Safe Buddy

Not every freediver has had the benefit of formal training. This course is designed to help these divers manage the risks inherent in freediving without having to take the more comprehensive PFI Freediver course. It also prepares surface support like lifeguards and boat crews, to better cater to freedivers and assist if needed. The course focuses primarily on safety. It does not cover any of the skills or procedures trained freedivers use to improve performance. This will however make you and your buddies safer in the water.

Who this course is for:

• This course is for any self-taught freediver who wants to better manage the risks inherent in this activity, freedivers certified by other agencies that wish to learn PFI’s methods of safety, or aquatic professionals that want to be able to better react to potentially hazardous situations.

Course prerequisites:

• Minimum age of 10 for Junior Safe Buddy or 16 years for full Safe Buddy

• Competent swimming skills

• PFI Snorkeler/Skin Diver or equivalent skill level

What you can expect to learn:

• Equipment requirements

• Safety and problem management

• Safety for constant ballast

• Safety signals for static

• Safety for dynamic (optional)

• Recovery breathing

• Buoyancy for safety

• Buddy separation

• LMC and surface blackout

PFI Safe Buddy course minimum requirements:

• Satisfactorily complete the PFI Safe Buddy Knowledge Quests and final exam with a passing score of 80%, followed by 100% remediation by the Instructor

• Complete all confined water requirements efficiently

• Demonstrate mature and sound judgment concerning dive planning and execution