Is Apnea Academy a better choice over Aida?

[yoda turtle]

I have a choice , to learn the Aida way or the apnea academy route.
Is there any difference?
Is one more accepted in europe more than the other.
Am not sure which way to go , anybody feel like giving me some direction on this, I would be very greatfull

[samdive]

that's in interesting one - as an AIDA IT who wrote most of the original AIDA courses, I guess I'm biased.

Whilst the Apnea Academy courses are excellent, and their manual of freediving is by far the best book to buy if you are learning, I'd recommend the AIDA courses over the AA ones primarily on the fact that they seem to be taught in much smaller groups.

In AIDA, we only take a maximum of 4 students in open water at a time, I have seen AA groups in action with around 20. As freediving is such a personal thing, everyone learns differently and hits different barriers along the way, I'd say that the size of the group you are taught in will be incredibly important. Any less than 3 or 4 and there's a bit too much stress on the individual to perform. Beyond that, and it's hard to get the attention you really need.

Let us know what you choose and why!

Sam

[Will]

At Apnea Academy we have had courses with up to 30 students - the Italian Instructors course I was on had 64! Most are a lot smaller though.
HOWEVER. The difference is there is a maximum ratio of 4 students per instructor, so even if it is a big course there are smaller sub-groups, and the best thing about it is that the instructors rotate, so that you benefit from the teaching of several experts.
For example in the AA instructors course during the course of the week you will be taught by Umberto Pelizzari and 8 other expert AA instructors on rotation. Not only this but also experts in medicine, biomechanics, yoga, communication, psychology, diet and OTR all give lessons. The different teachers compliment each other and give you a holistic training.
As I understand, in all other freediving teaching agencies an instructors course is run by one or maybe two instructors. Although I don't doubt their expertise I think that any single freediver will have holes in their learning or methodology, which could ultimately limit their students in one or several aspects. For beginners this won't be so evident, but I think in an instructors course it can sometimes become an issue.

Anyway, I'm an AA instructor, so obviously biased as well!

[uw_ikarus]

I'm on the way to get the 3rd level in a sequence of AA free diving courses in Sicily. So I'm certainly biased as well. During theory and pool sessions, yes, there were 10 to 15 people attended by 2-3 instructors. In the open sea, typically 5-8 with again 2 instructors. What I like best, that we are doing training both in the pool and in the open water, besides the formal courses, and the instructors are always ready giving hints how to improve. Not knowing about Aida instructors, I'm grateful to AA for their work, which I appreciated in any moment.

[Stephan Whelan]

Every agency has their own pros and cons. Apnea Academy/AIDA/PFI/FIT are all respected training agencies in their own right and there are differences between them all. There are very few people who have attended multiple courses across multiple agencies so there it is very difficult for people to truly be able to tell you which course is better than any other.

My suggestion is to find a good course near you first to learn the basics and then if you progress further you can start experimenting with difference agencies.

[sanso]

I think the quality of a course very much depends on the instructor, whatever Agency/Organization they belong to.

I am an AIDA instructor and just got certified as AA instructor as well. Having experienced both ways of training, I found that they are quite different in their approach and their contents. The decision is one I'd rather not make. Personally, I am very happy that I took both kinds of courses and will, in any course, try to teach the best of both worlds, while sticking to the curriculum of the course chosen by the student as much as needed. Of course, an instructor will also try to adapt the course to the needs of the student. (which will not always be obvious to the student, btw. )
I can only say that I recommend taking as many courses as possible with as many instructors as possible, simply because the fields of expertise and the approach of each and every one of them will be (possibly very) different and there will be a better chance of finding out what Your preferred way is.

A formal issue is the QA policy that both AIDA and AA have, but AA seems to be a bit stricter as every single student will get a short questionnaire about their course, while AIDA will randomly choose students and ask them about their course.

So the good answer is: "It depends" - As allways.

[Kars]

I agree with Sanso,
The quality of the teacher is more important.

But I like to add that the teacher is only partly responsible for the result. Half, if not bigger, is determent by the quality of the student.

On Deeper Blue an article appeared detailing this quality that is highly dependeble of attitude of the student.


Though I have not followed an AA course, but took two AIDA's as it was the only choise for me at the time. I've talked to AA instructors. In generally I have the impression that AA is more centerd about feeling and style, and AIDA's course a little bit more geared to performance and competition.
I think if you already have a prefered look on your way, I think you can ask your AIDA instructor to match his course to your 'recreational' nature, or ask the AA instructor to have more focus on the competition part of freediving.

Have fun with your course, and bring a buddy so you can train safely when your back at home!

Love, Courage and Water,

Kars

[Dennis77]

Will said it all, I guess.


But I´ll write my own impressions as well.


I joined the AA-Course in Sharm el Sheikh last November.

I don´t know how many people we´ve been over all. But in the english speaking group we´ve been 12 freediver.
The theory lessons we´re taught by one or two teachers. Our "main teacher" was Federico Mana. Google him; I guess, I don´t have to say much more. It´s not only his knowledge and "strength" as a freediver; he is one of the best teachers I´ve ever met. He really likes to teach, and you feel this.
Some evenings we had breathing sessions or video sessions with the hole group. But;... it was nice to be with so many other freedivers.

Whilst the practice sessions in the sea we´ve been up to four people in one group, and for each group there was one instructor. In my group we´ve been three people at the beginning, and at the end we´ve been four. For myself, four people was the perfect size. As I´m a beginner to freediving, the recovery time is quite short if three people are diving.
And instructors are rotating. Thats a very very good thing. I´ve seen so many personal styles, heard so many hints in differrent ways; just perfect.

For sure, it looks quite weird, up to 50 freediver on lines next to each other. But it´s such a blast to see all the freediver going down and up, or to see them against the sunlight when yourself are surfacing.... very very nice.

The pool sessions are controlled by 5-6 instructors. The look after each person. For example I was in a team with another german freediver. As she was doing her statics, I was her safety buddy. The instructors rotate on the poolside, looking for the people. And again; the check your shoulders, look if you´re really relaxed, and give you tips after surfacing.

In one week, I managed to raise my personal best from 2:30 minutes up to 3:45 minutes. So I was really happy with the course.

Happy enough, that I´ll go to Sharm el Sheikh next November again.

[salibandy]

All this talk makes me sad. Because I have NO access to either! They're too far away.

Lucky for me I have wonderful friend who competes and has taught me a lot.

[jome]

I guess I'm biased too, since I work closely with the AIDA system. But from my point of view, which ever you choose, make sure it's a good instructor. It's also good to be aware of the crossover possibility, so don't have to make a choice written in stone. For example you can do a basic level course with PFI, then intermediate in AIDA and Advanced in AA. Or at least from the AIDA point of view.

Personally I like to cherry pick, ie. if time and money allows, participate in as many different organizations classes as possible.

This I can say:
-AIDA has come a long long way in the past 3-4 years in terms of education. Our education system is without being too modest pretty good.
-Every time I've been involved with AA (Sharm WC, the apnea conference in Lignano) I've been impressed
-Very impressed with FIT/Martin

Not done a PFI course yet, but hope to cross that out from my list some time as well...

On an individual level - every organization has good and bad instructors.

Which ever organization you choose keep in mind that freediving is an activity that can be "taught" only to a certain extent - most of the work you will have to do your self after the course.

[island_sands]

Vertical Blue brings in the Masters by Sara-Lise Haith on DeeperBlue.net - Fanatical About FreeDiving, Scuba Diving, Spearfishing & Technical Diving

check this out guys. Hot off the press....

[salibandy]

Cool! I want to go! Too bad I'll be confined in the military.