Freedive Certification Course

        

 June 13- 16, 2024    


​    Price   $2,995 per person *  

   This course can be combined with the Deep Dive with     Dolphins Retreat June 16-22

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       Non-refundable deposit to reserve your space​​

      ​  Prices based on Double Occupancy. Single rate is  available   

        
​​ Confirm your space now with a non-refundable deposit  or pay in full. 


 Freedive Certification Course Only, June 13-16

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 Freedive Certification Course, June 13-16 + Deep Dive   Week, June 16-22 at $6,490                                       

 




​​​ By booking this retreat, you agree to all of our Terms and Conditions.  

                                           

 *All payments are non-refundable​    Final payment due by March 1, 2024

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Freedive Certification Course

 in Bimini, The Bahamas, June 13 - 16, 2024   

The perfect compliment to our

Deep Dive into Connection with Dolphins Retreat, June 16-22                  

Freediving is about inward power, discipline and control. If you’ve always wanted to enter the underwater world quietly, on your own terms, staying as long as your breath allows, then freediving is for you. Breath hold diving has an ancient history in several cultures as a means to collect food, supplies, goods and in modern culture, freediving is a way to enjoy exploring the underwater world as well as human potential and of course, allows you to spend more time underwater with the dolphins in their world. 


This freediving certification course will be led by Jillian Rutledge who is a certified freediving instructor for Apnea Academy International & PADI Freediver. Anne Gordon will be your co-host and help with logistics for this magical entry into the underwater world. 


If you have dreamed about swimming underwater, side by side and deeply connecting with dolphins then this course will help you to gain confidence, comfort and ease (sense of peace) with underwater breathholds to have longer time under the ocean to connect with the dolphins.

 
 
The PADI Freediver course consists of 4 main phases:

1. Knowledge development about freediving principles through
independent study with the PADI Freediver Touch™.

2. Classroom sessions for additional theory and to practice breathing and relaxation techniques for awareness and mindfulness.

3. Confined water session to learn breathhold techniques as well as
static and dynamic apnea. Goal – static apnea of 90 seconds and 
dynamic apnea of 25 metres/80 feet.

4. Open water sessions to practice free immersion and constant 
weight freedives, plus proper buddy procedures. Goal – constant
weight freedive of 10 metres/30 feet.
 
 
Limited Space Available
 
 
Anne Gordon ​is an experienced Humpback whale watching and dolphin snorkel guide in Panama, as well as a Dolphin Messenger, Whale Wisdom Expert and Certified Dolphin Energy Healer.  She is also a trained biologist and studied animal behavior and is expert at observing and interpreting the behavior of the dolphins.

She will eagerly share with you her insights, knowledge and wisdom she has learned from the dolphins whales in her years with them.  Anne will lead guided meditations to meet your very own dolphin spirit guide as well as Dolphin Energy Healing sessions for the group. 
 
 
Your Hosts:
 
 
 
 
Jillian Rutledge is a lifelong learner of dolphins and whales. She was first introduced to their world as a dolphin trainer, where she learned from them that freedom is more about mind and spirit than our physical location. The dolphins also taught her how to consciously breathe, transmitting to her the codes of transmutation. This profound experience awakened her to her power, joy and dolphin-ness. 

She went on to commune with the dolphins and whales of the world's oceans, deepening the relationship thru breath-hold diving and underwater dancing. She has known the Bimini dolphins since 2002 and were her first teachers in breath hold diving in the open ocean.

Jillian currently lives in the pacific northwest, where she spends time with orcas, humpbacks, harbour porpoises and pacific white-sided dolphins. she adores being in service as a professional freediving instructor, breathing specialist and performance coach. With her experience, wisdom and intuition, she now collaborates with people to bring back their power and joy, remembering how to breathe again. Secretly becoming more like dolphins. (wink wink.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Photo taken in Bimini on our 2023 Retreat.
 
 
What's included:     
●  4 nights accommodations at Bimini's Big Game Club
● All boat trips
● Certified PADI Instruction
● Swim weights if desired
​​​● Wifi connection, where and when available


What's not included:
● Travel costs to and from Bimini, The Bahamas
● Hotel and boat crew Gratuities (Optional)
​● All meals
● Bahamas Departure Tax $29. Subject to change. This must be paid in cash on departure from Bimini
● Bahamas Airport Tax of $32 (includes Civil Aviation screening fee of $7). Subject to change
●Travel Insurance (Highly recommended.)
 
 
 
 
Freediving is based upon a natural reflex all humans have called the marine mammal dive reflex (MMDR).  It allows us to adapt to going beneath the water calmly and efficiently all while holding our breath safely and comfortably.  Although all humans have a MMDR, we often need to remember these skills thru proper training.  

There are many schools around the world that have developed a standard of skills required to safely navigate underwater.   By participating in a freediving course not only do you learn these skills, you experience your unique ability to adapt to being underwater and further develop these skills with a qualified instructor.   The value of this is immeasurable. 
 
 
© Atmoji
 
 
 
 
This Certification Course will be combined with a week of swimming with wild dolphins!  After your certification course, you will go out each day for 5 days to meet and swim with the friendly Atlantic Spotted and Bottlenose dolphins that have been interacting with people for over 20 years.

Daily freediving and breath hold practice to prepare you to relax into your time with the dolphins to help you become one with the pod!

Feel the island vibe of Bimini. The island is populated by friendly people, many are descendants from African slaves. Ernest Hemingway lived there for 2 years and Ponce de Leon's Fountain of Youth is thought to be found on the South island of Bimini!    
 
 
Check out this fun video from our 2023 retreat.