Spearfishing Beginners Course

The Underwater academy: Spearfishing course

The level 1 spearfishing course is taught over two days $450 pp

Built around the structure of the AIDA 1 freediving course, the knowledge and skills of freediving is melded with the practical elements of hunting underwater. The course teaches you about spearfishing and associated safety with some fun challenges to aim for. Your instructors, with over 20 years experience in both the spearfishing, freediving and marine science worlds impart their knowledge on the following: 

  • Personalised gear selection for body type and style of diving

  • Gear maintenance, set-up and rigging

  • Fish identification, sustainable selection and hunting techniques for a variety of local species

  • Protected species and ethical selection

  • Sharks, hydrology and environmental hazards.

The course is split into theory and practical components where students cover:

  • Correct safety, rescue and breathing techniques for freediving

  • Equalisation and duck-diving for spearfishing at different depths

  • Efficiency for maximising bottom time

Additionally, part of the course will also feature a gear testing section, where students can test some different types of freediving and spearfishing gear: Note* you should have your own gear like wetsuit, mask and snorkel - snorkelling fins are fine.

  • Fins: Carbon, fibre-glass, composite and plastics with varying stiffnesses.

  • Spearguns: The latest available spearguns stocked at Adreno

  • Masks: If you haven't found the perfect fit, now's your chance to try a huge range of the latest masks.... underwater!

Successful completion of the course will qualify you for certification as an AIDA 1 free diver. This is a good step toward the deeper freediving and spearfishing courses we have available. 

When and Where?

Unless otherwise privately arranged, the theory sessions for this course begin at 4:00pm Thursday evening at your local Adreno store (Sydney; Melbourne; Perth). Saturday ocean segments typically run from 8:00am - 4:30pm and are flexible with location due to environmental conditions. The location and specific timing of each day will be advised by your instructor on the Thursday evening, however the below is a rough guide.

Evening 1

4:00pm - Meet at your closest Adreno Store for gear selection and rigging demonstration

5:00pm - Breath-hold physiology workshop (theory and practical*)

9:00pm - finish

Day 2

8:00am - Hydrology and Ecology

9:30am - Equalisation and safety workshop (you can have breakfast at this time)

10:30am - Duckdiving, safety, rescue and equalisation practical

12:30pm - Lunch

1:30pm - Sustainability, sharks and fish selection theory

2:30pm Gear testing and hunting techniques

5:00-5:30pm - Finish

Pre-requisites:

- Must be 18 years of age, or 16 with parental permission

- Must hold a valid fishing license if required by relevant state law

- Must be able to swim 300m with fins on