Monofin course, and more like 6-8 for the standard level II class. PFI required 16 students to be paid in full. I also looked into having Aharon Solomons come up and teach a monofin course while he was in the States. He needed 4 students for a class like that. In the end I couldn't even get the 4 students together when I tried to run it.

See how many people you have interested and then go from there. I ended up driving to Florida to take the course because there was little, to no, local interest.

Either way you will need a pool and a body of water- either swim-able or boat-able, to reach the depths you're going to be hitting- at least 100'.

Good luck no matter which way you go- because they're all great.

Jon

[apnea queen]

I have taken both classes FIT Intermediate in Ft Lauderdale Apr/May 2008 and PFI Advanced in Kona,Hawaii Aug 2008 Let me be the first to say that in my opinion PFI is
SUPERIOR compared imagine being taught by the people who defined training in freediving compared to someone who copied that system and went of on his own.The
issues and problems I had with FIT are to numerous and unbelieveable to list but if you need to know pm me.All the Best in Diving DeeDee

[billieball]

Wow. I'm very sorry you had such a terrible experience with the FIT course. Let me say that taking the FIT LII course last year honestly changed the lives of my husband and myself. We just returned form LIII, and have adopted an entirely different (better) style of exercise and training. We are healthier, happier, and have achieved personal bests on a regular basis. As a freediving skeptic, I entered the LII course with no expectations whatsoever. Since then, I am a freediving fanatic. My diet has changed, I am a bit better able to handle stress, and now my two children are as into freediving as mommy and daddy are. Anyway, again, it sucks that your experience was as disappointing as you indicate. But for others reading these posts, please remember that FIT has affected many people as positively radically as it has affected my husband and me.

That being said, I'm quite sure that PFI was wonderful. I hope you, too, had the time of your life learning the intricacies of freediving.

Warm regards,
Billie

[Tony Babowicz]

I'm sorry to hear that you had unbelievable issues with FIT. I can't personally speak for PFI, I have had good friends go through their course and all with good reviews. But I have even more good friends take FIT courses and I have never heard a single derogatory word from them. Only praises on how well the course is taught and how much individual attention they received. I mean no disrespect, but maybe you were in a bad place personally/emotionally the weekend of your FIT course. It might also be hard to compare an intermediate course with an advanced course. We take the intermediate course with little or no knowledge of freediving and that might make us nervous or even a little defensive about our inabilities. We go home and practice, sign up for the advanced course, and feel connected with the instructors and other students as soon as we walk in the door. Anyway, that is my 2cents. I personally would not deter anyone from taking any freediving course.
Dive safe,
Tony

[DiverTodd]

I, too, am sorry to hear that someone had so many issues during a FIT course, especially since I was assisting during the course in question! I have nothing but great things to say about FIT (and PFI, as well), they're always very welcoming to me every time I head down to FL (in fact, next week I'll be heading down to help out with the Gulfstream Invitational. One of my roles is the on-scene corespondent, so look for my full report here on DeeperBlue after the event!). That being said, not everyone is going to have a "perfect" class; things can and do go wrong (I'm living PROOF of that), it's just the nature of this beast that we call freediving.

Todd

[ILDiver]

Originally Posted by apnea queen

I have taken both classes FIT Intermediate in Ft Lauderdale Apr/May 2008 and PFI Advanced in Kona,Hawaii Aug 2008 Let me be the first to say that in my opinion PFI is SUPERIOR compared imagine being taught by the people who defined training in freediving compared to someone who copied that system and went of on his own.The issues and problems I had with FIT are to numerous and unbelieveable to list but if you need to know pm me.All the Best in Diving DeeDee

I've taken FIT Level II and Level III, I have not taken PFI's class. Maybe I'm bias? But to say it as you have that he copied their course and went out on his own, not real fair nor accurate. I'm guessing that Martin was involved in some of the PFI curriculum development as well.

Your post put an alarmist tone, like FIT is unsafe and put your life in danger, without stating any evidence. It comes off more like you had some minor issues that made you dis-satisfied. If the numerous and unbelievable facts are true, then there should be no harm in stating them publically. But to make a blanket statement without someone from FIT to have a chance to publically state there side seems to be unfair as well.

Did you address your concerns with FIT at the time and give them a chance to solve the concerns?

EDIT: Also I'm curious what happened after the course that changed your feelings of the course? I was doing a search out of curiosity, to see if anyone else had issues and I found: Hi Everyone

Did PFI state in their course that FIT stole from them? I do not know the situation of the split with Martin and PFI. FIT does not talk about it and I never asked. My "concern" with your viewpoint is that you developed a more personal bond with PFI and you have aligned more with them. You seemed to insinuate that Martin stole their couse and started his own school. This is not a fair asumption. Martin teaches his methods and theories and beliefs of freediving, many of those theories are shared by PFI because they are common theories, Martin was a big part of PFI, and he learned things from the rest of PFI while there.

I have only dealt with Mandy to buy my WaterWay fin and she was very nice and helpful. If I had a chance to take a course with her I would.

[Whopperhead]

Martin was in Partnership with Kirk & Mandy, He had great ideas and wanted to IMPROVE the current training they do. They weren't in agreement with everything he wanted to do, So they went their seperate ways and Martin created F.I.T. Both have World Class Freedivers as instructors- Both are a Great group of people. It would of been foolish of Martin to "settle" and stay with PFI. I recommend BOTH groups to people- no body can go wrong with taking a freediving class. BUT - I personally would choose to be trained by a Freediver who has many WORLD RECORDS and he's a Great Guy, not to mention the F.I.T. Staff is outstanding - I would of paid double to take that class. Also..........Just my 2 cents.

[azapa]

I can say good things about FIT also. sorry you had a bad session. keep trying!

[ILDiver]

This may all be seen as ganging up to protect FIT, but some of us see the fit staff as more than just instructors. They are our friends. Even if we only get to see them once a year, they treat us like we have known them out entire lives. So some of us take it a little more personal. Sorry if we seem defensive, but we are, we are proud.

[apnea queen]

First of all,if you read my post you will clearly read 'it is my OPINION' just that I leave the decision to those who want more info it is there.I am not aligned or friends with or connected in any way with PFI it is a matter of me paying for training and recieving high
caliber training.I have been a PADI instructor since 1991 and I have been trained by both good and bad instructors.like a good or bad meal I know which one leaves a bad taste in your mouth.Furthermore I at no time stated that FIT was unsafe or endangers their students.PFI never said that Martin stole their course materials nor did I.What my
post say's is that he copied the system meaning that if someone says that they are leaving a company because of differences then they usually create a new template to distinguise themselves apart from the systems they are leaving behind.it's like
working for a company like Sears as an engineer developing a product then complain that the company took advantage of your talents when they profit from said product.
The reason I did not laundry list my problems with FIT was because it is not your business! If you want to know why to make a valid decision then I discuss it with those involved If you take a PFI course then you will see the difference and you will understand my position.I have made more attempts than is reasonable to resolve my problems and both Martin and Paul have decided to stop answering my phone calls and e-mails.That being said I have chosen to offer MY OPINION not gospel,to the forums in order that those seeking instruction can make an informed choice.
In closing,many times those we seek to love and support are in fact their own worst enemies and blinded by our feelings we justify dysfunctional behavior and choose not to see what is in front of our eyes,carefully study htat which you defend and you may see the shine may wear off All the Best-I / We are not all perfect DeeDee