Intro to Freediving Course – Nelson Bay (incl. Cabbage Tree Island Dive)

Discover freediving, then take it to the ocean.

Presented by Sea State Co x Elementa Freediving

Ever wondered how far you could go on a single breath, but not ready to commit to a full freediving course? This intro is the easy way in. You’ll learn the foundations of freediving, how to relax, breathe, equalise and dive safely, without the time or cost of a full certification. Then we head out by boat to put it all into practice in the waters around Cabbage Tree Island, one of Port Stephens’ most beautiful dive spots.

Course details

Date: Saturday 5 December
Time: 8:00am-2:00pm
Location: Nelson Bay, Port Stephens, with a boat dive at Cabbage Tree Island
Age: 16+ (under 18s require parent or guardian permission)

Gear hire available for small fee from Elementa freediving.

What's included

• Expert instruction in a small group
• Land-based theory session covering the fundamentals
• Boat trip and guided freediving session at Cabbage Tree Island
• (Gear hire available for small fee)

What you'll learn

• Breathing and relaxation: how to prepare for a dive and stay calm underwater
• How your body responds: what happens during a breath-hold, explained simply
• Equalisation: techniques to clear your ears comfortably as you descend
• Duck dives and finning: efficient, relaxed technique to get down with less effort
• Safety: buddy systems, blackout awareness and how to look after each other in the water
• Recovery breathing: what to do when you surface

Your instructors

Jordan Black is a Molchanovs Freediving Instructor Trainer who has taught over 1,000 students. He grew up in Port Stephens, co-founded Salty Pilgrims Freediving and knows these waters inside out. He's known for quick, fun and simple analogies that make freediving click.

Tara Rawson has held 4x Australian national freediving records, and is also an accredited practising dietitian, sports dietician, freediving and yoga instructor. She brings a calm, fun, whole-body approach to breath-hold, relaxation and feeling at ease in the water.

Good to know

• No freediving experience needed, just be a confident swimmer and comfortable in open water
• Gear hire available through Elementa Freediving
• Boat dive is subject to weather and sea conditions. If conditions aren't safe, we'll reschedule or offer an alternative dive site.

Whether you're a confident swimmer who's always been curious, a snorkeller wanting to go deeper, a surfer or spearfisher looking to improve your breath-hold, this is the perfect first step.