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Not all heroes wear capes, some wear wetsuits

By Akshay Thatte

(These are my thoughts on having completed the Zero To Hero course two months ago. I feel it would be good to share my thoughts and experiences a few months after having finished it, just to ensure that there is no bias or hangover of the course persisting. A lot of things are said in jest and must not be taken seriously. Any hurt caused is deeply regretted. Do not come after me. Please 😊)

The Freediving Program From Zero to Hero is a long-term course that allows anyone with no prior freediving experience to progress and make it all the way to an Instructor. You can go from being the Jon Snow of freediving and transform into a Freediver; A rare breed of neoprene-wearing human, that’s found in mostly tropical waters. You can hear their distinctive calls of Frenzel and Mouthfill from conversations in bars that distinguish them from their bulkier cousins; the scuba divers. With the amount of sign language involved, add the right soundtrack and they could well be rappers in another dimension. But you are here to be a freediver, a Master Freediver who goes deeper than your imagination has fathomed so far. 32 meters is 104 feet or a ten-story building. That’s a lot of distance to cover in one breath.

Inhale. Let’s go.

Why/Who Should Do It

Who should do it? Pretty much anyone who likes the sea, and marine life and or is looking for a new extreme sport that isn’t life-threatening on a daily basis (like cliff jumping). If there’s a longing desire to spend more time in the sea watching all the fishes there are to see, but the inevitable time limit of scuba or just the distance to the fishies while snorkelling bothers you, then freediving is the way to go. No disrespect to scuba, but that 150 bar in the tank disappears faster than /savings in a casino/politicians after election results are announced. Take your pick.

The comfort with your body, the sea and the confidence to duck dive anywhere is a priceless skill. Yes, it’s a callback to that old Mastercard ad. Speaking of Mastercard, this is also the most financially viable course to learn in terms of training dives and time.

If you already have done some form of apnea, spearfishing or just dabbled around then this is the most organised, structured option there is. The Freediving program Zero To Hero is meant to progress beyond the advanced course systematically, learning new techniques that form the foundation of any freediver. Beyond 20 meters is when time, technique and guidance become crucial. Which brings us to the next point.

THE INSTRUCTOR

How do you choose where to do it? The answer is simple, find the best instructor. Your instructor is everything in the course. Fins, wetsuits, nose clips, and all the sufi gear you can get your hands on means nothing without the Guru. I have been blessed to have been taught by Sergei, who’s not just been teaching since PADI began its Freediver courses 10 years ago but has also trained more instructors than one can count.

But just these credentials are not what makes him stand apart, it’s this smiling Buddha- Zen-like energy that makes the difference. I have yet to see him even display mild annoyance. Considering there were 5 Masters students in varying stages of the course, I am sure it would have driven him up the wall at times. But hey, that’s why he is the boss. My first instructor, Shonali Ghoshal, herself an accomplished Scuba Master Instructor graduated from the same school of thought and institute- Kaizen Freediving in Koh Tao, Thailand. A testament to the quality of instructors produced.

Calm, professional and knowing how to hold the reins of the student. These are the best instructors to have, they have learnt how to manage a whole host of personalities and that is why surrendering to the knowledge of the Guru is so important. The Instructor is irreplaceable.

Every Equalisation problem that seems like a world-ending problem will be handled calmly because it is NOT their first time dealing with AND sorting out such issues. Trust your Instructor. You are not a unique snowflake, with unique EQ problems.

The right teacher understands that even if the body may be ready, it is as much a mental game. With Sergei, the PBs and the numbers were never the goals, it was always “What’s your comfortable depth? Let’s make that deeper.” It’s this slow and steady approach that pays off long term, not only is this safer and methodical but more importantly inspires confidence in the freedivers’ own abilities.

This approach is what made me fall in love with the sea, knowing that I could spend almost a minute hanging in zero gravity is something to be experienced, words do no justice.

TIPS I’D PASS ON

DISCIPLINE: Did Jocko just show up in your dreams ??!! If he did, Good. Because at some level this is the only way to go. This section gets into Veteran speak. Falling ill is unplanned, but taking precautions, getting enough sleep, eating well and training hard are in your hands. These may sound trivial, but they are the key, like hydration and sunscreen. The benefits and the repercussions are all yours. Hydrate. Be disciplined. Stay hard. This course will create habits and as Sergei says “It’s easier to teach someone new than to correct old mistakes”.

TIME: Take time off. Have dry days to soak in the sun and a few beers. It’ll take anywhere from 2-3 months to finish and that’s a long time. There will be periods of stagnation, where the ears won’t EQ or it’s just plain exhausting physically. Be prepared mentally, and physically the body will respond.

BABY STEPS: The key I figured was to break down each session into what needed to be achieved today. An increase in depth by a meter at a time is not daunting, 32 meters depth, 70 meters dynamic sounds like a lot, but it’s baby steps all the way. The journey is far more rewarding.

FAITH: Having faith in your instructor and following the military’s favourite training philosophy of “Don’t Think, Do” is the best way. It’s the most uncomplicated way to approach it, you are a sponge, soak it up. There is wisdom in even the smallest of conversations, keep your ears open. Learn the good drills followed.

Looking Back or If I Had A Time Machine.

I would have pushed harder when it came to depth. It’s the one discipline that takes the most effort, logistically and otherwise, boats, conditions, a safety diver etc. There are too many factors that make it difficult to chase depth any other time. I would spend a longer time and try to get to 40 during the Masters course itself. The rest of it, I would not change a bit. Follow your Instructor.

CONCLUSION

What you will remember has very little to do with the classroom and theory. The daily diving, meeting the same group of Masters students, going through the same issues, post-dive hunger et all. Three months of intensive daily diving; That’s a long time to dive almost every day with the same group and celebrate each other’s PBs in any discipline, looking forward to watching a 50-meter tow happen in ripping current, watching every competition like we were next in line, swimming in a sea of jellyfish, doing FIM in a current where the line is at an angle that would make Pythogoras giddy with joy. These are just some of the experiences along the way that will remain as my version of “Back in the day when…., or During my Masters…..”

The greatest gift though, has been comfort in the sea. The sea is no longer daunting, unknown, and scary, she is a place of joy and comfort. Everyday. The confidence to feel and say this, to go and hang at 15 meters and just soak in the nothingness is where the metamorphosis takes place.

The student of Freediving Program Zero to Hero, is the little turtle crawling out of the sand and making its way to the sea. Just like a turtle, the first few years can be quite tumultuous, but be sure that once you go to the sea there’s no looking back.

FIN