Community ExperiencesFebruary 10, 2025
Building Community: Finding Your Freediving Tribe
How to connect with local and global freediving communities, find dive buddies, and participate in group events.
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Community Experiences
Connect with fellow freedivers and share experiences
The freediving community is built on shared experiences, mutual support, and collective wisdom. By sharing our stories—both positive and concerning—we help each other make informed decisions and promote higher standards.
Why Your Experience Matters
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Help Others Decide
Your feedback helps prospective students make informed choices about instructors, courses, and training organizations.
⭐
Recognize Quality
Positive reviews help excellent instructors get the recognition they deserve and encourage best practices throughout the industry.
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Document Concerns
Sharing concerning experiences creates transparency and can prevent others from encountering similar issues.
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Raise Standards
Community accountability encourages instructors and organizations to maintain high standards of safety and professionalism.
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Build Connections
Sharing experiences helps build a supportive community where divers can connect, learn, and grow together.
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Empower Change
Collective voices have power. When patterns emerge, they can drive meaningful improvements in training and oversight.
What to Share
Positive Experiences
Share what made your training experience excellent:
- Instructor qualifications and teaching style
- Safety protocols and equipment quality
- Course completeness and value for money
- Personalized attention and coaching
- Professional conduct and atmosphere
- Post-course support and community
Concerning Experiences
Document issues that others should be aware of:
- Incomplete course delivery or missing content
- Safety protocol violations or inadequate equipment
- Teaching outside certified disciplines
- Unprofessional conduct or boundary violations
- Misrepresentation of qualifications or services
- Poor communication or organizational issues
Organizational Experiences
Share insights about freediving organizations and clubs:
- Quality of affiliated instructors and courses
- Community atmosphere and inclusivity
- Governance and decision-making transparency
- Handling of complaints and conflicts
- Safety standards and oversight
- Commercial vs. community priorities
General Guidance
Tips and wisdom for fellow community members:
- What you wish you'd known before starting
- Red flags you learned to recognize
- Questions to ask before booking courses
- How to find quality instructors in your area
- Resources that helped your development
- Lessons learned from your journey
Sharing Guidelines
✓ Be Specific and Factual
Share concrete details about what happened, when, and where. Stick to observable facts and your documented experiences.
✓ Focus on Behaviors, Not Character
Describe actions and their impacts rather than making character judgments. "The instructor taught disciplines outside their certification" rather than "The instructor is dishonest."
✓ Use Qualifying Language
Phrases like "in my experience," "I observed," or "I felt" make it clear you're sharing your perspective.
✓ Provide Context
Include relevant details like course type, dates, location, and circumstances that help others understand the situation.
✓ Be Constructive
Even when sharing concerns, frame them as helping others make informed decisions or highlighting areas for improvement.
✓ Respect Privacy
You can share your own experiences, but respect the privacy of other students who may not want their situations publicized.
Anonymous Sharing Welcome
We understand that some prefer to share anonymously. All submissions are treated confidentially, and you can choose how much identifying information to include.
Community Stories
Read real experiences from the freediving community—stories of excellent training, lessons learned, and concerns that need attention.
Browse Community StoriesCommunity Stories & Experiences
Read real experiences shared by freedivers from around the world.
Share Your Experience
Your voice contributes to a safer, more accountable freediving community. Whether you've had an excellent training experience or encountered concerning practices, sharing helps others make informed decisions.
All submissions treated confidentially • Anonymous sharing welcome