Mandatory Requirements For In-Water Activities

These are easy to meet and all it takes to do so is to commit to a bit of preparation. For most people who are starting from ‘zero’, this is no more than a week of dedicated effort which can be completed months before your trip, anywhere in the world. This is to ensure the highest quality experience for everyone, as well as maintain the safety and well-being of our guests, crew and the animals we encounter.

In order to take part in any in-water activities, guests must meet mandatory requirements.
Clients who wish to do so:

  1. will be currently certified as an open-water freediver (AIDA, SSI, FII Level 2 etc), OR alternatively have suitable experience at an advanced level as a snorkeler or scuba diver for these conditions. This means being able to operate in-water without any form of direct assistance while also being able to assist a ‘buddy’ if needed.
  2. will be physically fit to take part in moderate to intense in-water activities.
  3. will have full working knowledge and experience with the equipment being used including (but not limited to) getting into and out of the wetsuit to be used.
  4. will be able to snorkel 100 meters / 328 feet at the surface in full winter freediving equipment (with weights) in under 2 minutes and 20 seconds while maintaining an efficient and streamlined finning technique, without the use of their arms to swim.
  5. will able to enter and exit the water from and onto a Rigid-hulled inflatable boat or supporting vessel without assistance in under 8 seconds in variable sea states and weather conditions. This will be at a height of no less than 50cm above water level while wearing full diving equipment, including weights.
  6. will complete and bring along the provided medical questionnaire related to in-water activities.

We do ask clients to perform a series of in-water tests prior to the start of any week and should it be discovered that a client does not meet these requirements after they arrived to start an Arctic Freediving expedition, they will not be allowed to take part in any in-water activities. 

Practical Examples / Information Related To These Requirements

  1. Open-water freediver courses covers the skills needed to freedive and be confident in open water (the ocean) and our guests should be able to swim and/ or dive without the assistance of a rope to hold onto. If a freediving course is only conducted in a pool it is not sufficient as you will not have the required skills to be confident in the conditions we operate in. Freediving courses can now be done almost anywhere in the world and a Google search should put you on the right track.

    Ask yourself: “Do I feel confident to swim in the ocean at sustained snorkeling paces regardless of the conditions?”

    If the answer is ‘no’ or ‘I am not sure’, then you need to complete the course as outlined above or join a few training sessions with your local freediving club to build confidence.We do not teach people how to swim or how to use their equipment ツ

  2. Physically fit means:
    • Having no health issues which would prevent you from taking part in moderate to intense exercise in or out of the water for extended periods of time.
    • Being able to lift your own weight onto a surface which is higher than that of the water (see below).
  3. Full working knowledge of your equipment is mandatory. If you can not dress yourself in a open-cell wetsuit (or equivalent) and have all your gear ready in less than 5 minutes or demonstrate that you clearly have no experience with the fins, mask, weights or snorkel you are to use, you will not be allowed to take part in any in-water activities. Experience is gained and not something we can fix with a few tips during your visit.
  4. will be able to snorkel 100 meters / 328 feet at the surface in full winter freediving equipment while maintaining an efficient and streamlined finning technique. This should look something like this:

and NOT like this:

5. will able to enter and exit the water from and onto a Rigid-hulled inflatable boat or supporting vessel without assistance in under 8 seconds. It should be as easy as this:

Common Issues:

With a surge in interest, there has been an increasing amount of unprepared guests who take chances / are under the impression that we will turn a blind eye to them being inadequately prepared. These individuals (and at times even groups) have all been denied access to the water as we take these requirements very seriously.

‘Assuming’

Some guests assume that lifting themselves out of the water will be easy, or that snorkeling against a time limit is achievable because ‘they used to be a junior life guard’. By not attempting to perform these skills before joining us, you can land in a situation where you discover that it is something you do in fact struggle with / can not do.

Not Trying New Equipment

Arriving in the Norwegian arctic to discover that your regular fins don’t fit when you put on your brand new 3mm socks is the result of not trying equipment prior to your trip. Why risk it? Keep in mind that in most cases it is not possible to buy / rent gear in the areas where we find ourselves…

Relying On Your Other Half / Friend

Please do not assume that your inability to meet these requirements will be ignored simply because the person you are with meets them. This is often the case with couples where a non-diving spouse joins without understanding the requirements as outlined above.

Forgetting The Dive Medical

This is unfortunately not something we can ignore. We need to be certain that all our guests are physically and medically fit to take part in in-water activities and this is one of the documents we have to have on-board at all times (why we need YOU to bring the original copy).

Strongly Recommended For All Guests

Given the dependence of our expeditions on nature, there is always a small chance that unforseen events such as polar storms or changes in the herring migration can result in missed days of diving or even (worst case) a cancelled week. Please note that this is however not the rule and in the last 6 years we have had to cancel 1 week due to an early end to the season, although it is always best to be fully prepared for any unforeseen events.

Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance can now be purchased for as little as 120 EUR for a 2 week vacation (at the time of this post) and will cover everything from lost luggage to cancelled vacation expenses which includes flights. The responsibility to purchase insurance is up to you as the client and something we strongly recommend all guests to do. Please note that agencies like DAN: Divers Alert Network offers insurance options which will cover all diving related emergencies and even travel related issues, depending on the package you purchase. For the best insurance, please contact your local travel agent as the best option for your needs might be tied to your country of residence.

An important note regarding insurance: Please make sure you understand the terms of your insurance as Arctic Freediving will not facilitate any attempt at fraudulent claims.